Mangalore :

The ‘Rome of the East’, which celebrated the beatification of Pope John Paul II three years back on the silver jubilee year of the first ever Papal visit to this coastal city, has another celebration in the offing.

A shrine is being built at the place where Pope addressed a humongous gathering of more than four lakh people on February 6, 1986. Also doubling the joy will be canonization of John Paul II by Pope Francis on April 27 this year.

Canonization is the act by which the Catholic Church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints.

Elaborating on the importance of the initiative, Fr William Menezes, public relations officer of the diocese of Mangalore, said: “It is a momentous occasion for us. Not only was John Paul II the first Pope to visit Mangalore, but will also be a Saint declared in our time.”

The shrine is being built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Though work has begun, the shrine will not be complete when John Paul II is elevated to sainthood in April. It will be ready by August-September and the Vatican Ambassador to India – Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio will inaugurate it, Fr William said. A life-size bronze statue of John Paul II, sent by the Apostolic Nuncio, will be unveiled on that day.

Recently, a delegation led by Mangalore Bishop Aloysius Paul D’ Souza met chief minister Siddaramaiah requesting him funds for the shrine.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / by Stanley Pinto, TNN / February 28th, 2014