World leaders joined millions of pilgrims in Rome today to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul II. In what has become the largest event in modern Christian history, some four million people flooded into the Italian capital.

Only a fraction of the mourners are able to get into St Peter’s Square to witness the funeral mass with all its pomp and ancient liturgical tradition. Hundreds of thousands more watched on everything from tiny television sets to giant screens set up for the benefit of pilgrims across the eternal city.

The Prince of Wales is among the mourners with Tony Blair, George Bush and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Dignitaries from

at least 155 countries are in Rome, including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who has sidestepped a European Union travel ban. Also attending are the president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, and Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei - both of them Muslims.

A ring of steel has been thrown around central Rome. From last night, vehicle traffic was banned from the city centre. Air space was closed with many tourist flights diverted to other airports. Anti-aircraft batteries outside the city were on alert and naval ships patrolled both the Mediterranean coast and the Tiber River near Vatican City, the tiny sovereign city-state encompassed by the Italian capital. Thousands of extra police are out in force on the streets.

The numbers who said a personal farewell to pope approached two million after his body went on public view on Monday. The basilica’s doors were shut for good last night, ending four days of visits. Pilgrims staked out positions with sleeping bags and blankets just outside St Peter’s Square, getting as close they could to the scene of the funeral.

Last night thousands of Poles took part in a candlelit vigil through London in a "spontaneous act of love" for their fellow countryman. About 5,000 people walked from Trafalgar Square to Westminster Cathedral, where they formed a cross at 8.37pm - the time the 84-year-old Pontiff died on Saturday. Dr Jan Morzycki, president of the Federation of Poles in Great Britain, said: "It is the Polish community’s way of saying thanks for his life and saying goodbye."

Mourners will be able to watch the funeral on large screens in Trafalgar Square today.

The Pope's funeral service will begin with an intimate ceremony attended only by high-ranking prelates, who place a pouch of silver and bronze medals and a scrolled account of his life in his coffin. John Paul II's long-time private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and the master of the liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Piero Marini, will place a white silk veil over the pope’s face. The coffin is then closed.

The funeral Mass is celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, deacon of the College of Cardinals, joined by the cardinals and patriarchs of the Eastern Rite Churches, all dressed in red vestments.

Based on the Vatican’s book of liturgical ceremonies, published in 2000, the Mass begins with an introductory 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."

The funeral mass ends with all standing and together singing: "May the angels accompany you into heaven, may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive, and lead you to Holy Jerusalem." Then the prelates leave the altar in procession, bearing the coffin from the basilica down the steps of St Peter to the Vatican crypts. Here the simple wooden coffin is definitively closed with red bands, sealed with both papal and Vatican seals. The coffin is placed in a second casket of zinc, and within a third of walnut. This outside casket bears the name of the pope, his cross and his papal coat of arms.

The service is not open to the faithful, but is witnessed by top Vatican prelates. The chamberlain, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, performs the rite, concluding with the words: "Lord, grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him." They then sing the hymn, Salve Regina.

The cardinals will begin the process of electing a new pope on April 18.

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