The saint and the sinner: Mugabe invited
Rome Tyrant Robert Mugabe is among VIPs who will attend the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II this weekend, it emerged today.
The Zimbabwean dictator has been slammed by the international community for driving his country to poverty and is one of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi's only allies.
His surprise inclusion on the list has raised eyebrows but it is not the first time that Catholic Mugabe's presence at Vatican ceremony has provoked controversy.
Sinner and saint: Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe is due to be at the beatification of Pope John Paul II
Prince Charles was caught out at Pope John Paul II's funeral when he shook hands with Mugabe. The prince later said he had been caught by surprise
In 2005 during the funeral mass for the late Pope John Paul II, Mugabe sat next to Prince Charles, who was left flustered as Mugabe turned to him and shook hands with him - leaving him to say: 'He caught me by surprise.'
Mugabe is actually the subject of a travel ban but is able to visit Rome as the event on Sunday is being held at the Vatican and he is an invited head of state.
The invitation is in contrast to that of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton but Zimbabwe's ambassador in London has been invited to that.
Security will be particularly tight in Rome when Mugabe, 87, arrives on an official flight at Rome's Fiumicino airport on Saturday and a no fly zone has been imposed over St Peter's for the ceremony.
Other VIPs include the president of Pope John Paul's native Poland, Bronislaw Komrowski, who will be accompanied by Senate Speaker, Grzegorz Schetyna, and House Speaker, Bogdan Borusewicz.
Vatican City: Despite a travel ban Mugabe is allowed to visit Rome as it is being held at the Vatican - a separate state - and he is invited as a head of state
King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium are among the European royalty who will travel to the Vatican to attend the beatification, while the Duke of Gloucester, Richard Windsor, will represent the British royal family.
Irish president Mary McAleese is also expected to attend and dozens of extra flights from Ireland have been laid on to bring the expected flood of pilgrims to Rome.
Officials expect around one million people to attend the ceremony on Sunday which will be led by Pope Benedict XVI and will take place in St Peter's Square before a vast TV audience.
The event will be spread over three days with a candlelit vigil being held at the famous Circus Maximus in Rome on Saturday and a thanksgiving Mass at the Vatican on Monday.
With many royals tied up with the wedding, the Duke of Gloucester will represent the British Royal family at the beatification
Police and Rome city council officials are taking extra measures to restrict traffic and ensure there are no security threats and metal detectors will be used to search the crowd before they are admitted.
Police chief Roberto Manganelli said: 'For the beatification of Pope Wojtyla there will be large crowds as well as heads of state and government leaders which always increases the terrorism risks.
'Of course surveillance, intelligence, investigation and civil protection of personnel and sites will be adequate.
'We should not expect to see a militarised city but a city with adequate security measures that will reassure those who are taking part in the event and those who are not. Rome is used to big events like this.'
Vatican official said that more than 2,000 journalists from all over the world had applied for accreditation to cover the event and a fleet of 23 ambulances and 300 volunteers will be on standby for medical emergencies.
The first pilgrims have already begun arriving in Rome and many are expected to take up prime positions in front of St Peter's on Saturday afternoon so they can get a good view of the event.
As part of the ceremony a phial of Pope John Paul's blood will also be displayed to the crowd and his coffin will also be brought from the crypt beneath St Peter's so the faithful can pray before it.
Pope
John Paul II died at the age of 84 on April 2, 2005, after a long battle
against Parkinson's disease and more than three million people poured
into Rome to visit his body and attend his funeral mass.
Pilgrims who gathered on the streets of Rome to remember the late pope immediately began the now famous cry, 'Santo Subito!' (Saint now!).
Beatification is the final step to sainthood. The miracle which has paved the way for Pope John Paul to be beatified or declared blessed, is that of French nun, Sister Marie Simon Pierre who is also expected to attend the ceremony.
An investigation by a panel of Vatican medical experts concluded that she had made an unexplained recovery from Parkinson's Disease - the same illness that affected Pope John Paul after praying to him.
Extra flights have been laid on - particularly from his native Poland - and pilgrims from all over the world are due to arrive with many finding hotels scarce with those available at a premium.
Last week police in Rome closed six hotels and issued fine of more than £250,000 to others in a blitz against tourist rip-offs ahead of the ceremony.
In March an American tour guide was accused of promoting an internet sales scam in which unsuspecting pilgrims were charged £150 for a false ticket granting them access to the ceremony which is in fact free of charge.
