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Illinoisans Celebrate Late Pope's Beatification
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinoisans celebrated the beatification of Pope John Paul II, remembering when the late pontiff came to Chicago in 1979.

Dozens gathered at Five Holy Martyrs church in Chicago on Sunday afternoon for a special Mass and celebration. Pope John Paul II celebrated an open-air Mass at the church on Oct. 5, 1979.

Robert Spiewak of Woodridge was at the church, which is next door to Pope John Paul II School.

Spiewak says he was at the 1979 service with the Polish pope. The 67-year-old says he's not surprised the pope was beatified because ``we thought he was saintly then.''

Some 1.5 million pilgrims flooded Rome Sunday to watch Pope John Paul II move a step closer to sainthood. It was one of the largest Vatican Masses in history.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
05 02 11 by Newsroom
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