Unbelievable! A VIAL containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II has been prepared as a relic for veneration at his beatification ceremony this weekend.
The blood was drawn "during the last days of the pope's life" in case a transfusion might be necessary, the Vatican said in a statement, noting that an anti-coagulant in the container ensured that the blood remained liquid.The vial will be placed in a "precious reliquary" specially prepared by the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations for the occasion on Sunday when the popular Polish pope is beatified, the penultimate step to sainthood.About 400,000 people are expected to descend on Rome for the beatification mass to be celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.