Vatican confirms Friday funeral for John Paul II

Pope John Paul’s funeral will be held on Friday morning, and his remains will be interred in the grotto of St Peter’s Basilica where popes throughout the ages have been laid to rest, the Vatican said today.

Chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the announcement after the College of Cardinals met for two and a half hours in its first gathering before a secret vote later this month to elect a successor to John Paul.