From Rueters:

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that John Paul will be buried under the spot once occupied by the tomb of John XXIII dubbed the Good Pope in a crypt beneath St. Peter's.

So my big question is..... Where did John XXIII go? My curiousity gets the best of me sometimes... I just dont know where to go to find the answer and thought maybe somebody knows.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 06:34 pm:

I was curious, too. Seems that Pope JohnXXIII lies in a glass coffin now in the basilica, here is some info from the New York Times website "Mr. Navarro-Valls said John Paul would "almost surely" be placed in the space that held the body of Pope John XXIII from his death in 1963 until 2000, when it was moved to the main floor of the Basilica. That was the year John XXIII was beatified, the first step towards sainthood, and the crush of pilgrims necessitated a larger space."

By Emily7 on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 06:55 pm:

Interesting....

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 07:36 pm:

Yeah, they are moving that Pope up to the main level because of his popularity, and Pope John Paul II, the one who just died, expressed wishes to be placed underground, so that is where he will be laid to rest.

Also, I read that Pope John Paul II is NOT embalmed!!! Can you imagine? And that many days till he's placed to rest? Yikes!

By Missmudd on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 10:49 pm:

I heard that he had been embalmed by a family that has been embalming popes for the last century. I cant imagine that they didnt embalm him, the news has been saying how hot it has been and people fainting from heat. If he hasnt been EW!

By Kaye on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 12:12 am:

I have read conflicting reports, one that said he only had touch up make up done and one said a "light embalming" had been done. All I could think of was the smell too.

On another note, when they moved the other Pope's body, after over 20 years it was in near perfect condition...apparently they do a good job there!

By Annie2 on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 01:10 am:

I find it hard to believe he wasn't fully embalmed. I see no reason why this would even be an issue with a coffin. I didn't know one could opt for a light embalming or none at all. ?

By Feona on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 06:55 am:

I heard the saints bones are given to all the churches. or are they buried under the churches. I forget which...

They say that this pope might have been a saint... so we will see.. maybe not... takes a hundred years doesn't it?

By Breann on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 10:07 am:

I find it hard to believe that he wasn't fully embalmed as well.
He's been toted around so much that he would almost have to be fully embalmed. Otherwise it would be unsightly.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 04:38 pm:

I was curious about the emblaming, too since one of the indications of sainthood (but not the only one) is incorruptability - the body does not decay. If the body is tampered with (emblaming) then there's no way for this miracle to happen(if it's going to).
I heard he was embalmed.
It's a standard practice in other countries (and even some cities in the US like New Orleans) to disinter bones of people that have been buried underground and place the bones in another crypt.
Also, in order to consecrate a church it must have the relic of a saint - I think that's what Feona was referring to.
I have to check, they've change some of the requriements for sainthoos, but it's still a very rigorous process. If JP II is meant to be a saint, it won't happen for a long time.

End of catechism lesson
Ame

By Missmudd on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - 10:58 pm:

I dont think they need a relic anymore. I asked our parish priest about this a while back, I remembered that when I was a kid that they had a relic set into the altar. He said that it was no longer necessary to have one and none of our churches in our parish (we have a home parish and then 2 mission churches that our priest drives to) have a relic. May have been a Vatican II thing. End of catechism lesson #2

By Amecmom on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 10:50 am:

Wow - no relic? Oh, well, gott love V2. Pope was not embalmed, BTW.
Ame