New resting place prepared for Pope John Paul II

(April 11, 2011) Preparations are underway inside Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica to make room for the remains of late Pope John Paul II to be transferred from the underground crypt to the main church above after his May 1 beatification. During a ceremony on Thursday evening, the remains of the 14^th century Pope Innocent XI were moved from the Chapel of St. Sebastian on the right aisle of St. Peter's Basilica to make room for the body of John Paul II. The urn of Pope Innocent was carried in a procession to the altar of the Transfiguration on the left aisle. In the Chapel of St. Sebastian, where restoration work has been recently completed, the space beneath the altar is now open to receive the body of John Paul II after his May 1 beatification. Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said the coffin of John Paul II will be removed from the underground crypt on April 29 and placed before the main altar on May 1 so that the faithful may venerate it following the beatification. For this reason, the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica will be closed to the public from April 29 to May 1. Father Lombardi further clarified that John Paul II's body will not be removed from the coffin and the coffin will not be opened.