MaltaMedia.com News Reports:
Pope John Paul II's death and the days leading to burial.

Pope's funeral marked across Malta
[Santa Venera, Malta: Apr 8, 2005, 16:00 CET] The Maltese islands observed a national day of mourning in honour of Pope John Paul II. On Monday morning, during the Pope’s funeral Mass, life in Malta and Gozo came to a virtual standstill. Church schools were all closed, while Government schools opened, however, no lessons were held. Some schools organized various activities or watched the funeral service on TV. Additionally, all government public activities were all cancelled

Pope laid to rest at Vatican
[Vatican: Apr 8, 2005, 15:00 CET] Following a funeral Mass held at St Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II was buried in a crypt in St Peter’s Basilica on Friday early afternoon. Millions of people, including around 200 world leaders attended the two and a half-hour ceremony to bid a farewell to the Pontiff. The Pope's corpse will lie with the remains of past popes from throughout the ages, near the traditional tomb of the apostle Peter, the first pope.

Millions attend Pope's funeral
[Vatican: Apr 8, 2005, 10:15 CET] Millions of people from all around the world are in Rome to pay a final farewell to Pope John Paul II at his funeral, which is considered to be largest in Roman Catholic Church history. The open-air funeral Mass is being held at St Peter's Square in Rome. Amongst the 200 world leaders attending, are a delegation from Malta led by Maltese President Dr Edward Fenech Adami, including Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Dr Alfred Sant.

Pope considered resigning in 2000
[Vatican: Apr 7, 2005, 18:00 CET] Pope John Paul II’s will and testament reveal that he had considered resigning in 2000, when he reached 80 years. The document released by the Vatican on Thursday. The testament also said that the Pope had wondered whether he should continue his mission as pontiff and if it was his task to bring the Church towards the 21st century.

Last pilgrims in line for Pope John Paul II
[Vatican: Apr 7, 2005, 12:27 CET] Around one million people are in line to view Pope John Paul II, whose corpse is lying at St Peter's Basilica. On Wednesday evening, pilgrims were blocked by police officers to join the queue. Airspace over Rome will also close due to the arrival of around 200 foreign leaders including Archbishop of Malta Mgr Joseph Mercieca, Maltese President Edward Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Alfred Sant.

Conclave for new Pope to start on April 18
[Vatican: Apr 6, 2005, 16:00 CET]The world's Catholic Church Cardinals decided to start a secret conclave to elect a new Pope, who will be the successor of Pope John Paul II. Vatican's spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced that the Cardinals have opened the Pope's will, however, it will not be published until Thursday. During Wednesday's meeting the Cardinals also continued to prepare for the Pope's funeral to be held on Friday.

Hundreds of Maltese to pay their respects to Pope
[Malta: Apr 6, 2005, 13:15 CET] Hundreds of Maltese people are expected to travel to Rome to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II. Many people are struggling to buy tickets to attend the Pope's funeral to be held on Friday at 1000CET. The funeral will be attended by Maltese Archbishop Mons Mercieca, who will represent the Maltese Archdiocese, the President of Malta Dr Edward Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Malta Labour Party leader Dr Alfred Sant.

Mass in memory of Pope John Paul II
[Valletta, Malta: Apr 5, 2005, 20:15 CET] A special Mass was celebrated in honour of Pope John Paul II at St John Co-Cathedral, Valletta on Tuesday evening. The Mass was led by Apostolic Nuncio Felix de Blanco Prieto, while Maltese Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and other celebrants also participated in the celebration. During the homily, Mons Mercieca stated, "His Holiness defended man and his great dignity in all employment and social sectors. He worked hard towards unity and peace amongst people. The Pope was also the person who initiated dialogue between different religions."

Cardinals announce Pope's burial plans
[Vatican: Apr 5, 2005, 18:22 CET] The world's Roman Catholic Church Cardinals have met on Tuesday morning to continue discussing Pope John Paul II's burial and funeral. The Cardinals announced that the Pope will be buried in a grave in the grotto beneath St Peter's Basilica. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are expected to announce when the conclave for the election of the new Pope would start.

