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Posted on 04/03/2005 5:09:57 AM PDT by bd476
World Mourns Pope as Pilgrims Gather in Homage
21 minutes ago Top Stories - Reuters
By Philip Pullella and Jane Barrett
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul's body was laid in view of the world Sunday and his words resonated across St. Peter's Square as faithful mourned the Pole who helped topple Communism in Europe but left a riven Church.
Streams of pilgrims converged on Rome in a spontaneous outpouring of affection for the Pontiff, who died Saturday evening aged 84 in his Vatican bed after an extended struggle with ill health that slowly sapped his strength.
The Pope's body, clad in red and white vestments, was put on view for the world by Vatican television. He lay on a bier under a simple crucifix with his bishop's staff under his arm.
Some 130,000 worshippers gathered at St. Peter's Square to hear the Pope's own words read out at a somber Requiem Mass for the world's best known religious leader, who wielded political influence and kept an iron grip on Church dogma.
John Paul's words resonated through the square when an archbishop read his text prepared for the Sunday after Easter.
"It is love which converts hearts and gives peace," the text said. Many wept when the words were read.
News of his death brought tears to faithful in the square and across the globe, triggered a river of tributes and set off what was expected to be one of the greatest influxes of pilgrims in Rome's memory.
"He has called us and we have come," said Giuseppe Incarnati, who rushed to the tiny Vatican City from Naples to be close to the deceased Pope who transformed the papacy by taking his message of reconciliation to all corners of the globe.
ANCIENT RITUALS
His death set in motion elaborate rituals that end one papacy and start the next, and which could last up to a month.
His body will be shifted to St. Peter's Basilica Monday for public viewing and will lie in state until his funeral, probably between Wednesday and Friday, where some 200 foreign leaders including President Bush are expected.
Within 15 to 20 days, the 117 cardinals from around the globe charged with electing the next pope will go behind closed doors in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. When they make their choice, white smoke will pour from the chapel's chimney.
World leaders hailed John Paul as a force for peace across the globe during his 26-year papacy, while others credited him with a major role in the fall of the Iron Curtain. Some suggested he henceforth be called John Paul the Great.
"The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd. The world has lost a champion of human freedom," Bush said at the White House.
But liberal Catholics criticized his proclamations against contraception, abortion, married priests and women clergy.
"PAPABILI"
As day broke over the Polish Pope's adopted twin cities -- Rome and Vatican City -- the flow of pilgrims from afar began arriving in a fitting tribute to a Pontiff who traveled the equivalent of 30 times the circumference of the earth.
In St. Peter's Square, tearful worshippers sang Gregorian chants in the open-air mass presided over by two church leaders considered potential successors, or "papabili" -- Cardinal Angelo Sodano of Italy and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany.
From Brazil to the Philippines, South Africa to Germany, Roman Catholics prayed and mourned.
On Indonesia's Nias island, survivors of last week's huge earthquake gathered outdoors Sunday for their first mass since the tremor to commemorate the Pope.
Chinese Catholics, forbidden by their Communist rulers from recognizing the Holy See, sent a commemorative telegram.
Even Afghanistan's puritanical Islamist Taliban movement said some of what the Pope had said was "worth considering."
Many countries decreed periods of national mourning, with his native Poland announcing six days and Communist Cuba three. Italy also called three days of mourning.
"ONE LAST TIME"
Bracing for up to 2 million pilgrims, Rome raced to provide extra trains, fresh water and thousands of beds.
"We were at a party last night when we heard of the Pope's death," said Erminia Palmieri as she arrived in Rome's main train station from an outlying town.
"Everyone immediately stopped dancing. We went home and then decided to go to Rome. It's important to be close to him spiritually but also physically because he was great."
Rome authorities planned to erect giant screens across the city for pilgrims to follow celebrations, and the Ancient Roman Circus Maximus -- once used for chariot races -- was designated a gathering point for masses.
The city was also planning to open two stadiums for pilgrims with sleeping bags, to set up food and water points and bring in thousands of extra police.
"We want to greet him one last time," said Valentina Malafoglia, a 23-year-old student, as she arrived in Rome from the city of Terni in central Italy.
RED-HATTED PRINCES
Many red-hatted princes of the Catholic Church had rushed to Rome in recent days to be near the Pope in his dying hours. Others will arrive before the first General Congregation of the Cardinals gathers Monday to decide on the funeral details.
There is no favorite candidate to succeed John Paul, with possible choices coming from around the world. The former Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was himself a rank outsider when he was elevated to the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978.
Apart from his battle against communism and quest for global peace, John Paul will be remembered for his unswerving defense of traditional Vatican doctrines.
Some Catholics hope the next Pope will be more liberal.
One of the potential successors, Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, said the next pope would face huge ethical challenges as developments in science, technology and culture raise questions over the church's role in modern society.
But John Paul appointed all but two of the cardinals who will elect his successor, thus stacking the odds that his controversial teachings will not be tampered with.
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Thanks for the ping.And thanks for the pics in #2, GRRRRR. :)
Thank you for sharing these photos, GRRRRR.
Rome is anticipating an influx of 2 million upward!
"All roads lead to Rome" once again.
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