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.
Rafael and Ena Alvarez, and Maria Perez, members of St. Sylvester Parish in Chicago, wave white cloths as they watch the end of the beatification. CBS studios in Chicago, located across from Daley Plaza, broadcasted live Pope John Paul II's beatification on its large outdoor screen for Divine Mercy adorers.
Photo: Karen Callaway / Catholic New World