Vatican City, May 29, 2006 / 22:00 pm
This Friday an eternal flame in honor of Pope John Paul II will be lit at the Vatican grottos, in a ceremony to be led by the Vicar General of Vatican City, Archbishop Angelo Comastri.
The event will take place at 12:30pm local time, and will be attended by several famous athletes, including Olympic champion Manuela Di Centa, who will carry a lighted torch from the Monastery of St. Vincent in Bassano Romano to the Vatican to light the flame.
On its way to the Monastery the torch will be first be carried throughout Italy by several athletes. The John Paul II International Foundation has organized the ceremony as one part of series of social and religious events.