More from from Rome and beyond

• PONTIFF'S BODY TO GO ON DISPLAY | 6:27 a.m. ET

The Vatican says Pope John Paul II's body will go on display shortly at the Apostolic Palace.

• 'JOHN PAUL THE GREAT' | 6:05 a.m. ET

The written text of Cardinal Angelo Sodano's Sunday homily called the late pope "John Paul the Great," a title usually designated for popes worthy of sainthood, such as Gregory the Great and Leo the Great. But Sodano didn't use the title when he delivered the homily, and there was no explanation, the Associated Press reported.

• NATIONAL MOURNING IN PHILIPPINES | 5:43 a.m. ET

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, praising the pope as "a holy champion of the Filipino family and of profound Christian values," called for national mourning until the pope was buried and ordered government offices to fly the flag at half-mast.

• PRAYING FOR JOHN PAUL | 5:07 a.m. ET

Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, celebrated Mass for the repose of Pope John Paul II's soul on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, calling on the tens of thousands of people gathered there to pray for "our beloved John Paul."

"We entrust with confidence to the risen Christ, Lord of life and history, our beloved John Paul II who for 27 years guided the universal church as the successor of Peter," he said.

• SPECIAL MASS | 4:35 a.m. ET

Services honoring Pope John Paul II are under way at St. Peter's Basilica.

• POPE'S FINAL WORD | 4:23 a.m. ET

Some Italian newspapers are reporting that John Paul II's last word was "amen."

• CROWDS FLOCK TO VATICAN | 3:29 a.m. ET

Officials estimated early Sunday that the crowd in and around St. Peter’s had swelled to about 100,000.

The city transport system said it was increasing service on bus and subway lines stopping at St. Peter’s. Some city buses began skipping intermediate stops to rush pilgrims straight from Rome’s main train station to St. Peter’s Square.

In John Paul’s native Poland, the national carrier LOT said its Rome-bound flights were nearly full for Sunday and Monday, and that every second or third call was from someone looking to book a flight to Rome.

Special Sunday services are scheduled to begin at 4:30 a.m. ET.

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