4/8/2005: "Poppa" is laid to rest
This is history being made.
There's something very touching about all the pageantry and ritual in Rome this week, whether or not one is Catholic or Christian or even religious. Of course a pope's death and funeral is going to draw a crowd, but to have such a tremendous outpouring of humanity and love - enough to basically close down a major city - says more about the man than his office.
And somehow there's something humbling for all of us that the focal point of the largest funeral in history is a plain wooden coffin. But that, of course, is the point.
One statistic really stood out for me from the many we've heard this week: in his lifetime, Pope John Paul II was seen in person by more people than any other person ever. Ever! And that was before the millions filed past his body this week. It isn't a surprising claim when you think about it considering his many world travels, but it's still a mind-blowing thing to consider.
Like Princess Diana, whose funeral was the last time we had anything even close to approaching this tone and this scale, I think the world will miss John Paul II long after the crowds have dispersed and gone home. We need people like them.
