Pope John Paul II's body exhumed for beatification...

Pope John Paul II's coffin was exhumed on Friday ahead of his beatification as tens of thousands of people began arriving in Rome for one of the biggest events since his funeral in 2005.

The Vatican said the coffin was removed from the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica while top Vatican officials and some of the late pope's closest aides looked on and prayed.

Those present at the ceremony included Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, his personal secretary and right-hand man for decades, and the Polish nuns who ran the papal household for 27 years.

The wooden coffin will be placed in front of the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica. After Sunday's beatification mass, it will remain in that spot and the basilica will remain open until all visitors who want to view it have done so. (Pope John Paul II's body exhumed for beatification... )

(Billy's Thoughts>>>> This Pope did a lot of things to make this world a better place. We all should bless the Lord for the good work he did. At the same time all of us should be careful so we don't worship our leaders that is something which only belongs to the Lord. Also one becomes a saint just by putting one's faith in Jesus.)