1.5m watch as John Paul II is beatified

POPE Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II before 1.5 million people in St Peter’s Square and surrounding streets yesterday, moving the former pontiff one step closer to sainthood in one of the largest turnouts ever for a Vatican Mass.

The crowd in Rome erupted in cheers, tears and applause as an enormous photo of a young, smiling John Paul was unveiled over the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica and a choir launched into a hymn long associated with the Polish-born pope.

“He restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope,” Benedict said in his homily, referring to John Paul’s role in helping bring down communism. Benedict dotted his remarks with personal recollections of a man he came to “revere” during their near-quarter of a century working together.