Pope John Paul II's body laid on a bier at St. Peter's Basilica. The Rite of Visitation was considered to be the largest single pilgrimage in the history of Christendom.

The funeral of Pope John Paul II was held on 8 April 2005, six days after his death on 2 April. The funeral was followed by the novendiales devotional in which the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite observe nine days of mourning. Photo by Andrew Medichini of Pope John Paul II. Nuns of the Swedish Brigitine order pay their respects to the late Pope John Paul II whose body is placed for public viewing inside St. ... Photo by Andrew Medichini of Pope John Paul II. Nuns of the Swedish Brigitine order pay their respects to the late Pope John Paul II whose body is placed for public viewing inside St. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... Underwater funeral in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea A funeral is a ceremony marking a persons death. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... The term Eastern Rites may refer to the liturgical rites used by many ancient Christian Churches of Eastern Europe and the Middle East that, while being part of the Roman Catholic Church, are distinct from the Latin Rite or Western Church. ... Mourning is in the simplest sense synonymous with grief over the death of a friend or relative. ...

On February 22, 1996, Pope John Paul II introduced revisions to the centuries-old ceremonies surrounding papal death, repose and burial. The revisions enacted through the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis applied to his own funeral. February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... His Holiness Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death. ... Universi Dominici Gregis is an apostolic constitution of the Roman Catholic Church issued by Pope John Paul II in 1996. ... Underwater funeral in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea A funeral is a ceremony marking a persons death. ...

Coinciding with the funeral in Vatican City, archbishops and bishops at cathedrals throughout the world celebrated memorial masses for grieving Roman Catholics. In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop heading a diocese of particular importance due to either its size, history, or both, called an archdiocese. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican churches), which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ... This article discusses the Mass as part of Christian liturgy, in particular the form it has taken in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ...

In a historical rarity, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christian leaders, as well as leaders in Judaism and Islam, offered memorials and prayers of their own for their congregants sharing in the grief of Roman Catholics. The current Archbishop of Canterbury was present at the papal funeral for the first time since the Church of England broke with the papacy in the 16th century. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... The Star of David, a common symbol of Jews and Judaism Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop of the state Church of England and of the worldwide Anglican Communion, outranking the other English archbishop, the Archbishop of York. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

Rite of Papal Death

Pope John Paul II's body is solemnly transferred through the cross formed by the crowd from the Apostolic Palace through St. Peter's Square to St. Peter's Basilica, as people chant the Litany of the Saints.

Centuries of sacred rituals are set in motion upon the death of a pope. Such rituals are administered by the Cardinal Camerlengo. Photo by Aluca Bruno on April 5, 2005. ... Photo by Aluca Bruno on April 5, 2005. ... The title Camerlengo ( Italian for Chamberlain) refers to an official of the Papal court, referring either to the Chamberlain of the Roman Catholic Church, to the Chamberlain of the Sacred College of Cardinals, or to various lesser dignitaries. ...

When Pope John Paul II died, Camerlengo Eduardo Cardinal Martínez Somalo removed the Pope's Ring of the Fisherman from his finger. The Cardinal then ceremonially crushed the ring with the ceremonial silver hammer in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals.[1] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4451483.stm) This is done to prevent the creation of forged, backdated documents, which would appear to have been approved by John Paul II. Categories: Possible copyright violations ... The Ring of the Fisherman or Pescatorio is an official part of the regalia worn by the pope, described by the Roman Catholic Church as the successor of Saint Peter, a fisherman by trade. ... A hammer has a primary meaning of a really hot chick. ... The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

After the ring's destruction, Cardinal Martínez Somalo cordoned off and placed wax seals on the entrances to the Pope's private bedroom and study. This tradition originates from ruthless cardinals looting the papal chambers upon the death of past popes. Sealing wax is used to seal envelopes. ...

Cardinal Martínez Somalo issued the Pope's formal death certificate, signed by Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, Director of the Department of Health and Sanitation of Vatican City, on the evening of his death. Cardinal Martínez Somalo then ceremonially ordered the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, to summon the cardinals of the world to Vatican City to elect a new pope. This page is a candidate to be moved to Wikisource. ... The Dean of the College of Cardinals is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church and as such is always a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church of the episcopal order. ... His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ; born April 16, 1927 as Joseph Alois Ratzinger) is the 265th and reigning pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. ... The Papal conclave of 2005 began on April 18, 2005 and ended the next day after four ballots. ...

Some traditions were omitted, partly as a result of changes made by Pope John Paul II to the formula of rituals upon the death of a pope. One of these would have required Cardinal Martínez Somalo to tap the head of the pope with the ceremonial silver hammer, a practice that is believed to have ended some time ago. It remains customary for the Camerlengo to call out a pope's birth name three times, to ensure the pope has truly passed away.

While his predecessors had been embalmed after death, the Vatican claimed that Pope John Paul II was not embalmed and lay in state without normal treatment for preservation. Also, it was customary for popes to have their organs removed after death. Pope Saint Pius X ended this practice during his reign, and it appears that the wish of some Poles that John Paul II's heart be buried in Poland was not obliged. Embalming, in most modern cultures, is a process used to temporarily preserve human remains to forestall decomposition and make it suitable for display at a funeral. ... Pope Saint Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto (2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914), was Pope from 1903 to 1914, succeeding Pope Leo XIII. He was the first pope since the Counter-Reformation Pope St. ... The heart and lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) The heart (Latin cor) is a hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. ...

Vestments

People lining St. Peter's Square are moved by the sight of Pope John Paul II's body dressed in a red chasuble.

