Ukraine: Papal Liturgy To Gather 300,000

Pope John Paul II is visiting Ukraine, June 23-27. The visit is expected to gather 300,000 pilgrims and 15,000 official delegates and journalists, Father Theodosius Yankiv, coordination commission co-chairman for visit preparations, announced to a news conference. His Holiness will serve liturgy in Kiev, an approximate 650 priests to assist him. A six metre high pedestal shaped as a ship will be built for the purpose at the Chaika (Seagull) airfield in the city environs. The pedestal will be adorned with several icons of Christ and the three icons of the Virgin Mary which miraculously survived at Kiev's mediaeval Cathedral of St. Sophia.