The Deadly Wound is almost healed

…..and all the world wondered after the beast.  Rev 13:3

Unprecedented scenes as one million people fill St Peter's Square to witness Pope Francis and retired Benedict XVI make saints of John XXIII and John Paul II

• Francis and Benedict XVI have today honoured John XXIII and John Paul II by declaring them saints
• Polish pilgrims carrying the red and white flags of John Paul's homeland were among the first to arrive
• Most of those who arrived first had camped out overnight along the side streets leading to the square
• Others had not slept at all and took part in all-night prayer vigils hosted at a dozen churches in Rome

Hundreds of thousands of people today filled St Peter's Square at the Vatican for a historic day involving four popes.

In the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI, Francis declared John XXIII and John Paul II saints - in the first canonisation of two pontiffs. 

Benedict, now aged 87, was sitting off to the side with other cardinals in the square during the rite at the start of Sunday's Mass. 

Italian officials predicted 1million were watching the Mass from the square, the streets surrounding it and nearby piazzas where TV screens were set up. 

Very interesting to note the refernce to Lucifer in this ceremony.  Lucifer is also referenced in Easter Mass

As said in Latin

Flammas eius

lucifer matutinus inveniat

ille inquam, lucifer, qui nescit occasum

Christus Filius tuus !

English translation

Flaming lucifer

lucifer finds mankind

I say: Oh lucifer, who will never be defeated,

Christ is your son!

Faithful filling the square: Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented ceremony

Big moment: Catholic faithful attend the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St Peter's Square at the Vatican

On camera: As three photographers record the scene, Pope Francis swings an incense burner during the historic double canonisation ceremony

In front of huge crowds: Pope Francis leads a celebration to canonise two Popes, John Paul II and John XXIII, at St Peter's Square at the Vatican

In charge: Pope Francis leads a solemn celebration in St. Peter's Square. Hundreds of thousands of people filled the square today

Ceremony: Francis (pictured) has coaxed Benedict XVI out of retirement and urged him to take part in the public life of the church

Greetings: Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI meets Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in St Peter's Square at the Vatican

Francis recited the saint-making formula in Latin, saying that after deliberating, consulting and praying for divine assistance 'we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church'.

Polish pilgrims carrying the red and white flags of John Paul's beloved homeland were among the first to press into the square well before dawn.

They were held back by human chains of neon-vested civil protection workers trying to maintain order.

 

Most of those who arrived first had camped out overnight along the side streets leading to the square.

Others had not slept at all and took part in the all-night prayer vigils hosted at a dozen churches in central Rome.

‘Four popes in one ceremony is a fantastic thing to see and to be at, because it is history being written in our sight,’ said David Halfar, a visiting Pole.

Sniper units deployed on rooftops near Vatican

One million people fill St Peter's Square to witness Vatican ceremony

Packed: Hundreds of thousands of people fill St. Peter's Square for a historic day of four popes, with Francis and Benedict XVI honoring John XXIII and John Paul II

At the age of 87: Emeritus Pope Benedict arrives for mass before the canonisation ceremony in St Peter's Square

Historic moment: Bishops take their seats before the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's at the Vatican today

Celebrated: Priests hold pictures of Pope John XXIII (left) and Pope John Paul II (right) in St Peter's Square at the Vatican

Respectful: Pope Francis touches the statue of Virgin Mary as he arrives for the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II

Looking around: Priests arrive for the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's Square at the Vatican

Saying hello: Pope Francis greets the crowd from his Popemobile after the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II

All trying to get a view of him: Pope Francis greets the crowd from his popemobile after the canonisation mass of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II

Waving flags: Pilgrims from Poland gather ahead of a ceremony of canonisation of past pontiffs John Paul II and pope John XXIII,

In attendance: Nuns arrive for the canonisation mass of late Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peter's Square at the Vatican

‘It is wonderful to be a part in this and to live all of this.’

The Vatican ended weeks of speculation yesterday and confirmed that retired Benedict would indeed participate in the canonisation.

'Four popes in one ceremony is a fantastic thing to see and to be at, because it is history being written in our sight'

David Halfar, visiting Pole

The move sets a remarkable precedent for the 2,000-year-old Catholic Church, which has never seen a reigning and retired pope celebrating a public Mass together.

