April 26, 2014: Holy See Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi said that
as many as 150 cardinals and 1,000 bishops will concelebrate the April 27 canonization
Mass for Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. The concelebrants at the altar
will include Vicar General of Rome Cardinal Agostino Vallini, former John Paul II
aide Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, and Bishop Francesco Beschi of Bergamo.
He also told at the press conference that Mass attendees will include more than
93 official delegations from countries and international organizations, plus 24 heads
of state. Representatives of other major religions include Orthodox Christian, Anglican,
Jewish and Muslim officials he said. The canonization is expected to draw millions
to Rome.