The requiem of Pope John Paul II is wrapping up right now. The spectacle is enormous, the many vignettes somehow touching: watching world leaders give each other the sign of peace; the long round of applause, with cries of "Santo!" for the dead Pontiff while the cardinals stand aside to allow the faithful a final view of him; an almost too-young priest administering communion as quickly and gently as he can.
As the body of Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II, is carried back inside St Peter's for internment, the crowd once again is erupting in applause. It seems from the coverage that I am watching that there is applause going up around the entire city and the world wherever the funeral mass is being observed.
The bells are pealing now. The mass is ended. Go in peace.
UPDATE: I am watching a vast array of different races, religions and nationalities pass out of the basilica. Most people are still lingering. Slowly, the crowd will dissipate. As the coffin was being carried back inside, thousands raise their hands and simply waved "goodbye." Amazing.
Comments