Benedict had promised to remain ‘hidden from the world’ after resigning last year, but Francis has coaxed him out of retirement and urged him to take part in the public life of the church.

Today’s canonisation is the first time two popes have been declared saints at the same time. 

Brought to life: Catholic faithful wear 3D glasses as they watch the screening of the ceremony at a church in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, which is the hometown of John XXIII, in Italy

Viewing: Nuns wear 3D glasses to watch the screening of the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II at the parish church in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII

Looking down: Pope Francis leads the canonisation mass in which John Paul II and John XXIII are declared saints

The Vatican ended weeks of speculation yesterday and confirmed that retired Benedict would indeed participate in the canonisation

Celebrations: A woman holds up a a picture of Pope John Paul II (left) and a man wearing a Mexican traditional costume stands in St Peter's Square (right)

Decorated: A man from the Congo wears a hat sporting a picture of John Paul II as final preparations are made ahead of the ceremony

At the front: Catholics from around the world gather at the Vatican today for a mass presided by Pope Francis to confer sainthood on John Paul II and John XXIII

Taking it in: A bishop reads a newspaper at St Peter's Square. The Catholic Church has never seen a reigning and retired pope celebrating a public Mass together

Costa Rican: Floribeth Mora, who claims she was cured of a serious brain condition by a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II, arrives with her husband Edwin Arce

Pictured: A postcard shows portraits of the two popes to be canonized ahead of a ceremony that will see John Paul II (right) and John XXIII (left) recognised as saints

Francis's decision to canonise two of the 20th century's greatest spiritual leaders amounts to a delicate balancing act, giving both the conservative and progressive wings of the church a new saint.

John reigned from 1958 to 1963, while John Paul had a quarter-century papacy from 1978 to 2005.

His globe-trotting papacy and launch of the wildly popular World Youth Days invigorated a new generation of Catholics.

And his defence of core church teaching heartened conservatives after the turbulent 1960s.

‘John Paul was our pope,’ said Therese Andjoua, a 49-year-old nurse who travelled from Libreville, Gabon, with some 300 other pilgrims to attend.

Come this way: Archbishop George Gaenswein, prefect of the papal household, right, welcomes Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and his wife Clio

World leader: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe (left) arrive, while Anna Komorowska (right)) takes a picture of her husband Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski (left, in right photo) and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski

Meeting a dictator: Pope Francis greets Robert Mugabe (left), the president of Zimbabwe, in St. Peter's Square, next to Mr Mugabe's wife Grace (right)

Smiling: Pope Francis greets Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (left) after the canonisation

Meeting: Pope Francis greets King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (left) followed by King Albert II (back centre) and Queen Paola (right) of Belgium

Royals: Belgium's King Albert II (left) Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Silvia sit in St Peter's Square at the Vatican

Ready: People wait to enter St Peter's Square at the Vatican. For such a momentous occasion, the ceremony is quite short and straightforward

Early morning: Pilgrims sleep and sit outside a church near St Peter's Square as they wait to attend the ceremony for the canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II

Committed: Pilgrims sleep inside a church near St Peter's Square waiting to attend the ceremony for the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II

Watching from elsewhere: Crowds gather in God's Mercy sanctuary in Krakow, Poland, to view the ceremony of canonisation

Abroad: Filipino children dressed as popes are seen during a mass on the day that Pope Francis canonised John Paul II and John XXIII, in Quezon, Philippines

She sported a traditional African dress bearing the images of the two new saints. 

'In 1982 he came to Gabon and told us to "Get up, go forward and be not afraid". When we heard he was going to be canonised, we got up'

Therese Andjoua, a nurse visiting from Gabon

‘In 1982 he came to Gabon and when he arrived he kissed the ground and told us to “Get up, go forward and be not afraid”,’ she recalled.

As she rested against a pallet of water bottles, she added: ‘When we heard he was going to be canonised, we got up.’

Kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers from more than 90 countries were expected to attend the canonisations.

Some 20 Jewish leaders from the US, Israel, Italy, Francis' native Argentina and Poland were also taking part.

