Rome mayor Ignazio Marino said
Thursday the city was "ready, very ready" for the canonisation
of former popes John Paul II and John XXIII on April 27, while
also admitting one critical point remained.
The double canonisation by Pope Francis in St Peter's
Square is expected to draw 800,000 pilgrims from all over the
world, according to the interior ministry, as well 19 heads of
State and 24 prime ministers from 61 official delegations
representing 54 countries.
"The only remaining criticality is that we are expecting
2,000 coaches to arrive, while only 500 have registered so far,"
said Marino.
"We have asked for law-enforcement agents to be deployed at
the access points to the GRA city ring road so that coaches
arriving without a permit can be directed to free parking lots,"
he continued.
Marino ruled out using the Gianicolo car park near the
Vatican, built to accommodate pilgrims arriving in Rome for the
2000 Holy Year.
"We need to keep the lungotevere (stretch of road running
alongside the Tiber giving access to the car park) free for
international delegations and also for emergencies," the mayor
explained.
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