Maltese President and PM sign condolences book
[Rabat, Malta: Apr 5, 2005, 13:30 CET] Maltese President Edward Fenech Adami and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi signed the Book of Condolences for the Pope John Paul II's death on Tuesday morning. The Book is open for the public till Friday 8th April at the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat from 1000CET to 1200CET and from 1500CET to 1800CET. Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening a Mass will be held at St John Co-Cathedral, Valletta at 1830CET. Apostolic Nuncio Felix de Blanco Prieto is expected to lead this special Mass in honour of the Pope.

Thousands of people in line for the Pope
[Vatican: Apr 5, 2005, 11:23 CET] Tens of thousands of people are in line to give the last greeting to Pope John Paul II, whose corpse is exhibited inside St Peter's Basilica, in front of the main altar. The streets surrounding the Apostolic Palace have been packed with people from all over the world to pay respects to the Pope.

Parliament adjourns in mourning for Pope John Paul II
[Valletta, Malta: Apr 4, 2005, 20:04 CET] The Parliamentary sitting on Monday evening lasted only a few minutes after Prime Minister Gonzi proposed a suspension of the agenda in respect of Pope John Paul II who died last Saturday. Parliament observed one minute of silence and then adjourned for next Monday.

Pope lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica
[Vatican: Apr 4, 2005, 17:41 CET] Pope John Paul II's body was moved from the Vatican palace's Clementine Hall to St Peter's Basilica on Monday. The procession which attracted hundreds of faithful commenced at 1700CET. His body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica where mourners will be able to pay their respect to the late Pontiff. The Basilica will remain open until Friday.

Maltese bishops share their sorrow with the Vatican
[Floriana, Malta: Apr 4, 2005, 14:02 CET] The Maltese Bishops have sent a letter to Cardinal Edoardo Martinez Somalo, nicknamed Camerlengo, who has assumed the responsibilities of the administration of the Holy See up to the election of a new Pope, to express their sorrow at the death of John Paul II.

Pope's funeral will be held on Friday at 1000 CET
[Vatican: Apr 4, 2005, 13:15 CET] The funeral of Pope John Paul II will be held this Friday at 1000 CET. Pope John Paul II will be buried in the crypt in St. Peter's Basilica, near the tomb of other past Popes, since he left no express wish to be buried in Poland, as many co-nationals of Karol Wojtyla had hoped.

A minute's silence for Pope John Paul II
[Ta' Qali, Malta: Apr 4, 2005, 08:35 CET] Premier League football matches started with a minute's silence in a sign of mourning for Pope John Paul II. In his first visit to Malta in May 1990, the pope had visited the National Stadium where thousands of youths had gathered to meet him.

Pope lying in state at Apostolic Palace
[Vatican: Apr 3, 2005, 19:29 CET] Pope John Paul II's body is on display in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace for Italian officials and Vatican clerics to pay their respects. The body will be transferred to St Peter's Basilica on Monday for public viewing. On Sunday morning, more than ten thousand people gathered in St Peter's square to participate in a solemn Mass in honour of the Pope.

Barroso expresses condolences over Pope's death
[Brussels: Apr 3, 2005, 18:31 CET] Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. expressed his sorrow in face of Pope John Paul II's death on Saturday night. In a statement he said "I wish to express my deep sorrow on learning of the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II".

Maltese government declares national mourning
[Valletta, Malta: Apr 3, 2005, 14:00 CET] The Maltese government called on Maltese and Gozitans to unite in a three-day national mourning for the death of Pope John Paul II. The three days are Sunday and Monday, while the other day will be observed on Thursday when the funeral will take place. Additionally, it was reported that all government activities are cancelled.

Pope John Paul II has died
[Vatican: Apr 2, 2005, 22:00 CET] Pope John Paul II passed away on Saturday evening at 2137CET after drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the earlier hours of the day. The Vatican made the official announcement at around 2200 CET. At 84, he was one of the longest-serving Popes.The Pontiff suffered cardio circulatory collapse and septic shock on Thursday, brought on by a urinary tract infection. All throughout Friday and Saturday, his health condition was deemed "very grave".