From the archives: Pope John Paul II dies

This article was originally published in Newsday on April 6, 2005

VATICAN CITY - Austin Fremont of Manhattan didn't turn out to see the body of Pope John Paul II because she was Catholic, or because she admired his evangelist zeal, or because she agreed with his quest to achieve world peace.

"I really just wanted to check out the scene," explained the 23-year-old English teacher, who is in Rome for a month-long training course, as she joined an estimated 1 million people who had queued up by last night to see the pontiff who died Saturday.

That scene, Fremont decided after eyeing the 2 1/2-mile line that snaked through narrow streets and grand avenues to arrive at the pope's body inside St. Peter's Basilica, reminded her of a non-stop procession.

The second of three days of papal viewing grew to monster size yesterday, with so many people turning out that roads were blockaded, garbage rose into piles and traffic snarled outside the perimeter of the Vatican. The mass outpouring dwarfs the popular response to the deaths not only of previous popes but also to most other world leaders.

"This exceeds everything," said Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, who has attended the funerals of the three previous popes, including the immensely popular John XXIII in 1963. Rigali attributed the turnout to both "the extraordinary length of this pontificate and the extraordinary character of the man."

Mass media, mass transportation and the cult of celebrity, all of which have grown exponentially since John Paul II became pope 26 years ago, also may play a role.

Despite waits of up to seven hours to see the pontiff lying in state in the ornate basilica, the crowd remained relatively calm. Most of the 300 people treated for medical problems suffered fatigue, and only three were hospitalized. Civil protection workers handed out more than 130,000 bottles of water, as well as tea and Italian croissants, to thousands who had slept on the street so they would not lose their place in line when the viewing closed for two hours yesterday just before dawn.

Apparently that wasn't enough; some of those in line complained that local merchants were price-gouging for water, charging up to 4 Euros (about $3) - more than twice the usual rate.

For merchants whose religious curio shops open onto the streets of the waiting route, the turnout of about a million viewers since the viewing began Monday night were manna. "The pope's death is sad emotionally but, what can I tell you, it's great for business," said Paolo Petrelli, the manager of a shop selling key rings, magnets, bells, calendars and glasses bearing the image of a smiling John Paul II.

Others weren't so happy. "None of our customers can get here; the streets are too jammed," groused Francesco Donati, whose tire shop had been empty all day. "And the garbage from all these people waiting in line is so high I could barely open my door this morning."

Friday's service is expected to be one of the world's most viewed funerals since Princess Diana's in 1997. The anticipated turnout of 3 million people would double the population of Rome, the capital city that surrounds the Vatican.

More than 200 dignitaries are expected to attend, including President George W. Bush, Prince Charles of England, former South Africa President Nelson Mandela and Lech Walesa, the former union leader and president from the late pope's native Poland.

The College of Cardinals, meanwhile, gathered in deep secrecy for a second day yesterday to prepare for the election of the next pope. The cardinals have yet to set a date for the electoral conclave, which must occur within 15 to 20 days of a pope's death.

Brazilian Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia and a possible candidate, predicted a new pope would be chosen quickly.

"I don't think it will be a long conclave," he told Italian state radio, adding that cardinals would have time to develop "clear ideas" before they begin balloting.

But Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington seemed startled by that assessment. "He hasn't sent me the instructions yet," he said of Majella.

McCarrick acknowledged that he felt awed by the task. John Paul II, he said, "has raised the bar."