Suleiman, Al-Rahi Attend Canonization Mass of Popes John Paul II, John XXIII

President Michel Suleiman and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi attended on Sunday the canonization mass of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII that was held at the Vatican.

They were present at St. Peter's Square where Pope Francis I declared the two popes as saints.

Earlier, al-Rahi had headed a mass in Rome on the occasion of the centenary of the Mar Maroun church.

Later on Sunday, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) announced that Lebanon will mark the first stop of a tour of the relics of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, which will kick off on May 16.

A million pilgrims attended the canonization and thousands camped out in and around the Vatican overnight, sleeping in folding chairs, praying in silence with rosary beads and singing religious chants.

Pope John Paul II was hugely popular and the first pope to be a media superstar but he also drew criticism for his clampdown on leftist movements in the Catholic Church and his failure to tackle child sex abuse.

As a Vatican diplomat, Angelo Roncalli -- the future John XXIII -- has been credited with saving thousands of Jews during World War II and he ended age-old Catholic prejudices against Jews after being elected pontiff.

But he is best remembered as the driving force behind the Second Vatican Council, which overhauled arcane Church rituals and doctrines including allowing mass to be celebrated in languages other than Latin.

M.T.