The Head of State and his wife Madam Chantal BIYA arrived Rome in the afternoon of Friday 2014 to attend the canonisation of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII scheduled to take place at the Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican. The special Mass will be concelebrated by Pope Francis and 150 Cardinals as well as 1 000 Bishops.

President Paul BIYA and his wife were offered a bouquet of flowers by two young children, Ntemngwa Anne Raisa and Kemtchaing Yoan Oswaldo. They were also greeted by an official of the Vatican, Mgr Alberto Ortega, Cameroon’s Ambassador to the Vatican Antoine Zanga and Cameroon’s Ambassador to Italy Dominic Essama.

The special mass on Sunday 27 April 2014 will be the high point of the visit of the Presidential Couple to Rome. It is expected to draw over 5 million pilgrims from all over the world, including Heads of State and Government, Royalty and representatives of other religions, such as the Orthodox, the Anglicans, Jews and Moslems.