A Pope's Farewell

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By Friday, when the princes and presidents, kings and queens, metropolitans and patriarchs, had all descended to honor their brother, the world seemed to stop to say Mass. In the shadow of his passing, much history was laid to rest; the church's strengths and weaknesses were also laid out for all to see. Here was Prince Charles, in line to lead an Anglican Church that split with Rome over a king's divorce five centuries ago, postponing his wedding a day to attend this ceremony instead. There was Boston's Bernard Cardinal Law, now in Rome after resigning over his handling of the sex-abuse scandals, preparing to preside over one of this week's funeral Masses. There were representatives of the Arab League, the King of Jordan, the Palestinian Prime Minister, the President of Syria, come from lands where the memory of the Crusades still lives. Here was the President of the U.S., seated near the President of Iran, and all the heads of the world, friends and enemies laced together in liturgy, sharing, at least for this moment, a sign of peace.

Theodore Cardinal McCarrick of Washington declared it the "largest funeral in the history of the world," as outside the multitudes watched, on immense TV screens, the movement of the plain cypress coffin, a fitting last gesture by a Pope who understood so well how much images matter. Priests poured into the crowds to administer Communion, and over their heads, the flags sailed and swooped. Banners proclaimed SANTO SUBITO, Sainthood Now, and already reports were spreading of miraculous healings by the Pope last week. "The Cardinals have seen this outpouring, and it adds to the weight of their responsibility. It says that we need to find someone inspiring," said a Vatican official. "The people want someone who will be great."

For all the splendor and sorrow of the week, there was a final bequest spreading through the square as the service came to a close and the crowd, reluctant to leave, chanted one last time, "Giovanni Paolo! Giovanni Paolo!" Five staccato syllables and rhythmic claps, a football cheer for God's great athlete. And then it was over, and people mingled and smiled, and by late afternoon the young pilgrims had turned the Via della Conciliazione that leads away from St. Peter's into a lively promenade. They broke out coolers of soft drinks. They packed the cafés, strolled down to the Tiber River as the spring light faded. Grief had turned festive with the echo of what the Pope on his deathbed is said to have told his personal secretary: "I am happy," he said. "You be happy too."