Warsaw, Poland, Apr 16, 2010 / 14:08 pm
Concelebrating with the bishops of Poland, Cardinal Angelo Sodano will preside over a public funeral Mass for the victims of the plane crash that claimed nearly one hundred lives last Saturday. Before the funeral Mass this coming Sunday, the cardinal will lead a second Mass before the burial of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria.
Warsaw's historically significant Pilsudski Square will be the site of a public funeral celebration for the many who died when their plane went down near the airport of Smolensk, Russia last week. According to Vatican Radio, members of the Polish Episcopal Conference will celebrate the Mass along with Pope Benedict's delegate, Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
After Sunday's Mass, the mortal remains of President Kaczynski and his wife will be brought to St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow, where a second Mass will take place, also under the cardinal's direction. President of the Polish parliament and interim Head of State, Bronsilaw Komorowski, and Solidarnosc (Solidarity) movement president Janusz Sniadek will make addresses during the celebration
Afterwards, Cardinal Archbishop Stanlaw Dziwisz of Krakow will oversee a liturgical ceremony at Wawel Castle, where the couple are expected to be buried alongside the kings of Poland and other important historical figures.
A memorial Mass for the President, his wife and all the victims of last Saturday's plane crash was held Thursday evening in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Cardinal Sodano presided over the celebration, at which many diplomats and foreign diplomats to the Holy See were present.