A traditional Polish color guard parades a statue of Pope John Paul II among parishioners at Five Holy Martyrs following a Mass in thanksgiving for the beatification John Paul II May 1. Parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrated the Polish pontiffs elevation to blessed along with the beatification Mass by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Here are some photos from Chicago-area Catholics marking the momentous event.
At 3 a.m. on May 1 parishioners at St. Ferdinand Parish, 5900 W. Barry Ave., watch the beatification live from Rome on a large screen in the church.
Photo: Karen Callaway / Catholic New World