Hyderabad: A relic of St Pope John Paul II, which is a nation-wide tour, will touch Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This is part of the ‘JaaGo’ national event, being organised by Jesus Youth, a Catholic youth movement, to be held at Bengaluru in October.
The relic is a small portion of the wooden cross, held by the pope while praying on Good Friday, a few days before his death in 2005.
The relic began its journey in Telangana from Mancherial, Warangal and then in Hyderabad. Special prayers were organised in churches, including St Mary’s Basilica and across in honour of John Paul II. The relic was also taken to several households.
From Hyderabad, the relic will travel to Andhra Pradesh, where it will be venerated in several locations till August 8.
Fr Tomy Philip, chaplain, Jesus Youth India, said “Before his demise, Pope John Paul II, who was not able to participate in the Way of the Cross on Good Friday due to his illness, was praying in his own chapel holding the wooden cross. This relic contains a small particle of that very cross.”
Fr Selvaraj, parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Alwal, said “many people came to pay homage to the relic of St. John Paul II. I’m grateful to the youth who brought this relic,” he added
