POPE John Paul II “offered his life for his flock and for the entire human family”, the dean of the College of Cardinals told hundreds of thousands of people gathered on April 8 for the Pope’s funeral Mass and burial.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean, presided over the Mass concelebrated by 164 of the world’s 183 cardinals.
Another 500 bishops and 3000 priests, wearing red stoles, participated.
Kings, queens, presidents — including US President George W. Bush — Cabinet ministers and ambassadors representing more than 140 nations sat off to one side of Pope John Paul’s casket.
On the other side of the altar sat the representatives of the Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and US evangelical communities.
Ten Jewish and 10 Muslim organisations sent delegations, as did Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus.
An estimated 300,000 people filled St Peter’s Square and the streets surrounding the Vatican.
Hundreds of thousands of other pilgrims watched the funeral on big screen televisions set up in the main squares of Rome and at a university on the outskirts of the city.
In his homily, Cardinal Ratzinger said Pope John Paul’s life was a constant response to Christ’s call to all believers, “Follow me”.
In the crowd, Pedro Paul of Caracas, Venezuela, said that in his death Pope John Paul “continues to evangelise. He hasn’t gone yet. He is still guiding us”.
A nun from Mendoza, Argentina, expressed amazement at the size of the crowd and the atmosphere.
Members of the crowd, particularly the Poles, waved their national flags, but several banners with slogans were seen as well.
The common message was summed up on one sign: “Sainthood now”.
A simple cross and a bronze plaque with the Pope’s name were placed on top of the cypress coffin, which was sealed with red ribbons and placed inside a zinc-lined wooden casket, said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
Italy’s main television station, RAI Uno, reported that dirt from the Pope’s Polish hometown, Wadowice, was added to the dirt in the chapel where the Pope’s casket was laid, but Mr Navarro-Valls said he could not verify the report.
He added that Pope John Paul was buried between the only two women buried in the grotto under the basilica — the 15th century Queen Charlotte of Cyprus and the 17th century Queen Christina of Sweden.
CNS
