Pope John Paul's coffin was exhumed on Friday ahead of his beatification as tens of thousands of people began arriving in Rome for one of the biggest events since his funeral in 2005.

The Vatican said the coffin was removed from the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica while top Vatican officials and some of the late pope's closest aides looked on and prayed. Continue reading.

Osservatore Romano via Reuters

The coffin containing the body of Pope John Paul II is exhumed ahead of his beatification in the Vatican April 29.

Osservatore Romano via Reuters

The coffin containing the body of Pope John Paul II is exhumed ahead of his beatification in the Vatican on April 29.

As the Vatican prepares to move the late pontiff one step closer to sainthood this Sunday, Rome has been caught up with beatification fever. Claudio Lavanga reports for NBC News:

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Polish Catholic priests warm up on Feb. 12 ahead of the 14th Alpine Ski Championships for clergymen in Wisla, southern Poland.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Priests limber up before taking to the slopes.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

A priest puts on his ski boots.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

Priests take to the slopes.

Pawel Ulatowski / AFP - Getty Images

A priest competes in the 14th Alpine Skiing Championships for clergymen.

I've hunted high and low for more information on this very special event, but all I can find is this tantalizing snippet from thenews.pl:

Skiers in clerical collars are out in force this weekend in the resort of Wisła in the Beskid Mountains for the national skiing championships for priests.

The leaders of the faith compete for the Pope John Paul II Cup in several Alpine disciplines, the main of which [sic] is the 800-metre-long giant slalom.

The tradition of such events goes back to the early 1980s. Click to see more of today's best images.

Vassil Donev / EPA

Bulgarian Orthodox faithful light candles with jars of honey during a holy mass for the 'sanctification of honey' at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin church in the town of Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria on Feb. 10. Honey and beehives are sanctified by performing a ritual for health and rich harvest.

Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images

A woman prays in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin church in Blagoevgrad on Feb. 10, during a celebration in honor of St. Haralambos, protector of the beekeepers.

More details from photographer Vassil Donev:

On St. Haralambos' Day, sick or blind people go to church and pray for healing. According to traditional concepts, St. Haralambos is the lord of all illnesses, especially the plague. Doing any housework is strictly forbidden that day, because of the fear of any coming illness. Women are only allowed to bake round bread and decorate it with a cross in the middle and a large wreath at the edge for health. Honey is consecrated in the local church and then all the bread is coated with that honey. The rest of the honey is kept in the house as a remedy. According to the belief, St. Haralambos blesses the land and it gets warmer and ready to be cultivated.

Slamet Riyadi / AP

A statue of Jesus Christ is left smashed on the floor at a church that was attacked by Muslim hardliners in Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia on Feb. 8. Hundreds of Islamic hard-liners stormed a courthouse and set two churches on fire to protest what they considered a lenient sentence for a Christian convicted of blaspheming Islam.

Titian Silaban / EPA

Police stand guard after a riot in Temanggung on Feb. 8. Hundreds of Islamic hard-liners stormed a courthouse and set two churches on fire to protest what they considered a lenient sentence for a Christian convicted of blaspheming Islam.Witnesses said at least nine people were rushed to the hospital with injuries and police led away some protesters for questioning.

Hundreds of Islamic hard-liners stormed a courthouse and set two churches on fire today in central Indonesia to protest what they considered a lenient sentence for a Christian convicted of blaspheming Islam.

Antonius Richmond Bawengan, 58, was found guilty of distributing books and leaflets that "spread hatred about Islam" and sentenced to five years for blasphemy.

Full story.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

A boy runs to hug Pope Benedict XVI as he leads a weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Feb. 2. The boy managed to sneak through security to greet the pontiff.

Tiziana Fabi / AFP - Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI greets a child during his weekly general audience on Feb. 2 in Paul VI hall at The Vatican.

Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

A boy, who managed to sneak through security and reach the papal throne, is carried outside by security after he met Pope Benedict XVI during a weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Feb. 2.

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Sergei Chirikov / EPA

Russian Orthodox Christians lower a young girl into the cold water of the Moskva river as they celebrate the Epiphany holiday in Moscow, Russia on Jan. 18.

Sergei Chirikov / EPA

A Russian Orthodox Christian woman prays while diving into the icy water of the Moskva river, as another woman looks on and collects water believing that it is holy in Moscow, Russia on Jan. 18.

A couple of weeks ago Elena posted photos of Epiphany celebrations around Europe. The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian Calendar, so they will be observing the feast tomorrow. According to photographer Sergei Chirikov, who took these pictures today, many Russians mark the holiday by diving into the cold waters of their local river.