Rome still buzzing with pilgrims after popes' canonisations

Polish pecial Mass of thanks at St. Peter's

(ANSA) - Vatican City, April 28 - Tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists continued to "lay siege" to Rome Monday following Sunday's canonisation of popes John XXIII and John Paul II. A big crowd packed St Peter's Square for a second straight day as a Mass of thanks for Saint John Paul II was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri under partially sunny skies. The service was originally meant to be for Polish faithful inside the basilica, but it was moved to the square outside when the Church authorities realised how many people wanted to take part.

The Archbishop of Kracow, Stanislaw Dziwisz, greeted pilgrims at the start of the Mass, recording that, while he was personal private secretary to John Paul for 40 years, Italy had become the pope's "second home". Later in the day thousands filed past the tomb of the newly sanctified Polish saint inside the Basilica of St Peter's. Pilgrims from John XXIII's home city of Bergamo also filed past the tomb of the new Italian saint. Many pilgrims took time off their devotions to follow other tourist trails, visiting the Vatican Museums, or shopping for souvenirs, clothes or bags.