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As many as half a million people are expected to gather today in Cracow for a remembrance march for Pope John Paul II.
Mourners will wear white in an echo of the legendary White March ('Bialy Marsz') of May 1981, an event which came in the wake of the attempt on the Pope's life on May 13th 1981.
That historic march twenty-five years ago was organized by students from the Jagiellonian University, and tens of thousands of Cracovians joined in the procession. Today's march is also being organized by the students, and Cracovians of all ages will attend.
The March will begin at 5 o' clock this afternoon on the Main Market Square. It will then pass down Grodzka street before heading west along Franciszkanska (past the Curia) to the Blonia Common. The main route to Blonia from the Planty will be Foch Avenue.
Blonia was the scene of the Pope's first speech in Cracow after he was elected to the Papacy in 1978. Over the last few days, huge crowds have gathered there each night for masses that have been held at the time that the pontiff passed away (9.37pm). On Friday there will be a major concert at that time on the Common. The Cracow Philharmonic will be performing, and they will be joined by a number of leading artists from across the world.
The funeral itself will be shown on screens at Blonia at 10am, Friday morning.
| Source: NH | April.7.2005 |
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