'The Good Pope' On Display

Admirers of John XXXIII stood in line for hours in St. Peter's Square Sunday for a close look at his new, see-through coffin, part of a tribute to the "good pope" on the anniversary of his death ordered by the current pontiff, John Paul

The "good pope" was a nickname fellow Italians gave Angelo Roncalli, the son of simple northern farmers who grew up to be a priest, Vatican diplomat, cardinal of Venice and finally pontiff from 1958 to 1963.

He paved the way for innovations such as celebrating Mass in local languages instead of Latin, as well as greater tolerance for Jews and others outside of Catholicism.

AP

John Paul arrives for the ceremony

The anniversary fell on Pentecost, a major Catholic holy day.

"I would like to underline how the most precious gift left by Pope John was himself, that is to say, his testimony of holiness," John Paul said during a Mass on the basilica steps, near the coffin.

Later, he added: "I think back with admiration on the brief but intense pontificate of this unforgettable predecessor of mine."

John XXIII is known for convening the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965, a meeting of bishops and other church officials, to update church practices and re-examine the church's attitudes toward other faiths.

With its hands folded in prayer, John XXXIII's body was dressed in a white, lacy tunic over a white cassock, with a short, red velvet cape and red hat trimmed with ermine. The head was propped up on two scarlet pillows, and the face was covered by a wax mask made after the body was exhumed in January from the grottoes under the basilica.

After the two-hour ceremony, the half-ton, shatterproof crystal and bronze coffin was guided into the basilica by white-gloved pallbearers, and the faithful lined up to pass by the body at the central altar.

"Pope John was marvelous, a really good person, and I think it's good that all these people can see him," said Margherita Blanco of Rome.

When John Paul beatified John XXIII in September, putting him farther along the road to sainthood, it was during a ceremony conferring the same honor on a bitterly attacked pope, Pius IX of the 19th century.

Pius' beatification was criticized by many Jews as well as the Israeli government. Pius IX confined Jews to Rome's ghetto, condoned the seizure of a Jewish boy and allegedly refrred to Jews as dogs.

The bitter protests overshadowed much of that beatification day — much to the unhappiness of supporters of John XXIII. Sunday's ceremony was seen by many as a way to give John his due.

For beatification, one miracle must be certified. For John XXIII to become a saint, another miracle must be attributed to his intercession.

An Italian nun whose recovery from grave illness was deemed by the Vatican to be the miracle leading up to John XXIII's beatification was in the crowd on Sunday.

"What can I say? It's a very beautiful and important day," said Sister Caterina Capitani. She had been suffering from a tumor, severe gastric bleeding and infection in 1966 when other nuns put an image of John XXIII on her stomach. The nun immediately rose from her bed and began eating.

John Paul has made a point in his 22-year-old papacy of holding out role models from the past to try to shore up the sometimes flagging faith of believers.

After Sunday, the coffin will be installed in a place more accessible to the public, behind a grating under an altar near the center of the basilica.

When the body was exhumed earlier this year, Vatican officials described the corpse as remarkably well preserved. But citing modern embalming techniques, they cautioned against considering the discovery a miracle.

By Frances D'Emilio
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