Vatican: The celebrations are to be rich in pomp and splendour, Paddy Agnew reports from Rome.
At six o'clock this evening, 25 years to the hour after his election to the seat of Peter, ailing Pope John Paul II will preside over a special thanksgiving Mass in the Basilica of St Peter.
Due to attend an event - sure to be rich in Vatican pomp, splendour and pageantry - will be nearly all 193 members of the College of Cardinals, already gathered in Rome for meetings both this week and next. Included among them is Cardinal Desmond Connell from Dublin.
Much attention will be focused on the Pope's keynote homily, high-point of a ceremony that will be echoed in Catholic cathedrals, chapels and churches across the globe and, indeed, perhaps even clandestinely in private homes in places such as the People's Republic of China.
Speaking at his weekly public audience in St Peter's yesterday, the 83-year-old Pope invited "Romans and Pilgrims" to join him in prayer at this evening's special mass, saying: "I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for all the good wishes and prayers that have been granted me on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of my pontificate. I would like to invite Romans and Pilgrims to join with me, here in St. Peter's Square, tomorrow at six o'clock to praise the Lord and to give thanks on this happy occasion."
Although the last month has been marked by a succession of alarmist reports about the Pope's failing health, especially in the wake of his all too visible weakness during his visit to Slovakia four weeks ago, the Pope both looked and sounded relatively strong yesterday.
Visibly cheered by the presence of Polish compatriots, many of whom broke into cries of the now familiar "Sto Lat" ("May you live 100 years"), the Pope told them that he was glad to be able "to count on your spiritual support".
The next few days are likely to test the Pope's frail health to the limit, given the number of anniversary-linked events over which he is expected to preside. This morning, he begins his day with a ceremony in the Paul VI hall at which he will sign the apostolic exhortation marking the conclusions to the 2001 synod "The Bishop, Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World".
Tomorrow he is due to attend a special concert by the Leipzig Orchestra and Choir, again in the Paul VI hall, while on Saturday he will address the College of Cardinals.
On Sunday, the Pope faces perhaps the most taxing of all his public engagements when he presides over a three-hour ceremony marking the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a ceremony due to be attended by more than 200,000 pilgrims, according to Rome city police authorities.
On Monday, the Pope will receive many of the Mother Teresa pilgrims in a Vatican audience, while on Tuesday he will hold an ordinary public consistory in St Peter's Square, at which he will elevate 31 new cardinals. Rounding off a busy week for the Pope will be next Wednesday's special ceremony, again in St Peter's Square, when he presents the newly-appointed cardinals with their cardinal's ring and celebrates Mass with them.