Even the cruise ships won't dock in Rome today. Not only is it Labor Day all over Europe, but it is also the day of beatification for Pope John Paul II and the crowds are expected to be formidable.
We've seen the signs everywhere. Literally. In the market yesterday, Pope John Paul appeared to be winging his way to heaven in this poster mounted between the bread shop and the meat market.
A framed portrait in plastic of the Pope was available for 3 euros from this huckster yesterday near the Colosseum.
And, if you had any lingering doubt that something big might be going to happen, even your public transportation ticket reminded you that a major milestone in the Catholic Church is being reached on May 1.
If you, too, wonder exactly what beatification means to Catholics, here's the definition from Wikipedia that helped David and I understand its significance.
Beatification (from Latin
beatus, blessed, via Greek μακάριος,
makarios and Latin
facere, make) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name (intercession of saints). Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process. A person who is beatified is given the title "Blessed." --Wikipedia
David and I think it's probably a good day to explore the Jewish Ghetto.
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