[NYer]

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger sprinkles holy water on the coffin of Pope John Paul II during his 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 the Pope on Friday as the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

[NYer]

French cardinal Roger Etchegaray (top) is embraced by one of a group of Orthodox priests before the funeral of 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 Pope John Paul on Friday as the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Orthodox Ping!

[NYer]

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope John Paul II inside St. Peter's Basilica after the funeral mass at St. Peter's Square in 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. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[NYer]

French President Jacques Chirac (R) takes the arm of former U.S. President George Bush after the funeral mass 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 the Vatican staged one of the most momentous funerals in history for the Polish Pontiff. REUTERS/Yves Herman

One guest on Fox News this morning, made an astute observation about Pope John Paul II. She asked the commentator who else had ever brought three US Presidents to their knees? ;-D

U.S. President George W. Bush (L), First Lady Laura Bush, and former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton pay homage to Pope John Paul II while viewing the late pontiff's body in the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica April 6, 2005.

[RushCrush]

Photos appreciated BUMP

[wordsofearnest]

Appreciate the photos. I got up at 2:50am(cdt) this morning to watch the funeral mass. I had forgotten how beautiful the Latin sounded. I wonder who the Iranian looking folks were in the crowd?

[dead]

The world mourns ... crowds heading towards St Peter's Square at the
Vatican for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Photo: AP

Ready, aim ... anti-aircraft missiles, part of the Italian defence system,
are displayed near Rome for the funeral of the Pope. Italian authorities
readied anti-aircraft rocket launchers and took other security measures
to protect the dignitaries converging on Rome for the funeral. Photo: AP

[NaughtiusMaximus]

An interesting convention of protocol: when a member of the laity is buried, the coffin "faces" the altar (feet first), when a member of the clergy is buried, the coffin "faces" the congregation (head first).

[bornacatholic]

It was a very moving funeral. I loved the Cardinal's homily. It brought tears to my eyes. I loved the Latin Mass, the Latin Hymns, and I especially loved hearing the Roman Canon in Latin

[ninenot]

Ummmnnhhh....

Anyone else notice the LATIN EMPHASIS in this funeral?

[Spacetrucker]

I remember when I had first heard about his passing, and not being Catholic it suprised me that I reacted with willing tears and prayer. His funeral was a sonic work of art, being that I was on the road and could only catch it on XM ... So long, Holy Father, and may God embrace you into His loving arms.

[stm]

Rest in peace, Holy Father.....

[GretchenM]

"Today we bury his remains in the earth as a seed of immortality — our hearts are full of sadness, yet at the same time of joyful hope and profound gratitude," Ratzinger said.

1 Corinthians 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[GretchenM]

Side streets were clogged in a permanent pedestrian rush hour, mostly by kids with backpacks.

Not many people in their 80's could draw so many youth to a funeral.

[vidbizz]

Is anyone replaying the mass?

[marshmallow]

Great homily by Card. Ratzinger.

[oldbrowser]

at a funeral service that drew millions to Rome for one of the largest religious gatherings of modern times.

Has there ever been a larger religious gathering in either modern times or before ?

[nutmeg]

Some amazing photos on this thread...

[CitizenM]

[Coleus]

who was the person who read the 2nd reading in English?

[NYer]

Turbans, fezzes, yarmulkes, black lace veils, or mantillas, joined the "zucchettos," or skull caps, of Catholic prelates on the steps of St. Peter's in an extraordinary mix of religious and government leaders from around the world.

Ping!