Vatican declares Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints

A Mass co-celebrated by Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict was watched by roughly one million pilgrims and a vast TV and radio audience. Nearly 100 foreign delegations are attending, including royal dignitaries and heads of state and government, BBC News reports. It is the first time two popes have been canonised at the same time. Correspondents say the move is being seen as an attempt to unite conservative and reformist camps within the Roman Catholic Church. Pilgrims poured into Rome and special bus, train and boat services ferried many more into the city early on Sunday morning for the two-hour ceremony which started at 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Some had bagged places to sleep overnight as close as possible to St Peter's Square, hoping to be among the first in when it opens to the public. Giant screens have also been erected in nearby streets and elsewhere in the city for those unable to get into the square. "We've been counting down the days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said one pilgrim from Poland, John Paul II's home country. "We're already hoarse from singing," he told AFP. For full version go to