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Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is driven away with Taiwan's ambassador to the Vatican Tu Fan-sheng, rear, after arriving at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport to attend the funeral for late Pope John Paul II, Friday, April 8, 2005, in Rome, Italy. The Chinese government has refused to send an envoy to Pope John Paul II's funeral because of the Vatican's diplomatic relations with rival Taiwan. Taiwan has been wary that the new pope may switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.(AP Photo/Central News Agency)

U.S. President George W. Bush (R back) and his wife First Lady Laura Bush (2nd R back) sit with French First Lady Bernadette Chirac (3rd R rear), (L-R front) Spanish Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos and Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and Prince Consort Henrik while attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican's St. Peter's square April 8, 2005. The poor and the powerful of the earth rubbed shoulders to say their last goodbye to Pope John Paul on Friday as one of the most momentous funerals in history got under way at the Vatican. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Bishop James Harvey (R) greets Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai as he arrives for Pope John Paul's funeral in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 8, 2005. The poor and the powerful of the earth rubbed shoulders to say their last goodbye to Pope John Paul on Friday as one of the most momentous funerals in history got under way at the Vatican. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Spain's King Juan Carlos (2nd L) and Queen Sofia (L) sit with Denmark's Queen Margrethe (2nd R) and Prince Consort Henrik (R) as U.S. President George W. Bush (back C) and first lady Laura Bush (back 2nd L) look on at the start of the funeral of the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican April 8, 2005. The poor and the powerful of the earth rubbed shoulders to say their last goodbye to the Pope on Friday as the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

France's President Jacques Chirac (L) and his wife Bernadette (2nd L), U.S. first lady Laura Bush (2nd R) and U.S. President George W. Bush (R) sit behind Spain's King Juan Carlos (front R) and Queen Sofia (front L) at the start of the funeral of the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican April 8, 2005. The poor and the powerful of the earth rubbed shoulders to say their last goodbye to the Pope on Friday as the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

Monarchs, heads of state and other dignitaries attend the funeral for the late Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 8, 2005. The poor and the powerful of the earth rubbed shoulders to say their last goodbye to the Pope on Friday as the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Chirac looks pissed in that pic. His wife seems more gracious.

And now, the very last standing ovation for the Pope who did more in 26 years than his predecessors did in 500.

Thanks for the pings ladies.. I did get up before alarm & did watch on TV. (as little as the TV is on, and as oftern as the power goes off here - I first had to program the TV!)

might try to catch up on thread later

A very moving & soulful service and tribute surrounded by his greiving faithful & those whose respect has been earned rightfully.

TexKat, thanks for the ping on the great pics. And good morning to you. Between this sort, and the work you do for us FReepers in bringing us the very important dailies on Operation Phantom Fury/Operation River Blitz, you selflessly work TOO hard. Thanks for it, TexKat.