Page 7 - Mon Rome News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

And now you caget the speed you need with the cut you wa. the all-new jn deere eztrak z600 series -- nine miles pehour, a four-year limited warranty and an expert cut in expert time. what will you create? learn more about getting an expert cut in expert time atohn deere.com/eztrak. from america's news headquarters i'm he marianne rafferty. thousands of catholics descending on rome ahead of pope john paul ii beatification. jennifer davis is live in rome with the latest. what can we expect to see as the morning wears on? >> hi there. well, the day has dawned here in rome and thousands and thousa...

>> heather: record crowds overflowing st. peter's square in vatican city as the late john powell ii moves closer to sainthood and his successor, pope benedict xvi, presided over the joyful ceremony, officially declaring the late pontiff, blessed. lauren green has more from rome. >> reporter: heather, you know, the number of people who descended on rome for the beatification far exceeded expectations. they expected 300,000 to be here and five times that number, actually arrived and 1.5 million or more people, packed the area around st. peter's square, the basilica and all of the neighbors side ...

Always prince harry. back to you. >> all right, thank you so much, nbc's keith miller for that. princess catherine's family checked out of their hotel this morning including sister pippa middleton and her brother james, pippa has attracted a lot of attention. we'll have more coverage from london coming pum. as many as 1 million pilgrim gr pilgrims are converging on rome. spirits are high ahead of the beatification mass, at the conclusion of the mass the late pope will be one step away from potentially being declared a saint. i'm joined now live from rome by msnbc's chris jansing, with anot...

On the tore-election for president obama, filled with roadblocks, events like the gulf oil spill that required decisive and immediate action. the president has two years' experience under his belt to learn for the future. chris matthews is host of "hardball" here on nbc. >> one of my favorites around here. >> likewise. >> we got to know each other during the papal funeral, of all strange places to meet. >> and now have the beatification coming up. talk about that. >> talk about a gig. a great one. >> two of the 2 million people descending on rome, yet we do press. >> funerals, sainthood, what ...

Meet some people that will get into the ballet. >> i couldn't afford to be seen coming out of it any way. don't worry about it. >> what are some of the hopes you have for vegas and future? >> i want everyone to come, this is a true story. my best friend, her daughter and her mother came. for three generations all had something they really enjoyed. so i think so many families coming my show and 21st birthdays, 60th anniversary. i think there is something for everyone to enjoy. it's an invitation but it's better to europe, you can't go to the eiffel tower and look down on rome. [ laughter ] >> y...