Thousands wait patiently for chance to view pope’s body in basilica
‘Tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of people filled St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, waiting more or less patiently to pay homage to Pope John Paul II.
The solemn, prayerful pomp of the ceremonial transfer of the pope’s body from the Apostolic Palace to St. Peter’s Basilica April 4 was replaced by informality and expressions of simple piety as the public lined up to view the pope’s body.
Hundreds of police officers from the Vatican, Italy and every imaginable branch of the Italian military, as well as Red Cross workers and civil protection volunteers, patrolled the area, keeping order, handing out water and helping those who tired of waiting in line for hours.’
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