Pope died serene - cardinal

2005-04-03 12:15

Vatican City - Pope John Paul II died a serene death, Cardinal Angelo Sodano said in his homily during a mass in honour of the late leader of the Roman Catholic Church in St Peter's Square on Sunday.

"I was a witness to this serenity as I stood praying by the agonizing pope's bedside," said Sodano, the late pope's secretary of state, straying from the prepared text that had been faxed to the media.

"Serenity is the fruit of faith," he added as more than 100 000 Catholics and tourists thronged the square facing St Peter's basilica.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, celebrated a Mass for the repose of Pope John Paul II's soul on Sunday on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, calling on the thousands of people gathered there to pray for "our beloved John Paul."

Applause rang out when Sodano, dressed in golden vestments, prayed for the pope's soul at the start of the Mass.

"We entrust with confidence to the risen Christ, Lord of life and history, our beloved John Paul II who for 27 years guided the universal church as the successor of Peter," he said.

Thousands of people streamed toward St. Peter's Square for the midmorning Mass, joining the faithful who had held an overnight vigil in the piazza after learning of the death of the pontiff. The traditional Sunday noontime prayer, which John Paul had delivered throughout his pontificate, was to follow, the Vatican said.

The Mass began with a solemn parade of the College of Cardinals down the steps of the basilica as a choir sang. Each cardinal, dressed in flowing white robes with a golden cross on the chest, kissed the altar before taking his seat.

As the Mass got under way, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the late pope's vicar for Rome, formally announced John Paul's death to the people of Rome in keeping with Vatican tradition, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Pilgrims jammed the piazza and the Via della Conciliazione boulevard leading toward it, coming from every direction. Some walked their dogs, others lifted small children up on their shoulders to see better. Still others carried rosaries or the flags of their country. Many were the red and white colours from John Paul's native Poland.

Police estimated the crowd at 50 000.

First aid stations and ambulances lined the avenue in case any of the pilgrims needed help.

"It's a historic event," said Ercole Ferri, a 72-year-old Roman who proudly showed off a list of the six popes he has lived through. "It's not something sad for me. I think of all that he has done."

Others though felt sadness, even though John Paul had reportedly urged his aides to feel joy and hope in his final hours.

"Joy, even if everyone feels like an orphan today," said Giulia Caiani, an Italian 24-year-old student who spent the night camped out in sleeping bags with friends on the square.

"He was a wonderful guide. We have no guide now, there's no longer his voice, or his presence," she said.

- AP