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Washington DC,
6th April 2005 (CNA)
- As the onslaught of pilgrims continues to
descend on Rome,
the city is simultaneously preparing for the
arrival of some 200 heads of state and numerous
world dignitaries coming to pay their last
respects at Pope John Paul II’s Friday funeral Mass.
Among them will be President George W.
Bush, accompanied by his wife Laura, who will lead
an official delegation of five from the
U.S.
“Laura and I are looking forward to leading
a delegation to honor the Holy Father,” the
president said at a recent news
conference.
Although not on the official funeral guest
list, many senators are
also planning a trip to Rome to
pay their last respects to the pope. The group,
led by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn),
will join over 2 million other pilgrims to say
farewell to the pontiff.
The number of dignitaries is unprecedented
in recent years for a papal funeral.
Not a single president attended the funeral
of John Paul II’s predecessor, John Paul I, and
only three heads of state were present at the
burial of Pope Paul VI in 1978.
Although most countries only sent
ambassadors or other representatives in latter
years, Rome
will become the center of the world on Friday, as
the body of the Polish-born Holy Father is laid to
rest in a crypt underneath St. Peter’s
Basilica.
Religious leaders from around the world
will also be present for the funeral including
heads of the Russian and Greek
Orthodox Churches, respectively; the
Armenian Apostolic Church,
two major Jewish groups and some 17 delegations
from other Christian denominations.
Many credit the world attention to the
pope’s extensive travel. John Paul was said to
have been seen in person by more people than any
other human being in history.
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