July 6, 2011. (Romereports.com) In a surprise visit, the pope joined Vatican tourists to visit the exhibition “John Paul II. A tribute from Benedict XVI for the occasion of the beatification.” The pope followed the exhibit's hallways reconstructing the life of John Paul II through his personal items, videos and even the voice of the former pope.

Here you can find his old snow-skis, bicycle, canoe and clothing he used while working in the Solvay chemical factory in Poland. They were prepared for this special occasion by Jaroslaw and Barbara Klaput in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture in Poland. The Vatican contributed the cassock, cardinal's ring and other items used during his years in Rome.

Benedict XVI also literally walked through a “wave” of writings, through a representation of the life of John Paul II as pope in the form of a stream that abruptly stops on May 13, 1981. Here a video shows his attempted assassination in St. Peter's Square.

The organizers and architects that designed the exhibit say the river returns with even more force after the attack.

This tour has been one of the last public appearances by Benedict XVI before leaving the Vatican to start his holiday at Castel Gandolfo.

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