Vatican prepares to install Pope

Vatican prepares to install Pope

Sunday, April 24, 2005 (Vatican City):

Security forces took up posts around the Vatican on Saturday and cleared streets for an expected 500,000 pilgrims arriving for the ceremony to formally install Pope Benedict XVI.

An estimated 100,000 German pilgrims are expected to attend Benedict's Mass, known as the Ceremony of Investiture, in honour of the first Pope from their region in 1,000 years.

Rome prepared to receive them by bringing German-speaking volunteers down from Italy's German-speaking north.

The city was also preparing water, medical assistance and buses to shuttle between the main train station and the Vatican.

Thousands to attend

Officials set up giant screens in the Vatican area to allow pilgrims who can't get into St Peter's Square to follow the ceremony.

Italian authorities predict up to 500,000 people filling St Peter's Square and surrounding streets.

Most pilgrims were expected to arrive on Saturday night or before dawn on Sunday, just a few hours before the Mass starts at 10 am.

At the ceremony, the Pope will be joined by his brother, the Reverend Georg Ratzinger.

Great excitement

Speaking before his departure from Frankfurt Airport on Saturday, Reverend Ratzinger said he hoped to have a private meeting with Benedict, but acknowledged his brother's time for him would be limited.

Sunday's inauguration has caused much excitement among German Catholics, some of whom have made a pilgrimage to Benedict's birthplace in the Bavarian town of Marktl am Inn.

Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is among the many dignitaries planning to attend, including Prince Albert II of Monaco and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the US President's brother.

On Saturday, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn presided over a mass in the German Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome for the many German pilgrims who are in the Italian capital for the inauguration.

Meanwhile, the Pope's belongings were moved from his former residence just outside the Vatican walls to the papal residence overlooking St Peter's Square.
(With AP inputs)