Long Lines to See the Holy Father

Thousands wait hours to pay last respects

VATICAN CITY - On Monday morning, the barriers began to go up along Via della Conciliazione, the long, wide boulevard leading from the Tiber river to St. Peter's Basilica. By the afternoon, news that John Paul II's body would be carried across St. Peter's Square and into the basilica had brought thousands of people to the Vatican grounds.

It was another beautiful, sunny day in Rome, and around 4 p.m., in order to avert a stampede, police began directing waves of about 200 through the barricades every few minutes.

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See also Special Masses across the area

Archbishop Raymond Burke will be part of a memorial Mass at 7 tonight at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church, 15 Plaza Square, northeast of Union Station downtown. The service is especially for the Polish Apostolate of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, but the public is welcome. Some hymns will be sung in Polish. The Rev. Adam Hurbanczuk, pastor of the Polish apostolate, will participate.