Pope John Paul II's body was clothed in the familiar white soutanne, over which was placed a plain white alb. A stole, the symbol of ordained ministry, was placed around his neck. Over the inner vestments, Pope John Paul II was clothed in a red chasuble. The red color is used liturgically on the feasts of the apostles. Around his collar, the pallium of white lamb's wool was draped. A white zucchetto and a bishop's mitre adorned Pope John Paul II's head. In his arm rested his famous crosier or pastoral staff. His hands clasped a rosary. Photo by Andrew Medichini on April 5, 2005 of the transfer of Pope John Paul II from the Apostolic Palace to St. ... Photo by Andrew Medichini on April 5, 2005 of the transfer of Pope John Paul II from the Apostolic Palace to St. ... The alb, one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches, is an ample garment of white linen coming down to the ankles and usually girded with a cincture. ... The Stole (a liturgical vestment of various Christian denominations) is an embroidered band of cloth, formerly usually of silk, about two and one-half to three metres long and seven to ten centimetres wide, whose ends are usually broadened out. ... Chasuble The chasuble, (one of the liturgical vestments of Christian churches of various denominations including Roman Catholics and Anglicans), was originally a sort of poncho, with a round hole in the middle through which to pass the head, and falling to the feet. ... The Pallium or Pall (derived, so far as the name is concerned, from the Roman pallium or palla, a woollen cloak) is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries past bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol... Pope John Paul I wearing the zucchetto in the papal color white The Zucchetto is small skull cap worn by senior clergy of the Roman Catholic church. ... MITRE is a US federally-funded research and development center whose main activities are applying computer-based automation to large and complex tasks. ... A crosier (crozier, pastoral staff) is the stylized staff of office carried by high-ranking Catholic prelates. ... Our Lady of Lourdes - Mary appearing at Lourdes with Rosary Beads The Rosary (its name comes from the Latin rosarium, meaning crown of roses), is an important and traditional devotion of the Roman Catholic Church, combining prayer and meditation in sequences of ten Hail Marys, each sequence being called a...

Following the example of his immediate predecessors, Pope John Paul II requested that he be exempt from use of the elaborately embroidered red Papal Slippers, symbolizing submission to the authority of Christ, normally placed on the feet of a deceased pope. Pope John Paul II instead chose to be buried in his favorite pair of Polish-made brown leather shoes, an American size ten and a half, which he wore on his travels throughout the world. Pius VII wearing papal slippers The Papal Slippers are a historical vestment of the Roman Catholic Church traditionally worn by the pope on his feet. ...

Mass of Repose

The Mass of Repose, a sacred ritual offered to anyone baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, was led by Angelo Cardinal Sodano on April 3, 2005. That Sunday service coincided with the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy, a memorial feast instituted by Pope John Paul II. Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism. ... Cardinal Angelo Sodano with Condoleezza Rice His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Sodano (born November 23, 1927) is the Cardinal Secretary of State, first appointed by Pope John Paul II and then reappointed by Pope Benedict XVI. In April 2005 he succeeded Benedict as Dean of the College of Cardinals. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

Cardinal Sodano stirred excitement by some devotees of the pope when in his published written homily for the Mass of Repose, he referred to Pope John Paul II as "the Great". This is remarkable as only three Popes in history, Pope Leo I, Pope Gregory I and Pope Nicholas I are accorded this appellation. While the appellation was omitted from the spoken homily, under Vatican rules, what members of the College of Cardinals write during the interregnum is deemed official. The Mass of Repose, commemorating the sending of the soul to God, was followed by the recitation of the Regina Coeli. A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ... the Greats The following people normally have the words the Great appended to their names. ... Pope Saint Leo I, or Leo the Great, a Roman aristocrat, was Pope from 440 to 461. ... Gregory I Pope Saint Gregory I or Gregory the Great (called the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy) (c. ... Nicholas I,(c. ... An interregnum is a period between kings, or between popes of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The term God is used to designate a Supreme Being, however, there are countless definitions of God. ... In Catholicism, the Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven) is one of the four seasonal antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, specifically Eastertide, prescribed to be sung or recited in the Liturgy of the Hours after night prayer (compline or vespers), from Holy Saturday to the Saturday after Pentecost. ...

Rite of Visitation

Pope John Paul II's body is laid in the Apostolic Palace for private visitation by Vatican officials.

By April 6, a million people had seen Pope John Paul II's remains lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica. An estimated total of four million people, in addition to the over three million residents of Rome, were expected to make the pilgrimage to see the pope.

The body of Pope John Paul II was dressed in his vestments and moved to the Clementine Hall on the third level considered the second floor of the Apostolic Palace on April 3. His body was laid on a sloped olive-sheeted bed and propped on a stack of three gold pillows. Near the bed was a wooden crucifix and a paschal candle symbolic of Jesus Christ as the light of the world in the face of darkness and death. His body was guarded by the Swiss Guard, a corps of men which has sworn to protect the pope through several centuries. During a period of private visitation Vatican officials and a contingent of officials from the Italian government viewed the body of Pope John Paul II. Photo by Massimo Sambucetti of Pope John Paul II lying in the Apostolic Palace shortly after his death. ... Photo by Massimo Sambucetti of Pope John Paul II lying in the Apostolic Palace shortly after his death. ... Mourners from around the world pay their last respects to the body of Pope John Paul II. White House photo by Eric Draper. ... Mourners from around the world pay their last respects to the body of Pope John Paul II. White House photo by Eric Draper. ... The Clementine Hall is used as a reception room and hosts formal ceremonies by the pope. ... The Apostolic Palace , also called the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... Categories: Religion stubs | Anglicanism | Christian art | Eastern Orthodoxy | Roman Catholic Church | Symbols ... In the Roman Catholic Church, the ceremonial lighting the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the Easter Vigil on the Saturday evening before Easter. ... The neutrality and accuracy of this article are disputed. ... Papal Swiss Guards in their traditional uniform. ...

