More from from Rome and beyond

• OAS POSTPONES VOTE BECAUSE OF FUNERAL | 5:50 p.m. ET

The 34-nation Organization of American States on Monday postponed an election for a new chief, saying many Latin American foreign ministers who had planned to attend this week are instead heading to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, a spokesman said.

The OAS Permanent Council had scheduled an election to choose a new secretary general on Thursday in Washington, but the date was pushed back to April 11 to avoid conflicts with the pope's funeral, spokesman Ian Edwards said.

• THOUSANDS PAY LAST RESPECTS | 2:30 p.m. ET

The first of thousands of people paid final respects to John Paul in a procession that was expected to continue for days.

People crossed themselves as they filed past. Some took pictures of of the pontiff in his crimson robe and white bishop's miter.

Police intervened to control the crush of people when the doors to St. Peter's Basilica first opened, an Italian news agency said. There was no immediate report of serious disorder or injury.

• DOORS OPEN TO PUBLIC | 1:52 p.m. ET

The doors of St. Peter's Basilica open to the public for the viewing of the body of Pope John Paul II.

• GROWING GUEST LIST | 1:25 p.m. ET

The list of leaders and luminaries announcing plans to attend the pope's funeral continued to grow on Monday. Poland was to be represented by President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Marek Belka, and former President and Solidarity leader Lech Walesa.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Metropolitan Kirill, foreign minister for the Russian Orthodox Church were also on the list of dignitaries planning to attend, along with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, EU President President Jose Manuel Barroso, and Britain's Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Presidents from many former Soviet bloc countries were also on the list.

• SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN POLAND | 12:45 p.m. ET

In the pope's homeland of Poland, authorities are making special provisions for viewing Friday's funeral. In Krakow, the proceedings are to be broadcast live on giant television screens in the city's Blonie Field, which is also where John Paul celebrated Mass during his visit to Krakow.

• ARRIVAL AT THE ALTAR | 11:54 a.m. ET

Prayers are being said over John Paul's body in St. Peter's Basilica while an estimated 100,000 people wait outside in St. Peter's Square to pay their respects.

• HEADING TO ST. PETER'S | 11:15 a.m. ET

In a ceremony full of ritual and Vatican tradition, the body is John Paul II is being moved from his private quarters to St. Peter's Basilica.

Ten pallbearers flanked by Swiss Guards are carrying the late pontiff's body on a crimson platform from the Clementine Hall, where it had laid in state since Sunday.

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