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Editors,
Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints in a historic double canonization on April 27. Here are the AP's all-format plans for the week leading up to the ceremony.
TEXT
The following stories will begin running starting Saturday, April 19.
COSTA RICA-JOHN PAUL-MIRACLE
TRES RIOS, Costa Rica — The woman whose brain aneurysm disappeared in what she calls a miraculous intervention by Pope John Paul II says she remains in perfect health three years later, and her life has been transformed by the experience. Floribeth Mora greets a seemingly unending stream of local and international visitors in her modest home outside the Costa Rican capital and attends as many as four Masses a day as guest of honor. The faithful have given her so many letters to deliver to Pope Francis that she has had to buy an extra suitcase to bring to John Paul's canonization ceremony. By Javier Cordoba. 650 words, video. April 19.
VATICAN-ABUSE LEGACY
VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II is remembered for helping to bring down Communism and for inspiring a generation of Catholics, but the sexual abuse scandal that festered on his watch remains a stain on his legacy. Pope Francis has inherited the most damaging case, the Legion of Christ, and must now decide what to do with the order that was placed under Vatican receivership because of problems stemming from its pedophile founder. A look at the documentation the Vatican received starting in the 1940s and through John Paul's pontificate about the founder and the troubled, cult-like order he created. By Nicole Winfield. April 21.
POLAND-FADING JOHN PAUL
WADOWICE, Poland — Nine years after Pope John Paul II died, memories are fading, a new generation of Poles has grown up without a native son in the Vatican and the once staunchly Roman Catholic country is changing. That has all contributed to the seemingly meager levels of enthusiasm in Poland over John Paul's April 27 canonisation, a dramatic shift from even three years ago when hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Rome for his beatification. By Monika Scislowska. April 22.
VATICAN-RELICS BONANZA
ROME — Vials of papal blood, wisps of John Paul II's oft-tousled, white hair. Since anything the globe-trotting John Paul wore or even touched in his 26 years as pontiff is considered a relic, the collection of objects to inspire veneration seems almost inexhaustible and is spurring a rush to possess one ahead of his April 27 canonization. By Frances D'Emilio. April 24.
VATICAN-THE OTHER POPE
VATICAN CITY — While much of the world's focus April 27 will be on the remarkable papacy of Pope John Paul II, the "other" pope being canonized — John XXIII — was no less revolutionary for having convened the Second Vatican Council and is actually even more relevant to the current pope, Francis. By Daniela Petroff and Nicole Winfield. April 26.
PHOTOS
Plans include coverage of the Polish faithful making the pilgrimage to Rome; arrivals by train, plane and bus; security and how Rome is coping with the influx. Transmissions on the day of the ceremony will begin at 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT)
VIDEO
Here is a provisional running order for packages planned the week prior the ceremony. Plans could be changed by events and availability.
— COSTA RICA MIRACLE — The women whose claim of a miracle cure provided by Pope John Paul II supported his canonization. Scheduled for Saturday with text, April 19.
— PROFILE POPE JOHN PAUL II. Monday
— PROFILE POPE JOHN XXIII. Monday
— POLAND WADOWICE — Where Pope John Paul grew up. Tuesday
— ITALY SOUVENIRS — How the souvenir industry - and even the musical theatre - have cashed in on the canonization. Wednesday
— ITALY RELICS — Why the Church reveres papal relics and what these two Popes have left behind. Thursday
— ITALY PREPS — Final preparations for the canonization ceremony. Friday
— ITALY TOURISM — How the ceremony has boosted Rome's attraction for tourists. Friday
— ITALY PILGRIMS — The pilgrims who have traveled from all over the world to be at the ceremony. Saturday
AP Direct will carry the ceremony live from 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. EDT (0730 to 1030 GMT) approximately. There will be multiple live positions overlooking Saint Peter's Basilica.
INTERACTIVES
VATICAN-CANONIZATION — Interactive video graphic will include background about the canonization process and a roundup of other recent canonization. It will be updated April 27 with photos of the event.
JOHN-PAUL-II — An interactive timeline of the life of Pope John Paul II.
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