On April 4, the body of Pope John Paul II was moved onto a red velvet bier, propped on three red pillows. The Papal Gentlemen, regaled in black morning coats and white gloves, were consecrated as pallbearers and stood along the sides of the pope's bier. Cardinal Martínez Somalo, dressed in red and gold vestments, officiated the sprinkling rite. He blessed the pope with the holy waters of baptism three times: to the right of the pope, at his head and then to his left. An acolyte then brought to the camerlengo a censer and boat. Cardinal Martínez Somalo incensed the pope three times. April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... This article is about velvet, the fabric. ... Borne on the shoulders of the Papal Gentlemen, the coffin of Pope John Paul II is taken from the altar for the Rite of Interment. ... A morning coat is a mans coat worn as the principal item in morning dress. ... A pallbearer is a person who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious service or viewing to their final resting place, or to and from the hearse which does so. ... In some Christian churches, an acolyte is one who wishes to attain clergyhood. ... A censer is a vessel for burning incense. ...

A long procession was begun in order to transfer the body of Pope John Paul II from the Clementine Hall, through the colonnades of the Apostolic Palace and into St. Peter's Square among the waiting people. Traditionally, the pope's body is then brought to either St. Peter's Basilica or the papal cathedral, St. John Lateran Basilica. A procession of monks, priests and bishops paced slowly along a route towards St. Peter's Basilica. The College of Cardinals trailed by Cardinal Ratzinger and Cardinal Martínez Somalo followed them. Berninis piazza was extended by the Via della Conciliazione, Mussolinis grand avenue of approach. ... Interior view, with the nave of the Basilica in the back St. ... The late Baroque façade of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterno was completed by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 after winning a competition for the design. ...

As the ritual dating back to the medieval era proceeded, Gregorian chants were sung by several religious orders with the people responding to each verse with the ancient Greek prayer, "Lord, have mercy" or "Kyrie eleison." The Litany of the Saints was sung. After each name of a martyr or saint was chanted, invoking his or her intercession between God and the people, participants in the procession sang the Latin words, "Ora pro eo," meaning "Pray for him." This is a departure from the traditional, "Pray for us" or "Ora pro nobis." The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Gregorian chant is also known as plainchant or plainsong, and is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied singing, which was developed in the Catholic church, mainly during the period 800-1000. ... Kyrie is the vocative case of the Greek word κύριος (kyrios - lord) and means Oh, Lord. ... The Litany of the Saints or Litaniae Sanctorum is a sacred prayer of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Latin is the language that was originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

When the body of Pope John Paul II was hoisted upon the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, the Papal Gentlemen turned the bier and lifted the pope's head to face the tens of thousands of people that filled St. Peter's Square. Cardinal Martínez Somalo noted it as the pope's symbolic last look at the devoted followers that had filled St. Peter's Square throughout the papacy of Pope John Paul II.

The procession ended with the seating of the College of Cardinals and the placement of the bier carrying the body of Pope John Paul II on a catafalque in front of the steps leading to the altar of St. Peter's Basilica. The paschal candle was lit and the body of Pope John Paul II was incensed again by Cardinal Martínez Somalo. Prayers were said and a reading from the Gospels was performed by a deacon. After the College of Cardinals paid their respects and left the sanctuary, the basilica was closed and then reopened for the official lying in state to last until the day of the Mass of Requiem and subsequent interment. In Christianity, Gospels are a genre of Early Christian literature essentially concerning the message and meaning of Jesus. ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... Lying-in-state is the term used during a major funeral procession when the coffin is placed on public view to allow members of the public to pay their respects to the deceased. ...

Mass of Requiem

Dignitaries from around the world pray during the funeral

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI led the Mass of Requiem on April 8 at 10:00am CEST (08:00 UTC), by virtue of his office as Dean of the College of Cardinals. He was also one of Pope John Paul II's closest friends and carried out most of the Pope's duties during his final illness. Concelebrating in the Mass of Requiem were the College of Cardinals (the number of members were present has been variously given as 157 and 164) and the patriarchs of the Eastern Rite. Political and religious dignitaries from around the world pray at the funeral of Pope John Paul II. White House photo by Eric Draper. ... Political and religious dignitaries from around the world pray at the funeral of Pope John Paul II. White House photo by Eric Draper. ... His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ; born April 16, 1927 as Joseph Alois Ratzinger) is the 265th and reigning pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. ... The requiem, also known formally as the Mass of Requiem, is a liturgical service of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... Central European Summer Time (CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... Originally a patriarch is a man who exercises autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. ...

As the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death, Friday was chosen as the last possible date. The mass at St. Peter's Basilica was the first Mass of Requiem for a pope to be televised live in almost every nation in the world to an estimated viewership of over two billion people; the Roman Catholic Church claims only 1.1 billion among its members. In lieu of a public viewing at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, as was tradition, immense digital screens instead broadcast the Mass of Requiem and subsequent Rite of Interment to people in the pope's cathedral church outside the confines of Vatican City. The same digital screens were hoisted at several sites in Rome, including the Circus Maximus. Map of downtown Rome during the Roman Empire, with Circus Maximus at the lower right corner Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus is an ancient arena and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy. ...

