Innocent loses out to Pope John Paul

THE body of a 17th century pope who helped fund Protestant William of Orange’s invasion of Britain and Ireland is to be removed from the Vatican to make way for the remains of Pope John Paul II.

Italian scholars have claimed the Vatican is deliberately downgrading Pope Innocent XI as punishment for his role in helping the Dutch-born “King Billy” seize power in Ireland.

The remains of Innocent, who was pope from 1676 to 1689, will be removed from the Chapel of St Sebastian, at the entrance to St Peter’s basilica, to make way for Pope John Paul II who is to be beatified on May 1.