Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (seated) signs the condolence book for Pope John Paul ll at the Chancery Office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Kingston yesterday. Looking on are the Most Rev. Edgerton R. Clarke, archbishop emeritus of Kingston (left), and the Most Rev. Lawrence A. Burke, archbishop. The funeral for the pope takes place today at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican. - Contributed
HUNDREDS OF Roman Catholics will assemble at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on North Street, downtown Kingston, at 5 o'clock this afternoon, to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II.
The Mass, which will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Edgerton Clarke, archbishop emeritus of Kingston, is being held to thank God for Pope John Paul II's life and contribution to humanity. That's according to a letter of invitation from Archbishop Lawrence Burke to the Catholic churches of the archdiocese. Approximately 35 churches from St. Catherine, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew will participate in the Mass.
Since Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m, a book of condolence has been opened to the public at the Office of the Archbishop of Kingston, 21 Hopefield Avenue, Kingston 6.
Regarding a successor for Pope John Paul II, Monsignor Robert Haughton-James said the local church is looking forward to the election with great anticipation. "We're looking forward that the inspiration that Pope John Paul II has left by the grace of God will be continued," he said.
Pope John Paul II will be buried today beneath a marble slab in the Vatican grottos or picturesque cave in Italy. This lies between the new basilica, built in the 16th century, and the older Constantine church.
Numerous popes are buried there, and John Paul II will rest alongside John Paul I, and popes Benedict XV, Innocent IX, Julius III and Paul VI. The site where the first pope, St. Peter, is believed to have been buried is also nearby.