The funeral was perhaps the most-watched live event in the history of television. People in the United States understood that the service took place during the early morning hours on their side of the Atlantic. Many people awoke in order to view the funeral, and others taped it for a historical record. In addition, television networks in the Americas rebroadcast the funeral later in the day. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

Processional

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI and his concelebrants offer the Rite of Commendation and Farewell.

As the Mass of Requiem began, the doors of St. Peter's Basilica were locked with dignitaries asked to stand outside the church. Only the College of Cardinals and the patriarchs of the Eastern Rite were allowed inside for a private ceremony in which Pope John Paul II was placed in a cypress coffin, the first of three. After the private ceremony, the doors of St. Peter's Basilica were opened while dignitaries were seated. Cardinal Ratzinger and his concelebrants prepared for their procession from inside the basilica to a marble apron in the middle of St. Peter's Square where the Mass of Requiem was held. Photo by Tom Hanson of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger incensing the remains of Pope John Paul II during the funeral mass of April 8, 2005. ... Photo by Tom Hanson of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger incensing the remains of Pope John Paul II during the funeral mass of April 8, 2005. ... His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ; born April 16, 1927 as Joseph Alois Ratzinger) is the 265th and reigning pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. ...

The procession began with the introductory cahnt, "Requiem Aeternam" ("Eternal Rest Grant Him, O Lord"), which includes verses from Psalm 64 (65), "To You We Owe Our Hymn of Praise, O God of Zion." Carried on the shoulders of the Papal Gentlemen, the coffin bearing the image of Pope John Paul II's coat-of-arms burned onto the lid, the pope was carried into St. Peter's Square onto the marble apron. An acolyte holding a red leather-bound Book of the Gospel led the coffin. The Papal Gentlemen laid the coffin onto a red carpet directly in front of the altar. Psalms (Tehilim תהילים, in Hebrew) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, and of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. ... This illustrated page is from the Rossano Gospels one of the oldest extant Gospel Books. ...

Proclamation

The front of St. Peter's Square was filled with cardinals, bishops, priests, and foreign dignitaries

The part of the Mass of Requiem called the Proclamation, or Liturgy of the Word, was begun. A first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, 10:34-43, was read aloud by Chilean Alejandra Correa in Spanish. The responsorial was Psalm 22(23). The second reading was read by John McDonald in English, taken from the Letters of Saint Paul to the Philippians,3:20--4:1. It was entitled, "But our citizenship is in heaven." The reader ended by singing, "This is the Word of the Lord." Congregants replied in chant, "Deo gratias" or "Thanks be to God." Mourners from around the world fill St. ... Mourners from around the world fill St. ... The Acts of the Apostles (Greek Praxeis Apostolon) is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ... The Epistle to Philippians is a book included in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. ...

Congregants stood for the singing of the Alleluia. After being blessed by Cardinal Ratzinger, the Book of the Gospels was carried by an English deacon, Paul Moss, to the ambo or lectern. He began by singing, "The Gospel according to John." Congregants replied, "Glory to you, O Lord." Moss then incensed the Book of the Gospel and then sang the reading in Latin. The reading came from John chapter 6, verse 40, stating, "For this is the will of my father that everyone who sees the son and believes in him may have eternal life." Moss then read from John chapter 21, verses 15 through 19, which is an account of a dialogue between Jesus and Saint Peter. Jesus asked three times, "Do you love me?" He then told his disciple, "Follow me." The deacon raised the Book of the Gospel and sang, "Verbum domini" or "This is the Gospel of the Lord." Congregants replied in chant, "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ." Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a transliteration of the Hebrew word הַלְלוּיָהּ meaning [Let us] praise (הַלְלוּ) God (יָהּ) (or Praise (הַלְלוּ) [the] Lord (יָהּ)). It is found mainly in the book of Psalms. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A late 18th century pulpit in a small Roman Catholic church in Spielfeld, Styria, Austria A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum scaffold, platform, stage) is a small elevated platform where a member of the clergy stands in order to read the Gospel lesson and deliver a sermon. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel in the sequence of the canon as printed in the New Testament, and scholars agree it was the fourth to be written. ... The neutrality and accuracy of this article are disputed. ... Statue of St Peter. ...

Homily

After kissing the text of the Book of the Gospel, Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, stood before the congregants to offer his homily, similar to a sermon in the Protestant denominations, which included a eulogy of the life and service of Pope John Paul II. He spoke in Italian, first greeting the many political figures and religious leaders that had gathered, and then told the story of how the young Karol had answered the Lord's call, and became a priest after the persecution of the Nazis, the answer of the command: "Follow me!" Cardinal Ratzinger also told of John Paul's life as a bishop, cardinal, and pope, frequently applying scripture to the pope's life. Finally, he told of the pope's devotion to Mary and the Divine Mercy of Christ. The cardinal's last words were about the final hours of Pope John Paul II: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: ; born April 16, 1927 as Joseph Alois Ratzinger) is the 265th and reigning pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. ... Many religions and spiritual movements hold certain written texts (or series of spoken legends not traditionally written down) to be sacred. ... Mary is a popular name worldwide originally derived from the ancient Egyptian word Mery meaning beloved, and is the most popular name for a female in the United States. ...

None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing Urbi et Orbi. 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. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Some construed the ending of the homily to mean that the pope had already entered into heaven, and had become a saint [2] (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/international/worldspecial2/13saintcnd.html?hp&ex=1113364800&en=d6e61bcccdb2b7bb&ei=5094&partner=homepage). Urbi et Orbi, literally to the City (of Rome) and to the World, was a standard opening of Roman proclamations. ... The heavens are the sky, the celestial sphere, or outer space. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ...

