Over 50,000 faithful gathered on April 2nd in St Peter’s Square, to mark one year since the death of Pope John Paul II .

That same day in 2005… the atmosphere had been particularly somber.

At the same window from which John Paul had shared his suffering with the world, Pope Benedict XVI recited the rosary at 9.37pm...the exact moment his predecessor passed away.

Benedict XVI
One year has gone by, but his memory remains very much alive in our hearts and minds.

Twelve months since his death, over a million people have visited John Paul’s tomb:

“I felt the presence of a saint who has helped people immensely.”

Young people in St Peter’s Square looked back with affection at everything the late Pope did for them…

“John Paul II had a special place in the hearts of youngsters around the world.”

On April 3rd, Benedict XVI celebrated a memorial Mass, inviting people to embrace John Paul’s spiritual legacy…

Benedict XVI
“Let us remember his tireless calls for us to cooperate in making humanity ever more fair and generous.”

In Rome’s Basilica of St John Lateran, prayers ended with the first step in the beatification process of John Paul II.

The Vatican has yet to confirm a miracle on his behalf, but for the faithful marking the anniversary of the late pontiff’s death, the beatification process is superfluous: for them, John Paul II is already a saint.