Pope John Paul II - Karol Wojtyla 1920 - 2005
Clutching a rosary beads in his pale fingers and with a crucifix and his shepherd’s staff on his shoulder his body was put on display for a grieving world.
Outside in the chill sunshine the words of his last sermon rang out across St Peter’s Square yesterday, delivered by one of his senior clergy. It summed up the mission of the third-longest serving Pope in history, warning of the evil of the world he has left behind but with a message of hope for the future.
A wave of grief and emotion swamped the crowd of over 100,000 as they listened to the homily read by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri specially penned as his final message.
“To all humanity, which today seems lost and dominated by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, our resurrected Lord gives us his love which forgives, reconciles and reopens the soul to hope.”
Inside the great Sala Clementina the body, once wracked by Parkinson’s disease and arthritis, was flanked by his “family” on his right - primarily his Polish secretary Monsignor Stanislao and the three Polish nuns who looked after him and his household. In the absence of any living relatives, those who came into the magnificent soaring room, where Pope John Paul II held audiences with the great and important of the world, commiserated with Mons Stanislao, the man so often seen gently guiding and attending the ailing Pope.
On the left of the catafalque, the cardinals were ranged with the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and several others weeping with head in hands on the first of nine days of official mourning.
Bishop of Cloyne and Ross John Magee was invited to spend time with the Pope last night - a singular honour in recognition of the man who was secretary to three Popes, including John Paul II.
Today many others from the Irish hierarchy arrive in Rome where they will fulfil a tradition staying in the historic Irish College where the rector is Mons Liam Bergin.
They include Cardinal Desmond Connell of Dublin who will have a vote when the new Pope is elected in about two weeks time; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, a former Vatican diplomat and now Archbishop of Dublin; Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh who as a former rector of the Irish College met the Pope on several occasions, and Bishop John Fleming, a former head of the Irish College.
The body of the man who welcomed an estimated one million people a year at his weekly audiences in Rome will be laid in state in the Basilica this evening where many thousands are expected to pay their last respects over the next few days.
The funeral is not expected to take place before Thursday and it will be attended by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the President, Mary McAleese. Mrs McAleese had a memorable audience with the late Pope in November 2003.
Last night the death certificate was issued by the Pope’s doctor, saying the 84-year-old man had died from septic shock and irreversible cardiac circulatory collapse brought about by low blood pressure.
For the first time his Parkinson’s was officially referred to also.
The Vatican City was last night caught up in preparations for the two million pilgrims who are expected to throng the tiny state over the next few weeks.
It seems the world is making a return visit to the late Pontiff who in 114 trips outside Italy covered three times the distance from the earth to the moon.
Scaffolding, crates of water, souvenirs and pictures hot from the printers as well as armies of medical and security people were being put in place.
The huge screens were already in place last night showing the life and face of the man known to so many millions of people around the world.
Today
THE first meeting of cardinals will take place at 9.30am Irish time to discuss his funeral and burial.
At 4pm Irish time it is expected the Pope’s body will be brought to St Peter’s Basilica where he will lie in state for several days to allow an estimated one million mourners to file past.
Vatican will announce funeral arrangements.
The funeral and burial of John Paul II must take place between these days. The funeral will be outdoors in St Peter’s Square if weather permits, otherwise in the Basilica. Burial will take place either in St Peter’s or in Wavel Cathedral, Krakow, Poland.
Remainder of the official nine days of mourning, the Novemdiales, are observed.
Conclave of the Cardinals must begin during these days to start electing a new Pope. Election may take days.
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