Cardinal Ratzinger became emotional at certain parts of his homily, especially in reflection of the inability of Pope John Paul II to speak in the last days of his life. Altogether, the homily was interrupted approximately ten times with outbursts of applause by the congregants.

Nicene Creed spoken in the Latin language followed the homily. The prayers of the faithful were offered in Italian, French, Swahili, Tagalog, Polish, German, and Portuguese. The Nicene Creed, or the Icon/Symbol of the Faith, is a Christian statement of faith accepted by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches. ... Swahili (also called Kiswahili; see below for a discussion of the nomenclature) is a Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. ... Tagálog is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ...

Eucharist

Borne on the shoulders of the Papal Gentlemen, the coffin of Pope John Paul II is taken from the altar for the Rite of Interment.

The part of the Mass of Requiem called the Liturgy of the Eucharist began. Cardinal Ratzinger and the concelebrating cardinals gathered around the altar table to bless bread and wine to be served as the communion feast. The prayers said aloud by Cardinal Ratzinger at the altar table and his blessings over bread and wine by his hands are believed by Roman Catholics to have the power to transform the bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. This process is refered to as transubstantiation. The Papal Gentlemen carry the casket containing Pope John Paul II out into St. ... The Papal Gentlemen carry the casket containing Pope John Paul II out into St. ... The Eucharist is either the Christian sacrament of consecrated bread and wine or the ritual surrounding it. ... According to Roman Catholic dogma, transubstantiation is the change of the substance of the Eucharistic elements — bread and wine — into the body and blood of Jesus (although they retain the physical accidents — i. ...

During the blessing of the Eucharist, the Lord's Prayer was sung followed later by the Latin anthem, "Agnus Dei". The Eucharist was then taken to the congregants in St. Peter's Square to be dispensed to only Roman Catholics and Eastern Rite Catholics. Members of other religions or denominations of Christianity were barred from receiving the sacrament as a matter of theological doctrine. As congregants received the sacrament, Psalm 129 (in some Biblical versions Psalm 130) was sung. Its lyrics proclaimed, "Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord, Lord hear my voice." The Lords Prayer (sometimes known by its first two Latin words as the Pater Noster, in Greek as the , or the English equivalent Our Father) is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity. ... The Agnus Dei, the figure of a lamb bearing a symbol of Jesus as the Lamb of God. ...

After the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the crowds in the streets of Vatican City burst into applause, waving flags and banners chanting, "Santo Subito!" which means "Saint now!" and "Giovanni Paolo Santo" or "Saint John Paul!". A few also repeatedly chanted "Magnus" or "Great", spontaneously declaring that he should be Pope John Paul II The Great. the Greats The following people normally have the words the Great appended to their names. ...

Commendation

The Papal Gentlemen raise the head of the coffin as an act of presentation before the crowds in St. Peter's Square.

After the congregants received the sacrament, Cardinal Ratzinger led the Rite of Final Commendation and Farewell. He asked the College of Cardinals and patriarchs of the Eastern Rite to converge on the casket of Pope John Paul II. The congregants were called to prayer, "Dear brothers and sisters let us entrust to the most gentle mercy of God, the soul of our Pope John Paul II." He continued, "May the Blessed Virgin Mary... intercede with God so that he might show the face of his blessed Son to our Pope, and console the church with the light of the resurrection." Photo by Diether Endlicher of the Papal Gentlemen raising the head of Pope John Paul II as an act of presentation before the crowds at St. ... Photo by Diether Endlicher of the Papal Gentlemen raising the head of Pope John Paul II as an act of presentation before the crowds at St. ...

The choir sang the Litany of the Saints; the same song was sung during the procession that transferred the body of Pope John Paul II from the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace to St. Peter's Basilica. Breaking with tradition for the sacred prayer, the names of the saints canonized by Pope John Paul II, such as Saint Maria Faustina and Saint Josemaría Escrivá, was allowed to be included in the song. Names of saints included in the more traditional litany were also included along with the newer saints. The Litany of the Saints or Litaniae Sanctorum is a sacred prayer of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite. ... Saint Faustina Saint Faustina, of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland (August 25, 1905 - October 5, 1938), born Maria Helena Kowalska, is perhaps best known for her promotion of the devotion to the Divine Mercy, and her inspired painting of the same name. ... Saint Josemaría addressing young Catholics Saint Josemaría Escrivá (January 9, 1902-June 26, 1975), (previously known as Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albas) was a Catholic priest and founder of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. ...

After the singing of the Litany of the Saints, the patriarchs, archbishops and metropolitans of the Eastern Rite approached the coffin of Pope John Paul II for their own rituals of commendation and farewell. They incensed the casket and led each other into prayer. Together with the College of Cardinals and patriarchs of the Eastern Rite, they all witnessed the sprinkling of the casket with the waters used in the sacrament of baptism. Incense was used once again. The liturgy of the Eastern Rite was conducted in Greek.

The Mass of Requiem was officially ended with congregants standing, singing the words, "May the angels accompany you into heaven, may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive, and lead you to Holy Jerusalem." The requiem, also known formally as the Mass of Requiem, is a liturgical service of the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rite. ...

The Papal Gentlemen carried the coffin of Pope John Paul II for interment. Cardinal Ratzinger handed over authority of the Rite of Interment to Cardinal Martínez Somalo.

