Posted on 04/05/2005 10:00:36 AM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of mourners intent on seeing their beloved Pope John Paul one last time poured into the Vatican on Tuesday, jamming the narrow cobbled streets and filling them with song, prayer and sorrow.
On the Via della Conciliazione, a broad avenue leading from St. Peter's Square to the River Tiber, a quiet, disciplined crowd was contained between metal barriers with police and paramedics stationed at regular intervals.
But in the adjacent warren of medieval alleys, pilgrims were flooding in at such a pace that they were blocking streets before police had time to clear the traffic, trapping a few unlucky drivers in an impenetrable mass of people.
"It's out of control. But everyone is so patient, so nice, it's a very peaceful multitude," said a policeman, who did not wish to give his name.
A group of girl scouts had come by bus from Nantes, in western France. Their leader was holding a guitar above her head so they would not get separated and they were singing at the top of their voices.
"This is extraordinary. What a proof of love for the Pope!" said 18-year-old Marine Naudet, wearing a beige uniform with a red and white kerchief and waving a small French flag.
Big groups of young Italians sang and clapped as they joined the scrum, carrying banners with messages for the Pope from parishes all over the country. "We miss you, John Paul. Thank you," read one banner from Bari, in southeastern Italy.
Other pilgrims carried wooden crosses, flags from countries as distant as Ecuador and Nigeria, and umbrellas to shield against the sun.
BEARING WITNESS
On the Via della Conciliazione the mood was more somber, partly because people there had already been waiting for hours but also because of growing emotion as they neared St. Peter's Basilica where the Pope's body was lying in state.
"When we started this morning we were singing and laughing, but the closer we get to the basilica, the sadder we feel," said 21-year-old Caterina Avantagiato. She had come with two friends on a night train from a village in the heel of Italy.
"It's a beautiful experience to be here and see how many people have come to bear witness to the passing of this great Pope. But it's also very sad, very emotional," she said, as solemn music and prayers in many languages echoed from loudspeakers.
Watchful volunteers scanned faces for signs of exhaustion or dehydration. Paramedics in bright orange stood by with stretchers, while officials unloaded trucks of bottled water for free distribution.
A few miles away at Termini, Rome's main train station, hordes of pilgrims pouring out of the concourse and into the middle of the street to pore over maps caused traffic chaos.
Armando Antonio Monteiro Barbosa, a Spanish builder, had just arrived by train from the airport after impulsively catching a flight to Rome, and did not know how long he would stay since he had not found a return flight.
"We're not sure where we are staying ... If you have inner peace, the when, where and how doesn't matter," said his Colombian girlfriend Mojin, her hair in dreadlocks and a woolen blanket wrapped around her waist.
Ten of thousands of pilgrims queue outside Saint Peter's Basilica to see the late Pope John Paul II lying in state at the Vatican April 5, 2005. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Roman Catholic cardinals gather in the Synod Hall at the Vatican April 5, 2005 for the first time since the Pontiff's death to organize a funeral expected to draw the greatest tide of pilgrims and heads of state to the Vatican in its history. (Pool/Reuters)
Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
WOW!
Doesn't seem possible that all who want to file past the Pope will be able to do so before the time constraints of Friday's funeral. They will have to cut them off soon..
ping
I really feel for the city officials. There's only so much room in Rome, and the city is a zoo even without any special events going on. They must be tearing their hair out trying to keep everyone safe, healthy, and moving!
LQ
I can't believe in watching this on tv that the crowds are so orderly. And the vatican personnel are ushering people by very quickly. Its very impressive.
Yahoo! has great pictures. I have been looking through them all day today (and saving many on my computer).
You'd think that a hot dog vendor (or a cannoli vendor?) would make a killing there,
They are estimating two million Poles will be in Rome for the funeral.
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