It was a sign of their appreciation for the strides made in Catholic-Jewish relations under John, John Paul - and their successors celebrating the Mass.

PROFILE: JOHN PAUL II

• 1920: Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland
• 1946: Ordained priest
• 1964: Becomes Archbishop of Krakow
• 1978: Elected Pope aged 58
• 1981: Seriously wounded in shooting
• 2001: Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
• 2003: Celebrates Silver Jubilee at Vatican
• 2004: Papacy becomes third-longest ever
• 2005: Dies after heart attack

John Paul helped topple communism in Poland through his support of the Solidarity movement. His globe-trotting papacy and launch of the wildly popular World Youth Days invigorated a new generation of Catholics. And his defence of core church teaching heartened conservatives after the turbulent 1960s.

PROFILE: JOHN XXIII

• 1881: Born Angelo Roncalli, Italy
• 1904: Ordained priest
• 1953 Appointed the Patriarch of Venice
• 1958: Succeeds Pope Pius XII aged 77
• 1962: Calls the Second Vatican Council
• 1962: Named Man of the Year by Time
• 1963: Dies of stomach cancer
• 2000: John, known as the 'Good Pope', is beatified by Pope John Paul II

John is a hero to liberal Catholics for having convened the Second Vatican Council. The meetings brought the church into the modern era by allowing Mass to be celebrated in local languages rather than Latin and by encouraging greater dialogue with people of other faiths, particularly Jews.

TWO LIVING POPES TO HONOUR TWO DEAD: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY'S VATICAN CEREMONY

In a historic match-up of papacies past and present, Pope Francis and emeritus Pope Benedict XVI will honor Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in the first ever canonisation of two popes. 

For such a momentous occasion, the ceremony is actually quite short and surprisingly straightforward, with the added benefit that the relics of the two new saints will be presented for universal veneration by the church for the first time. 

Here are five things to look for - though beware, the rite is celebrated mostly in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church. 

1. THE CEREMONY 

• The preliminary part of the ceremony begins at around 8am UK time with prayers, hymns and culminates with the chanting of the hypnotic Litany of Saints, the roll call of the church's saints, each one followed by the refrain ‘Ora pro nobis,’ or ‘Pray for us.’
• After Pope Francis and concelebrants process to the altar, the canonisation rite begins immediately.
• The head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Amato, asks the pope three separate times to include John XXIII and John Paul II among the saints. In the rite for beatification, there is only one such petition.
• The three repeated requests for canonisation ‘signify the importance of this celebration,’ noted the Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. 

2. THE PRONOUNCEMENT 

• Pope Francis then says: ‘For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the increase of the Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church. In the name of the Holy Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ 

3. THE RELICS 

• Relics of the two new saints are then brought to the altar. In the case of John Paul, the same relic - his blood - used for his 2011 beatification is being used. 
  
• For John XXIII, a small piece of skin taken after his body was exhumed for his 2000 beatification is being used. 
  
• Relics - the physical remains of a new saint or things he or she touched in life - are used to help the faithful venerate.
• Amato then thanks Francis and asks him to draw up an official document attesting to the canonisation. 
  
• Francis responds ‘We so decree’ and the rite ends with the singing of the ‘Gloria.’
• The Mass then proceeds as usual. 

4. BY NUMBERS 

• The Vatican said Saturday that Francis would preside over the Mass and Benedict would concelebrate along with 150 cardinals and 700 bishops. It's the first time Benedict has joined Francis in celebrating Mass in public since his resignation in 2013. Benedict attended the February ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica in which Francis installed 19 new cardinals, but as a spectator.
• About 600 priests will distribute Communion in St. Peter's Square and 210 deacons will distribute Communion to the throngs of people expected to line up along Via della Conciliazione, the main boulevard leading away from the square.
• 93 official delegations attending, including an estimated 24 heads of state. The kings and queens of Belgium and Spain are expected, as are royals from Andorra, Britain and Luxemburg. Poland is sending one of the largest delegations with the current president and two former presidents, including Lech Walesa, founder of the Solidarity movement that toppled communism in Poland, which John Paul supported.
• 20 Jewish leaders from the U.S., Israel, Argentina, Poland and Rome.