Flocking to St Peter’s Basilica in their tens of thousands, in families, clutches of friends or organised busloads, pilgrims said on Wednesday the crush of crowds and the interminable wait are all part of saying goodbye.
About a million pilgrims were massed early on Wednesday in the area around St Peter’s Basilica, where the body of Pope John Paul II is lying in state, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.
Streets in the surrounding area were packed with mourners keen to pay their last respects. Tightly packed queues stretched more than 2km in the bright sun, with a waiting time of up to 12 hours.
The mass of humanity was increasingly showing the colours of the nations of the world, notably the red-and-white flag of Pope John Paul II’s native Poland.
One man stood wrapped in the Chilean flag on the main artery leading to the basilica, where the pope’s body has been lying in state since Monday.
In a packed sidestreet, Emmanuela and Stefano Benassati from Milan had waited four hours and were prepared to wait for at least another four.
The pontiff, Emmanuela said, ”gave something to everybody all over the world, not just to the Italians and Polish people”.
They said Muslim friends from Turkey had called them to express their condolences and admiration for the pope.
She said she thought many in the throngs were in Rome for the event as well as for the tribute: ”It’s going to be history.”
Gisella Condemi, from the southern Italian region of Calabria, brought with her the memory of an address by the pope to young Roman Catholics in 1989.
”Don’t be afraid to be saints,” she quoted him as saying.
The late pontiff’s appeal for the youth was his refusal to compromise his values, said the 32-year-old, who was accompanied by a group of 10 friends in their early twenties.
”He told [US President George] Bush the truth, that war is no good. He didn’t compromise with anybody,” said Condemi. The pope publicly opposed the United States-led war in Iraq.
”We need this example, we are afraid to tell the truth,” she added.
That view was shared by a young Red Cross volunteer, who suspected many had travelled to Rome for other than religious reasons.
Most, however, seemed to share the Polish-born pope’s faith deeply. Some carried crosses and pictures of the pontiff, who died on Saturday aged 84 after years of ill health.
Good humour prevailed despite the occasional crush as police allowed packs of hundreds to advance at once to the next stop along the kilometres-long line to the basilica.
Spontaneous applause and singing broke out, without anyone trying to determine the trigger.
A group of 50 people in their early twenties gathered around, as Matteo acted as an impromptu spokesperson.
For him, John Paul II ”was the greatest man of our time”. Coming from the small village of Maclodio near Milan, the church group said most in the crowd had really come to say goodbye.
Asked what he wished to share with those waiting with him, Matteo replied: ”Don’t push.”
Beyond that, to those around the world watching on television, he asked that they ”try to respect others and live in peace”.
”Respect is the most important thing,” he said.
Meanwhile, about 100 cardinals convened another secret meeting to finalise arrangement for the pope’s funeral on Friday, expected to draw about 200 leaders from around the world and at least two million people on the streets.
The cardinals, who have been meeting every day this week since the pope’s death on Saturday, also have to decide when to start their closed-doors conclave that must elect the new pontiff.
Under Vatican rules, the conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death, which in this case means April 17 at the earliest. — Sapa-AFP