Rite of Interment

Eduardo Cardinal Martínez Somalo led the Rite of Interment in the company of the highest ranking cardinals and members of the papal household.

The Papal Gentlemen lowered the coffin of Pope John Paul II into a tomb that once held the remains of Blessed Pope John XXIII.

The people of Poland had wished for the heart of Pope John Paul II to be removed from his body and transferred to Wawel Cathedral to be buried alongside the greatest of Poland's monarchs. Cardinal Martínez Somalo said that the request would not be obliged. Official Vatican photo released to the public through LOsservatore Romano of the private crypt service of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005. ... Official Vatican photo released to the public through LOsservatore Romano of the private crypt service of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005. ... Photo released to the public by the Vatican through its newspaper LOsservatore Romano of the lowering of the coffin of Pope John Paul II into his tomb on April 8, 2005. ... Photo released to the public by the Vatican through its newspaper LOsservatore Romano of the lowering of the coffin of Pope John Paul II into his tomb on April 8, 2005. ... The heart and lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) The heart (Latin cor) is a hollow, muscular organ that pumps blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions. ... The Wawel Hill in Kraków Wawel (Polish Wzgórze wawelskie or for short Wawel) is the name of a lime hillock situated on the left bank of the Vistula in Kraków, Poland at an altitude of 228 metres above sea level. ... A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state. ...

An underground grotto beside the former shrine of the now glass-entombed and preserved body of Blessed Pope John XXIII was chosen for the interment of Pope John Paul II. He was lowered into the vacant tomb that once held the remains of Blessed Pope John XXIII, who was moved by Pope John Paul II to the main floor of the basilica for beatification. The College of Cardinals decided to keep the Pope beneath the altar of St. Peter's Basilica citing the possibility of future beatification and canonization into sainthood. A Grotto is a small cave, usually near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... The Blessed Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (November 25, 1881–June 3, 1963), reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from October 28, 1958 until his death in 1963. ... In Catholicism, beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed, via Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ...

As is custom, Pope John Paul II was entombed in three nested coffins. Before being laid in the coffins, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz had the honor of placing a white silk veil over the face of the pope. It was his last official act of service to Pope John Paul II as his papal secretary. The body was lowered into a cypress coffin, which served as the innermost coffin. Along with the body was a sealed document, a eulogy detailing the life and works of Pope John Paul II. Three bags containing gold, silver and copper coins were placed beside the body. Each bag contained one coin for each year in Pope John Paul II's reign, the only monetary compensation he received for his service as pope. Archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz, born April 27, 1939 in Raba Wyzna, Poland, currently serves as Pope John Paul IIs private secretary. ... Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the conifer family Cupressaceae (cypress family). ... An open coffin A coffin is a box used for the display and burial or cremation of a cadaver. ... An open coffin A coffin is a box used for the display and burial or cremation of a cadaver. ... An eulogy is a funeral oration given in tribute to a person or people who have recently died. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19300 kg/m3, 2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Density, Hardness 10490 kg/m3, 2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 , 4, d Density, Hardness 8920 kg/m3, 3. ... 1¢ euro coin A coin is generally a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is used as a form of money. ...

After the Mass of Requiem ended, Cardinal Martínez Somalo became the presider over the Rite of Interment. It was a private service witnessed only by the highest-ranking members of the College of Cardinals. The cypress coffin was sealed and tied with three red silk ribbons. [3] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4424477.stm) The cypress casket was lowered into a larger solid zinc (traditionally lead) casket, which was soldered shut. This coffin was adorned with three bronze plaques: a simple cross at the head of the coffin, a plaque with the Pope's name and dates of birth and death at the centre, and Pope John Paul II's personal coat of arms at the foot. The zinc casket was finally lowered into a larger walnut (traditionally elm) casket, bearing three identical plaques, which was shut with nails of pure gold. General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Density, Hardness 7140 kg/m3, 2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Poor metals Group, Period, Block 14(IVA), 6 , p Density, Hardness 11340 kg/m3, 1. ... (De)soldering a contact from a wire. ... Bronze figurine, found at Öland Bronze is the traditional name for a broad range of alloys of copper. ... This article is about the walnut tree. ... Species See text. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19300 kg/m3, 2. ...

Pallbearers took the unified coffin through the Door of Death on the left side of the altar of St. Peter's Basilica. At that point a single bell tolled. The pallbearers took the coffin down the stairs near the statue of Saint Longinus at the base of the canopy of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. They lead down to the grottoes, a cemetery underneath the Basilica where Saint Peter is believed to be buried. A pallbearer is a person who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious service or viewing to their final resting place, or to and from the hearse which does so. ... Longinus is the name given in Christian mythology to the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus on the cross. ... This article is about the general definition of canopy. For the investment firm, see Canopy Group. ... A self portrait: Bernini is said to have used his own features in the David (below, left) Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini) (December 7, 1598 – November 28, 1680), who worked chiefly in Rome, was the pre-eminent baroque artist. ... Statue of St Peter. ...

After pacing through the low ceilings and long corridors, the pallbearers stopped at the crypt of Pope John Paul II. The coffin was lowered into the ground, as the Pope requested, and covered with a plain stone slab featuring his name, birth and death dates. Pope John Paul II asked that he not be placed in an elaborate sarcophagus and ornate aboveground tomb, as was done to his predecessors [4] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4442523.stm). A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ... A tomb is a small building (or vault) for the remains of the dead, with walls, a roof, and (if it is to be used for more than one corpse) a door. ...

