Funeral Service for Pope John Paul II

VATICAN CITY, April 8, 2005 — -- The funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II begins at 10 a.m. local time today (4 a.m. ET) and will be celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, deacon of the College of Cardinals.

The funeral will take place at St. Peter's Basilica. The Mass is scheduled to last about 2 ½ hours and will follow this order:

Opening Hymn: "Eternal Rest Grant Him, O Lord," followed by the singing of Psalm 64 (65) "To You We Owe Our Hymn of Praise, O God of Zion"

Prayer for the pope read by a celebrant

First Reading:

-Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10, verses 34-43, known as Peter's Speech

-The Psalm 22, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"

The Second Reading:

-Letters of St. Paul to the Philippians, 3:20-24, "But our citizenship is in heaven"

-John, 6:40, "For this is the will of my father that everyone who sees the son and believes in him may have eternal life."

-John, 21:15-19, dialogue between Jesus and Peter, "Follow me."

Homily

Communion

Communion song is Psalm 129 (130), "Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord, Lord hear my voice."

Final Commendation

Choir sings the Litany of the Saints

After a silent prayer, the deacon sprays the casket with holy water and blesses it with incense.

Farewell

Final song: "May the angels accompany you into heaven, may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive, and lead you to Holy Jerusalem"

Coffin is closed and sealed and taken down the steps of St. Peter's Basilica to the Vatican grotto. His coffin will be placed inside a lead casket, which will then be placed inside an elm coffin and nailed shut with golden nails.