Pope Benedict celebrates Mass to mark John Paul's death, visits tomb

Published: 2005-05-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass one month after the death of Pope John Paul II, then paid a private visit to the tomb of the late pontiff. The pope said Mass early May 2 in his private chapel, concelebrating with Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, Pope John Paul's longtime private secretary. In the evening, Pope Benedict went alone and knelt in prayer before Pope John Paul's tomb, in the underground grotto area of St. Peter's Basilica. The pope died at 9:37 p.m. April 2. The basilica was closed for the day when Pope Benedict went to pray at the grave. Thousands of people have streamed past the tomb daily since it was opened to the public.

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