Six years ago, when his funeral liturgy was complete, the Cardinals then gathered in Rome each took their turn to venerate the coffin of the late Pontiff, John Paul II. This past week, following the completion of the Mass of Beatification the lines formed once again, this time made up of the Blessed's successor, his confreres (Cardinals and Bishops) and visiting digitaries.
Then the line continued, made up of the faithful, each of which had come to venerate the Pope who had done so much to show the human face of the Pontificate to the world. In fact, the line of the faithful continued to move slowly toward the doors of the Basilica of Saint Peter, then through the doors and into the church where the coffin had been placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, and was guarded by four spear-yielding Swiss Guards.
The lines continued until at least 11:00pm on Sunday evening, and formed again on Monday morning as early as 6:00am. In the end, the lineups finally dissipated around 11:00pm on Monday evening. With reported numbers coming in around the 50K level for Poles alone, and estimates of the crowds hovering around 1M+ level.
Then the line continued, made up of the faithful, each of which had come to venerate the Pope who had done so much to show the human face of the Pontificate to the world. In fact, the line of the faithful continued to move slowly toward the doors of the Basilica of Saint Peter, then through the doors and into the church where the coffin had been placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, and was guarded by four spear-yielding Swiss Guards.
The lines continued until at least 11:00pm on Sunday evening, and formed again on Monday morning as early as 6:00am. In the end, the lineups finally dissipated around 11:00pm on Monday evening. With reported numbers coming in around the 50K level for Poles alone, and estimates of the crowds hovering around 1M+ level.
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