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Reuters Coverage of the Death of Pope
John Paul II
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Marie-Louise Gumuchian
LONDON (Reuters) - Thousands of mourners flocked
have flocked to Westminster Cathedral to pay
tribute to Pope John Paul II.
Church security guards said nearly 4,000 people
attended a requiem mass on Sunday, including the
prime minister's wife Cherie Blair. The Queen was
represented by Lord and Lady Camoys.
Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor paid tribute
to "a great man, a great Christian and a great
Pope".
"His powerful message was the dignity of every
human person from the beginning of life to the very
end," he said.
Those who did not make it into the cathedral
listened to the service outside on loud
speakers.
Inside, condolence messages in all languages were
piled up in a crypt, where a small Polish flag hung
below a portrait of the Pope.
Yellow and white papal ribbons adorned candles
throughout the cathedral.
Peter Moore, Londons town crier, said the service
was very moving and he was happy the Pope was now
at peace.
"This is a time of celebration, not of sadness. He
was a great Pope, a Pope of the people."
"He went to the world and the world is now coming
to him," he said.
Helen Fox from Peterborough, who listened to the
service outside the cathedral, found the atmosphere
solemn.
"He was a people's man and we feel there could be a
lot of change now, but we hope not," she said.
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