Half a million faithful took
part in last week's events in Rome and the Vatican in honour of
the saints Pius of Pietralcina - commonly known as Padre Pio -
and Leopold of Mandic, police sources said Thursday.
The events centred on the basilicas of San Lorenzo fuori le
mura, San Salvatore in Lauro at St Peter's, where the remains of
the saints were on display for veneration.
"From the moment the saints' reliquaries arrived in Rome,
the forces of law and order ensured the safety of an unbroken
line of people who, with great patience and cooperation,
underwent safety checks in order to access the places of
worship," the police headquarters said.
On average 500 members of the police, carabinieri, finance
police and state forestry corps were deployed each day, in
addition to members of the Rome municipal police force.
The remains of the two Capuchin saint-confessors arrived in
Rome on February 3 to represent the Missionaries of Mercy during
the Jubilee Year.
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