John Paul II & The Holy Jerusalem

Funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II
Text of Homily
Officiant:Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Goodbye John Paul II
MICHAEL HOWIE

THE world today said farewell to John Paul II as millions gathered in Rome to mourn the Pope.

An air of solemnity fell over the Vatican City, which witnessed one of the largest religious gatherings in modern times.

Some two billion people across the globe tuned in to watch this morning’s funeral, which was also beamed to millions of mourners who watched the proceedings on giant screens across the Italian capital.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush were among 1400 dignitaries from at least 155 countries in attendance.

Also attending were the president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, and Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei - both of them Muslims.

The funeral began at 9am BST with an intimate ceremony attended only by high-ranking prelates, who placed a pouch of silver and bronze medals and a scrolled account of the Pope’s life in his coffin.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a possible successor to John Paul, delivered a moving sermon.

"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," he said.

With the great bells of St Peter’s Basilica tolling in mourning, 12 pall bearers carried John Paul’s simple cypress coffin, emblazoned with the papal emblem, out of the church.

The choir started the service by singing the Latin prayer: "Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and shine your light on him forever."

The coffin was laid on the steps of the vast church, where more than 26 years ago Karol Wojtyla first emerged as pontiff to stun the world with his vitality and charisma.

A red book of scriptures laid on the Pope’s coffin fluttered in the blustery wind as Cardinal Ratzinger, leading 165 red-robed cardinals, spoke.

The cardinal, dean of the College of Cardinals, a confidant of John Paul and a possible successor, referred to him as our "late beloved pope" in a homily that traced his life from his days as a factory worker in Nazi-occupied Poland to the last days of his life as the head of the world’s one billion Catholics.

Interrupted by applause at least ten times, the usually unflappable German-born cardinal choked with emotion as he recalled one of John Paul’s last public appearances - when he blessed the faithful from his studio window on Easter Sunday.

"We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the father’s house, that he sees us and blesses us," he said to applause, even among the prelates, as he pointed up to the third-floor window above the square.

"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," said Cardinal Ratzinger in heavily accented Italian.

He said John Paul was a "priest to the last" and said he had offered his life for God and his flock "especially amid the sufferings of his final months".

The Mass ended with all standing and together singing: "May the angels accompany you into heaven, may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive, and lead you to Holy Jerusalem."

The body was then carried deep under St Peter’s Basilica, where it joined the remains of popes from centuries past near the traditional tomb of the apostle Peter, the first pope.