The late Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified on May 1, had passed away without fulfilling his wish of taking a dip in the River Ganges, a holy river to the Hindus world over, according to Mar Rahael Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur.

Pope John Paul II conveyed his wish of taking a dip in the Ganges when the then senior Catholic Bishop from Kerala late Mar Joseph Kundukulam visited the Vatican and met the Pope in 1986.

Mar Joseph Kundukulam himself revealed this at a meeting at Thrissur convened to discuss the arrangements for the Pope’s visit to India that was to take place later.

“When Bishop Kandukulam revealed this wish of Pope in the meeting, the participants were really touched by their hearts,” said Mar Rahael Thattil at a meeting in Thrissur convened in relation to the beatification on Friday.

Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1 ahead of the Vatican conferring sainthood on him.

Earlier, this honour was given to Mother Teresa who died on September 5, 1997 and was beatified on October 19, 2003.