Cardinal Martínez Somalo ended the Rite of Interment with the words, "Lord, grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him." Those present sang "Salve Regina" or "Hail Holy Queen."

Dignitaries

Main article: List of dignitaries at the funeral of Pope John Paul II First Lady Laura Bush, President George W. Bush, Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice offered one of the largest United States delegations to any memorial service outside its borders. ...

Before the College of Cardinals could offer official customary invitations to the various heads of state and government, over 200 foreign officials had expressed their desire to attend the Mass of Requiem. Among the most familiar faces worldwide were the current and former Presidents of the United States, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prince of Wales and United Nations Secretary-General. Also attending was Mohammad Khatami of Iran, not normally tolerant of Christianity in his own country. Seal of the President of the United States, official impression The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... The head of government in Germany has traditionally been called Kanzler ( Chancellor). ... His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), the eldest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is Heir Apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and over a dozen Commonwealth... The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal divisions of the United Nations. ... President Mohammad Khatami Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (حجت‌الاسلام سید محمد خاتمی; born October, 1943 in Ardakan, Yazd province) is the fifth and current President of Iran. ...

Khatami sat only two seats away from a traditional enemy of Iran, Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe defied a European Union travel ban to attend the funeral. ROC President Chen Shui-bian made an unprecedented appearance over strong objections from the PRC, which had in the past prevented ROC presidents from attending international gatherings. Altogether, the Mass of Requiem was deemed to be the largest gathering of statesmen in world history, exceeding the gathering at the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in London in 1965. The State of Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, transliteration: Medinat Yisrael; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ اِسْرَائِيل, transliteration: ) is a country in the Middle East on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. ... Moshe Katsav (Courtesy: Israeli Knesset) Moshe Katsav (משה קצב mosheh qaṣṣāḇ, born December 5, 1945) is the current President of Israel (since 2000). ... Robert Gabriel Mugabe (born February 21, 1924) has been the head of government in Zimbabwe, first as Prime Minister and later as first executive President, since 1980. ... National motto: None Official language Mandarin Chinese Capital and largest city Taipei President Chen Shui-bian Premier Frank Hsieh Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 138th 35,980 km² 2. ... The President of the Republic of China (中華民國總統) is the head of state of the Republic of China, the government which administered part or all of Mainland China from 1917 to 1949 and has administered Taiwan and several outlying islands from 1945 until the present. ... Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian (ch. ... In the technical terminology of political science the PRC was a communist state for much of the 20th century, and is still considered a communist state by many, though not all, political scientists. ... A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. ... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965) was a British statesman, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. At various times an author, soldier, journalist, and politician, Churchill is generally regarded as... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

Novendiales

Bernard Cardinal Law, Archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, was chosen to have the honor of offering a novendiales mass. His mass drew protest from Americans.

After the Rite of Interment, nine official days of mourning began. The devotional called novendiales features a Mass of Requiem on each of the nine days at St. Peter's Basilica. Several cardinals were chosen by Cardinal Ratzinger to have the honor of presiding over each mass. One of the most controversial honorees was Bernard Cardinal Law, Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, scheduled to preside a novendiales on April 11. During his tenure as Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Law was accused of having mishandled cases of sexual abuse at the hands of diocesan priests. The event sparked the nationwide Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal in the dioceses of the United States. Photo by Anja Niedringhaus of Bernard Cardinal Law offering mass at St. ... Photo by Anja Niedringhaus of Bernard Cardinal Law offering mass at St. ... Devotional songs are hymns that accompany religious rituals. ... As archpriest the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Bernard Cardinal Law had the honors of presiding over one of nine official masses of mourning after the funeral of Pope John Paul II. He escorts Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in this photo. ... An archpriest is the title of a priest which has supervisory duties over a number of parishes. ... In Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christianity, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest and most important place of worship dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. ... In the late 20th century, and especially at the turn of the 21st, the Catholic Church in several countries was confronted with a series of allegations concerning sexual abuse of children under the legal age of consent ¹ by Catholic clergy, the overwhelming majority of whom are priests. ... The following is a list of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States. ...

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a grassroots advocacy group also known as SNAP, flew to Rome to protest saying Cardinal Law's place of honor was painful to sexual abuse victims and embarrassing to Roman Catholics. Just as the group's members arrived at St. Peter's Basilica, led by founder Barbara Blaine, police officers escorted them outside the confines of St. Peter's Square. Blaine was unable to pass out fliers to people walking into the mass offered by Cardinal Law.

Blaine had earlier told reporters in a press conference, "We are the sons and daughters of the Catholic family who were raped, sodomized and sexually molested by priests. At this time, we should be able to focus on the Holy Father's death, instead of Cardinal Law's prominence." The College of Cardinals responded by stating that Cardinal Law was honored as a matter of his being the ordinary of one of the most important basilicas of the Roman Catholic Church.

The April 14 novendiales mass at St. Peter's Basilica replaced traditional hymns and prayers with those of the Eastern Rite. Nasrallah Pierre Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, presided over the mass. It was the first time a cardinal patriarch of the Eastern Rite offered a novendiales mass for a pope. April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir His Eminence and His Beatitude Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir (born May 15, 1920 in Rayfoun, Lebanon) is the leader of Lebanons largest Christian sect, the Maronites. ...

Security

Police forces secure Vatican City. The over four million pilgrims and immense diplomatic contingent prompted widespread concerns of terrorist strikes.

