Italian peak to be named after Pope

A mountain in the central region of Italy is reportedly to be renamed after Pope John Paul II, who enjoyed hiking in the area. According to the BBC News website, the peak is in the Gran Sasso range, the highest part of the Appennines. A ceremony to name the peak was due to have been held on 18 May but was planned before the Pope’s death. He once reportedly told pilgrims in Rome that, in the Bible, mountains were “a special place to meet God”. Monsignor Casolini, of the Abruzzo regional committee, is quoted as saying: “We decided on the Gran Sasso because the Pope visited it many times in order to get some rest as well as to pray. This place always had a special place in the Pope’s heart.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd