Venice: Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating an open-air Mass for 300,000 faithful in Venice, the spiritual highlight of his two-day pastoral visit.
Benedict greeted worshippers from his popemobile as he arrived for Sunday Mass, stopping briefly to kiss a swaddled infant wearing pink socks who was passed to him from the crowd.
It is the first papal visit to the city since John Paul II plied the canals in a gondola 26 years ago. The Mass was being celebrated in an expansive park.
Organisers erected an enormous domed stage for the occasion replicating St Mark`s Basilica, with images of its golden mosaics printed on cloth.
Bureau Report
Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.
