The Pope’s Beatification
The Pope’s Beatification is worth a place on this list. The world celebrated the life of one man on May 2, 2011, but they also celebrated the death of another, making it a peculiar day. Pope John Paul II was beatified and canonized in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City the day before, on May 1. Numerous heads of state and other dignitaries attended the spectacular occasion, but the next day it was all but forgotten.
Osama bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world, was killed in a raid on his compound in Pakistan by American special forces, commanded by SEAL Team Six, just hours after the event. Even though President Barack Obama made the official announcement that evening, the information had already leaked and was the topic of all conversation that day. The beatification of the pope was put on hold right away, despite the fact that certain people—including the president of Peru—tried to give him credit by saying that the killing of bin Laden was his miracle.
- Date:May 2, 2011
