Thousands Hold Prayer Vigil for John Paul II
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Tens of thousands of people clutching candles filled St. Peter’s Square to mark the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death with a prayer vigil that culminated with a blessing by the current pontiff.
Polish flags fluttered in the cool evening breeze, the candles twinkled, and a choir sang hymns during the vigil, which ended with the blessing by Benedict XVI at 9:37 p.m. -- the moment that John Paul, a Pole, died a year ago.
The scene resembled that before John Paul’s passing, when pilgrims from around the world prayed beneath his studio apartment windows.
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