POPE BENEDICT XVI: Grass was being laid on the forecourt of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican yesterday as preparations continued for tomorrow's ceremony of investiture which will see Pope Benedict formally installed as successor to Pope John Paul, writes Patsy McGarry in Rome
The ceremony, which will take place on the spot where Pope John Paul's requiem Mass was held, begins at 9am Irish time. It will be celebrated by Cardinal Estevez of Chile, who on Tuesday announced the new Pope from the basilica balcony at St Peter's.
During the Mass, Pope Benedict will be given his Fisherman's Ring as well as the pallium - a narrow vestment of white wool embroidered with six black silk crosses - which symbolises his pastoral authority.
The ceremony will be attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the first time a serving Archbishop of Canterbury has attended such an event since the Reformation. US vicepresident Dick Cheney is also expected to attend.
Rome's Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni had been invited but is unable to attend as Sunday is the first day of Passover. However, he said he was pleased to be asked.
The head of the Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, will not be there but will be represented by Chrisostomos, Metropolitan of Ephesus.
There are not expected to be as many world leaders at the ceremony as were at Pope John Paul's funeral. President McAleese will represent Ireland. Other dignitaries will include the German chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President Horst Köhler. France will be represented by Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin, with Prince Philip representing Britain.
Spain's King Juan Carlos and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will also be there, as will Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski.
Republican Congressman Peter King will lead a delegation from the US House of Representatives.
More than 1,000 volunteers have been recruited to deal with the expected crowd of 500,000, including an estimated 100,000 Germans. Among the volunteers are some from the German-speaking area of northern Italy. It was being said in Rome yesterday that Pope Benedict may wander through the crowds in St Peter's Square after the ceremony.
The pontiff will meet attending dignitaries on Sunday afternoon and plans to hold an audience for German pilgrims on Monday - a national holiday in Italy, marking the 60th anniversary of liberation during the second World War.
