Faithful queue for hours to visit Pope's tomb

Clutching rosaries, medals and flowers, thousands of people filed past the simple white marble tomb of Pope John Paul today, as the Vatican re-opened the grottoes beneath St Peter’s Basilica.

Some said they had come not only to pray for John Paul, but also to pray to him. Many Roman Catholics believe John Paul, who died on April 2 aged 84, was a saint.

“I’m hoping maybe for a little miracle,” said American Myrna Palmer, 67. “I’m praying to him that my husband gets his eyesight back.”

Pilgrims lined up in the crisp morning air as early as 0300 BST, three hours before the grottoes were re-opened.

“We are Catholics, and we had to see the pope one last time,” said Angelo de Tommaso, a 30-year-old accountant who travelled overnight by bus from southern Italy to be among the first in line.

Pilgrims knelt before the grave to pray, and many handed religious articles to an usher, who touched them to the grave before handing them back. Ushers kept the crowd moving quickly, even hurrying some people who knelt in prayer.

The tomb is alone in an arched alcove to the right of the main altar of the central nave, a leafy potted lily behind it and a small red candle burning at the front. A marble relief of the Madonna and Child hangs on the wall above.

A rectangular white slab of marble with grey streaks marks the grave. On one line it bears his name carved with gold in Latin script: IOANNES PAVLVS PPII. And on another line are the dates of his 26-year pontificate using the Roman numerals for the month: 16 X, 1978 – 2 IV, 2005.

Underneath is the interlocking X and P – the monogram for Christ.

The grave lies just steps from the tomb traditionally believed to be that of the apostle Pet will sequester themselves inside Vatican City next week to choose a new pope prayed by the grave last night in their last homage before the grottoes were reopened to the public.

Two-by-two, in crimson robes and tall white bishop’s mitres, they stood at the foot of the marble slab and bowed their heads.

They resumed their preparations today for their conclave, which begins on Monday. They are meeting daily to pray for guidance, to get to know each other and to manage the mundane affairs of the church.

That includes reviewing the complex finances of the Vatican, which has operated at a deficit for the last three years.

The cardinals’ last two meetings this week were both occupied by financial affairs, an indication of the seriousness of the problems confronting the Vatican with its salaried staff of 2,674 and soaring expenses.

The financial statement for 2003, the latest to be publicly released, reported revenues at about £132 million – €8.8m short of costs.

If recent history is any guide, the voting for a new pope may go quickly. Of the eight 20th century conclaves, no election went longer than five days, and two of them were completed on the second day.

It took just eight votes over three days to choose the relatively unknown archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, in 1978.