MILLIONS, INCLUDING 200 HEADS OF STATE, ATTEND POPE´S FUNERAL

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 2005 (VIS) - Before the start of the funeral Mass today
for John Paul II in St. Peter's Square in the presence of an estimated
300,000 people, including over 200 heads of State and government, the
deceased Pope's body was placed in a cypress casket and closed in the
presence of a number of witnesses.

  Among those present for this rite were Cardinals Martinez Somalo,
camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, Angelo Sodano, former secretary of state,
Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, Camillo Ruini, vicar for
the diocese of Rome, Francesco Marchisano, archpriest of the Vatican
Basilica, and Archbishops Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Holy Father's personal
secretary and James Harvey, prefect of the Papal Household.

  The cardinal camerlengo introduced the rite of the closing of the casket.
Archbishop Piero Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, then read
the "Rogito," a summary of the life of the Pope, copies of which were signed
by those present. An antiphon and psalm were sung, followed by silent
prayer. The master of ceremonies than placed a veil of white silk over the
head of the deceased and the cardinal camerlengo sprinkled the body with
holy water. The master of ceremonies then placed a bag with some medals
coined during the pontificate of the deceased and a lead tube containing the
original copy of the Rogito in the casket.

 As the casket was closed, Psalm 41 was recited.

  The casket of John Paul II was brought to St. Peter's Square in
procession, placed on a carpet on the ground in front of the main alter and
a book of Gospels was placed on top of the casket and opened. The procession
included the College of Cardinals and the patriarchs of the Oriental
Churches, all in red vestments, who kissed the altar before taking their
places. Mass was presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and
concelebrated by 164 cardinals.

  Millions of people who had come to Rome for John Paul's funeral but who
could not be accommodated in St. Peter's Square itself, watched the ceremony
on 27 giant screens placed throughout the city, including at the two
football stadiums, Tor Vergata University, the Circus Maximus, the basilicas
of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, Piazza
del Popolo, Piazza Risorgimento near the Vatican, the Colosseum and Via
della Conciliazione, the broad avenue leading to St. Peter's Square.

  Many of those in St. Peter's Square, at various times during the Mass,
called out for John Paul II to be proclaimed a saint. These calls,
accompanied by sustained applause, began as Cardinal Ratzinger finished his
homily A number of banners could be seen with the words "Santo Subito" (a
saint immediately) and "John Paul II the Great" and one, with his papal
crest, saying "Pope John Paul II - saint."

  Following the prayer after communion Cardinal Ratzinger proceeded to the
rite of the final recommendation and act of committal, standing by the
casket of John Paul II. Cardinal Ruini then stood next to the casket, the
cantors sang the Litany of Saints and the cardinal vicar then concluded the
supplication of the Church of Rome with a prayer and returned to his seat.

  At this point the patriarchs and archbishops major and metropolitans of
the Catholic Oriental metropolitan Churches "sui iuris", went to the casket
and, facing the altar, recited the supplication of the Oriental Churches
from the Office of the Dead of the Byzantine liturgy. Everyone present
prayed in silence and Cardinal Ratzinger sprinkled holy water on the remains
while the choir sang a response.

  The casket of John Paul II was then brought into the Vatican Basilica to
the place of burial as the faithful sang the Magnificat. Those present
earlier at the closing of the casket accompanied it into the basilica. John
Paul II was brought to the grotto area of St. Peter's Basilica for burial in
a rite presided over by the cardinal camerlengo.

  The cypress casket with the mortal remains of John Paul II was tied with
red ribbons on which were placed the seals of the Apostolic Camera, the
Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of
the Supreme Pontiff and the Vatican Chapter. The cypress casket was then
placed in the zinc and wood caskets which were soldered shut and covered
with the seals of the aforementioned offices. On the top are the cross and
coat-of-arms of John Paul II.

  The notary of the Basilica Chapter verified the act of burial and read it
to those present.

  Attending today's funeral Mass for the Holy Father were reigning monarchs
of 10 countries, 57 heads of State, 3 hereditary princes, 17 heads of
government, the heads of 3 international organizations and representatives
from 10 others, 3 spouses of heads of State, 8 vice heads of State, 6 vice
prime ministers, 4 presidents of parliaments, 12 foreign ministers, 13
ministers, and ambassadors from 24 countries.

  Religious delegations, numbering 140 people, included representatives from
the Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Churches and ecclesial
communions of the West, international Christian organizations, the National
Association of Evangelicals, representatives of Judaism, Islam and
delegations from non-Christian religions.