A bird flies past a giant photo showing late Pope John Paul II displayed on the colonnade at St Peter's square on April 28, 2011 at The Vatican. John Paul II will be honoured on May 1 at a solemn beatification ceremony in Saint Peter's basilica that will give the late pontiff "blessed" status for the world's 1.1 billion Catholics and put him on the path towards full sainthood. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO