Pope John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years, died Saturday night at age 84.
"We all feel like orphans this evening," Undersecretary of State Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told some 70,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square below the pope's lighted apartment windows. Some broke out in applause -- an Italian tradition in which mourners often clap for important figures -- and others wept.
The faithful have kept private and public vigil, and the eyes of the world media have turned to Rome, as the pope's health deteriorated over the past couple of days.
The Missourian's Sunday coverage of this global milestone will include reflections by priests visiting from Poland, Brazil and India as well as interfaith perspectives from some of Columbia's religious leaders and scholars.