Falling silent, whispering the rosary and clasping their hands, tens of thousands of pilgrims paid their final respects to Pope John Paul II on Monday after his body was carried on a crimson platform to St. Peter's Basilica.
Incense wafted through the church where he will be laid to rest Friday in an ancient grotto holding the remains of popes through the ages, immediately after a funeral to be attended under tight security by President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and dozens of other world leaders. Up to 2 million pilgrims are expected in Rome to pay their final respects this week.
Pope John Paul II died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment at the age of 84.
