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And communism, flash forward to 9/11, the response of the vatican, the rise of china as a global super power, there isn't a single issue in which john paul isn't intrinsically connected. that's what makes him such a figure. >> as we remember him on this day, never's memory, catholic or not, was the image of john paul ii and his decline in old age, he was a man who suffered enormously. he suffered from parkinson's disease. he was shot by a would-be assassin and he suffered terribly as a result of that. and his suffering is very much remembered by the catholic faithful. it's been one of the them...

Beatifying his predecessor, a man he knew very well from their long years together at the vatican. you can see the flags there from poland. there are, of course,.countless poll e poles there. there are heads of state, members of the royal families of the world. it is the biggest crowd we have seen at the vatican since the funeral of john paul ii six years ago. he is being recognized as a blessed figure within the church, the third of four steps towards sainthood, a process that began with a close study of his life, his proclamation as a servant of god, then as a venerables man and now as a ble...

Around the world and you would get millions and millions to see him. certainly his big public event necessary rome were magnets for humanity. and that status he had as a rock star and the popular imagination, that's on display here today. >> do you get the feeling that perhaps they're longing for a little of that to return in the sense that benedict the xvi doesn't command the same figure that john pope ii did. yes. and we're talking also back seat a church that has been badly demoralized with the pressure of the youth crisis and other opportunities. >> we're going to look at some of the pictu...

Procession of mass. he will make his way through the crowd. >> you're watching live coverage from the vatican at the beatification mass of pope john paul ii gets under way and there is pope benedict xvi. the mass celebrates his predecessor, but draws our attention to this pope, as well. he is 84 years old, six years into his pontificate. i think it's fair to say that he has never seen a crowd like this, a crowd that has come to show its devotion. ben detective xvi is a different kind of figure. he was a theological, a

Represented here today, 16 heads of state, official delegation. this is going to be a remarkable day in a city, of course, that has seen quite a few remarkable days over the years. >> john, i want you to help us with something very basic. millions of people are watching this around the world. of course, many of them are catholics, but many of them are not. so what is pope benedict xvi about to proclaim about john paul ii. are catholics now to pray to john paul ii? does he become a figure of worship? >> well, according to official catholic theology, catholics tot make saints, they venerate them...