Pope begins Easter as approaches of the beatification of John Paul - Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI arrives holding a candle that he leads Easter Vigil mass in the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican on April 23, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi

ROME. SAT, April 23, 2011 6: 24 pm EDT

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict XVI led Catholics in the world of Easter Saturday, before the beatification of his revered predecessor John Paul II on May 1.

84 Years Pontiff presided over an Easter Eve service in St. Peter's Basilica, giving a sermon on the theme of creation divine and adult six receiver converts from various countries in the Church.

Saturday ceremony followed a cautious approach Friday to treat a wider public through a televised question and answer between the Pope and a selected group session, including a child in the Japan and a Muslim woman in C?te d'Ivoire.

The feast of Easter, marking the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion will continue Sunday, when the Pope will deliver its twice a year "Urbi and Orbi" (to the city and in the world) address on the Saint-Pierre place.

The celebration was largely free of controversy given last year, when the allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests eclipsed the opportunity most sacred of the year of the Church, although the Pope referred to the scandal in his Friday speech.

Instead, preparations are underway for the influx of visitors in Rome expected next week for three days of events in which program the late Pope John Paul II will be declared "blessed," the last step before canonization.

The beatification has been seen as an opportunity for the Church to renew his message and his image of repair after the scandal which deeply damaged his standing and credibility.

At least 300,000 extra visitors are expected in Rome and preparations were visible in the streets of the Italian capital, where giant outdoor television screens will show the ceremony in the crowd is not close enough in person.

The beatification is expected to be one of the biggest events in Rome, as the late Pope died in 2005 and millions came to his funeral and to display her body as she was in a State.

(Written by James Mackenzie)

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