Thousands of pilgrims and mourners waited overnight for a chance to see the body of Pope John Paul II lying in state in St Peter's Basilica.
Tens of thousands filed past his body after the Vatican opened the basilica last night, and cardinals decreed that he should remain on view for three days and nights until his burial in the basilica's grottoes.
Up to two million people are expected for the funeral service as well as almost 200 world leaders in a salute for a church leader who helped bring down the Iron Curtain and stamped a rigorous orthodoxy on his own faith.
Cuban Leader, Fidel Castro
Dressed in crimson and white robes, the Pope left his Apostolic Palace for the last time yesterday, carried aloft on a red velvet litter through the Vatican's hallways, into a packed St. Peter's Square and onto the vast basilica.
Four Swiss guards in full ceremonial uniform stood to attention around the raised platform where the Pope lay, a silver crucifix tucked under one arm, a rosary in his hands.
Many of the onlookers took photographs with their mobile phones before being whisked on by the uniformed attendants.
State television said almost half a million people had turned up to see the body, forcing church authorities to put back until 3am plans to close the church to enable it to be cleaned.
The basilica reopened at around 4:40am. Thousands who had queued for hours streamed through the square and into the church to pay their final respects to the Pope.
Two days after the death of 84-year-old John Paul, tributes continued to pour in for a man who defied dictators, fought for the dispossessed and denounced dissent within his own church.
"Rest in peace indefatigable warrior for friendship between peoples, enemy of war and friend of the poor," Cuban President Fidel Castro wrote in a book of condolences in Havana. Cuban officials said Castro would not attend the funeral.
But many other world leaders will come, including President Bush, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Britain's Prince Charles announced he was postponing his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles from Friday to Saturday so that he too could be at the Vatican.
Thousands of grieving Poles were also expected to flood into the eternal city and Italy was laying on extra trains to ensure that as many members of the public as possible could be present.
Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, Ireland, who served as secretary to three popes, including John Paul II, said he thought the massive popular outpouring was the return in kind for the affection the Pope had shown for people the world over.