Canonisations to be shown live in 3-D

DOZENS of cinemas across the UK and Ireland will broadcast the canonisations of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII in Rome on Sunday, some in 3-D, writes James Macintyre.

Some 47 picture houses in major British cities will be screening the ceremony, while Masses will be held in Ireland at the Ballybrit racecourse in Galway and the Knock Basilica at the Marian Shrine in County Mayo. TV news channels including Sky and Ireland’s RTE are expected to provide rolling coverage. Events in St Peter’s Square will be filmed by 13 3-D cameras.

At a Vatican press conference, the head of Vatican television (CTV), Mgr Dario Viganò, said that the 3-D technology was being put in place in order to allow those who are unable to attend, for reasons including cost, to have an experience that is “fully immersive”. He added that the live broadcasts will need “more satellites than the Sochi Olympics”.

In Ireland, highlights of the life of the Pope John Paul II broadcast will include his visit to Ballybrit in 1979, when he celebrated Mass with more than 250,000 people.