Cardinals to pray at pope's tomb before it opens to public

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world's cardinals were scheduled to pray at the tomb of Pope John Paul II April 12, the evening before the grotto under St. Peter's Basilica was to open to the public.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the cardinals would visit the tomb after the evening's celebration of a memorial Mass for the pope.

The grotto was to open to the public at 7 a.m. April 13, the spokesman said, and was expected to remain open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

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