A former Italian army sharp-shooter opened fire from his balcony with a pistol and a carbine in a Rome suburb, killing a passer-by and wounding eight others, authorities said.

Throngs of pilgrims waved Polish flags, recited the rosary and sang hymns as they packed the cobblestone streets leading up to the Vatican today to bid an emotional farewell to Pope John Paul.

Tucked behind ancient walls and iron gates, Vatican City is protected by Swiss Guards armed with sabres, a small but efficient secret service packing handguns and a special Italian police corps.

Two small bombs hidden in rubbish bins exploded near the home of European Commission president Romano Prodi in the Italian city of Bologna. Nobody was injured.