Batch of blessed Pilsner Urquell beer heading to Vatican

The Pilsner brewed pilsner beer specifically for the Vatican for the Easter holidays and set sail on Monday afternoon from the West Bohemian Pilsen to Rome.

With the Easter celebrations still reverberating, Vatican these days is in full preparations for the beatification of John Paul II. This ceremonial act has brought countless pilgrims to the Vatican who want to celebrate right at the heart of the Catholic Church. For these solemn moments, the world-famous Czech brewery Plzensky Prazdroj, together with the citizens of Pilsen, sent a special Easter batch of their beer to the Vatican. While still in the brewhouse, the beer was blessed by Pilsen's Bishop, Frantisek Radkovsky, on 11^th March.

The shipment of blessed Pilsner Urquell beer dedicated to the Holy See contained 2,011 bottles symbolizing the year in which the beatification of John Paul II takes place. The Czech Ambassador to the Holy See, Dr. Pavel Vosalik, handed it over to President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, today at 10:00 am . The longtime traditional beverage will be served between 30^th April and 2^nd May at official events of the Catholic Church connected with John Paul II’s beatification. (Kokes János, MTI)