Roman Catholics around the world honored the memory of Pope John Paul II, who died exactly a year ago. In Rome, tens of thousands of people took part in a candlelight service in St. Peter's Square.
At twenty-one thirty-seven local time - exactly at the hour when the previous pontiff died, his successor - Pope Benedict XVI stated that John Paul II continues to remain in the hearts and memory of people:
"A year has passed since the death of the servant of God John Paul II, which occurred exactly at this time - twenty-one thirty-seven."
Mass open-air services honoring the memory of John Paul II took place throughout Poland, in particular in Krakow, where the future Pope was once archbishop.