The immensity of the pilgrim presence in Rome and the vast diplomatic contingent from nations around the world raised concerns by the College of Cardinals that the funeral, conclave and installation of a new pope would place Vatican City as a prime target for international terrorism. Photo by Plinio Lepri of the police forces securing Vatican City on April 5, 2005 before the funeral of Pope John Paul II. File links The following pages link to this file: Funeral of Pope John Paul II ... Photo by Plinio Lepri of the police forces securing Vatican City on April 5, 2005 before the funeral of Pope John Paul II. File links The following pages link to this file: Funeral of Pope John Paul II ... The Sacred College of Cardinals is the body of all Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. ... Terrorism is a controversial term with multiple definitions. ...

On April 6—in advent of the arrival of the United States delegation aboard Air Force One, protected by a military escort—the Italian government issued a no-fly zone within a five-mile radius of Rome. The Italian government considered the President of the United States, the first sitting American president to attend a papal funeral, as the most tempting target for terrorists. Official diplomatic delegations from other nations began arriving at the same time. April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... Air Force One is the air traffic control callsign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. ... A no-fly zone is a territory over which aircraft (or unauthorized aircraft) are not permitted to fly. ... Seal of the President of the United States, official impression The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ...

The Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian air force) prepared their airplanes to be easily boarded in a moment's notice in case of a terrorist strike. The Italian army scrambled anti-aircraft missiles around Vatican City, to the grudging dismay of the College of Cardinals. Marina Militare (Italian navy) warships were positioned along the shorelines of Italy armed with torpedoes. Gunboats ran up and down the rivers and waterways of Rome, including the Tiber River which flows around Vatican City. One thousand snipers were positioned on strategic rooftops throughout the Italian capital as Carabinieri military police task forces swept aqueducts and drains for explosives. Helicopters were dispatched to scan the city streets from above. Plans to close Ciampino Airport from commercial flights and divert air traffic to and from Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino were finalized for the day of the Mass of Requiem and Interment of Pope John Paul II. Other smaller civilian commuter and recreational airports were also shut down. The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... Fixed-wing aircraft is a term used to refer to what are more commonly known as aeroplanes in Commonwealth English (excluding Canada) or airplanes in North American English. ... The Italian Army has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of some 112,000 active duty personnel, around 70% male, 30% female. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... A missile (British English: miss-isle; U.S. English: missl) is, in general, a projectile—that is, something thrown or otherwise propelled. ... Marina Militare Italiana (Italian Navy) is one of the four divisions of the military forces of Italy. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a self propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... A gunboat is literally a boat carrying one or more guns. ... For the Second World War frigate class, see River class frigate The Murray River in Australia A waterfall on the Ova da Fedoz, Switzerland A river is a large natural waterway. ... Tiber River in Rome The River Tiber (Italian Tevere), the third longest river in Italy (disputed — see talk page) at 406 km (252 miles) after the Po and the Adige, flows through the Campagna and Rome in its course from Mount Fumaiolo to the Tyrrhenian Sea, which it reaches in... The traditional definition of a sniper is an infantry soldier especially skilled in field craft and marksmanship who kills selected enemies from concealment with a rifle at large distances. ... The Carabinieri is the shortened (and common) name for the Arma dei Carabinieri, an Italian military corps of the gendarmerie type with police functions. ... Military police (MPs) are the police of a military organization, generally concerning themselves with law enforcement and security. ... Pont du Gard, France, a Roman era aqueduct circa 19 BC, it is one of Frances top tourist attractions at over 1. ... Drain can refer to: A tube used to remove pus or other fluids from a wound. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... Ciampino Airport is a small commercial airport near Rome. ... Commercial may mean: as a noun: a form of advertising, as in a television commercial as an adjective: referring to commerce or for-profit activities or trade (compare with non-profit organization) a breed of cattle, Commercial This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, also known as Fiumicino International Airport, is one of Italys chief airports, located in Fiumicino and serving Rome. ... Fiumicino is an Italian town, in which Leornardo Da Vinci airport is located. ... Commuting is the process of travelling from a place of residence to a place of work. ... Tigers playing in the water Recreation is the employment of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of ones body or mind. ...

Italy has experience in dealing with terrorist strikes in the past. In the 1970s and 1980s, the nation was bloodied by several attacks. The strikes were planned and executed by political extremists on the opposite ends of the Italian political spectrum. Anti-terrorism task forces charged with securing the papal funeral however didn't see much of a threat from domestic terrorists like those that attacked Italians in the 1970s and 1980s. Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution... Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... Extremism is the act of taking a belief, political view or ideology to its most literal extreme. ...

References

• Pope John Paul Dies, World Mourns (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050403/ts_nm/pope_dc&e=1)
• Daily Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office - No. 0184 (http://www.vatican.va/gpII/bulletin/B0184-XX.02.pdf)
• The Apostolic constitution of John Paul II, Supreme Pontiff, Universi Dominici Gregis: on the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman Pontiff (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html)
• Overhead satellite photography of crowd waiting to see the Pope lying in state (resolution 60cm / 2ft. (http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/qb/rome_vaticancity_april5_05_dg.jpg)
• Cardinals Lobby for Swift Sainthood for John Paul II (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/international/worldspecial2/13saintcnd.html?hp&ex=1113364800&en=d6e61bcccdb2b7bb&ei=5094&partner=homepage)
• Venerable resting place for the Pope (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4442523.stm)
• Pope buried in St Peter's crypt (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4424477.stm)
• Link to official funeral rites programme from the Vatican in PDF format, including portions of the liturgies not witnessed by the public. Text mainly in Latin and Italian, including other languages heard in the service (http://www.jimmyakin.org/2005/04/the_funeral_of_.html)