Special security plan for the beatification of Karol Wojtyla

Rome: Pope John Paul IIwill be beatified on May 1. For this important event, which has been eagerly awaited, more than one million believers will converge to Rome.

The Italian capital will be invaded by pilgrims coming from all over the world for the three-day event and the police will ensure them the highest security.

The Police Headquarters in Rome and the central offices of the Department of Public Security, with over 2 thousand police officers, have been working for over 2 months to ensure that all the events related to the Polish pope’s beatification will run smoothly.

Aerial cameras installed on board of police helicopters flying over the Eternal City; divers patrolling the River Tiber’ s banks; snipers stationed discreetly all around St. Peter’s Square: These are some of the measures implemented to ensure that the celebrations will take place without problems.

In addition, security cameras will transmit images in real time to the office of the Questore in Rome (the head of Rome Provincial Police Headquarters) and the Ministry of the Interior’s situation room, from all the areas concerned.

There will be cameras also in some of the city’s strategic sites as well as at seaports, airports and railway stations, where pilgrims are expected.

Controls will be strengthened even in the parking areas for busses and other vehicles and in the main underground stations.

The “hot spots“ around St. Peter’s Square, where the main event will take place, will be divided into three concentric rings of increasing degree of security, patrolled by police and their canine units: A maximum security area, a reserved area and an area to be accessed only through metal detectors.

The Police Office at the Vatican State will be ready to ensure protection to the faithful watching over the crowds that will gather in St. Peter’s Square for the beatification ceremony on May 1, and the Thanksgiving Mass scheduled for Monday, May 2.