For what it's worth, I watched ABC coverage. (Sorry, Lifesaver, no Katie Couric for me.) Here are some of my thoughts:
* The homily was beautiful. The parts where Cardinal Ratzinger talked about the Pope's election in 1978 and his last Easter appearance were especially touching.
* Flags of many nations - there were *lots and LOTS* of flags from Poland (top half white/bottom half red, some displaying the eagle) plus flags from everywhere. Very cool!
* It was nice to see the different religious clerics in the audience
* I enjoyed the photo slideshow retrospectives they showed every now and again. I especially enjoyed the photos and clips of the Pope greeting children.
* Wow! The Sign of Peace custom, AKA the "meet and greet moment" was something else. To see world leaders turning to each other to shake hands and wish peace to one another was very interesting.
* It was so sweet when the crowd sort of took over before the final prayers by adding their own part to the ceremony by clapping and chanting. It was very gracious of the Cardinals to allow the crowd to do this for several minutes!
* I also thought the segment where the Cardinals from the Eastern Churches sang special prayers was special. It was so different from the previous music segments. Apparently participation by the Eastern Churches is unprecedented.
* It was also nice to hear that, when the actual internment takes place downstairs in the crypt, the Pope's family will among the 20 or so people in attendance.
* I have to say that I did ok through the whole thing...until the very end. When the pallbearers walked the casket to the door of the basillica, and then turned the Pope around to face the people one last time, I simply burst into tears.
.....Kelly
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