1.28pm: The body of Pope John Paul II is laid to rest in the crypt below Saint Peter’s Basilica.
12.05: The vast crowd begins to stream away toward the River Tiber, many still carrying their national flags aloft, through the three "human avenues" maintained by the vast security presence. The air is filled with the sound of tolling bells, more spontaneous applause and the roar of helicopters soaring above the windswept square.
11.47: As the coffin disappeared through the Door of Death into the basilica followed by the dignitaries, some among the crowds waved flags in farewell. Inside, in a final private ceremony, presided over by Cardinal Eduardo Somalo, the Papal Chamberlain, the cypress coffin was encased in zinc and then oak.
11.45: Prolonged applause mixes with the tolling of the bells to signal the end of one of the most extraordinary religious gatherings of all time. They wept, they laughed, they prayed, they applauded, and, in contrast to the traditional solemnity of the ancient liturgical service, they chanted "Giovanni Paolo".
11.43: The coffin is raised behind the altar, is shown to the crowd and then led away to singing. The giant bell of St Peter's rings out. The Pope will be buried under the space previously occupied by Pope John XXIII, the "smiling pope" of the late 1950s who was moved up to a tomb inside St Peter's after his beatification in 2000.
11.37: The mass concludes with the sung prayer: "May the angels accompany you to heaven, may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive and lead you to Holy Jesus." The book of Gospels is removed and the 12 pallbearers, dressed in black, raise the coffin to carry it slowly past the altar on its final journey to the papal vault.
11.35: To the singing of the Magnificat, the Cross of St Peter leads a procession of acolytes towards the atrium of the basilica where, 26 years ago, John Paul was first proclaimed as Pope and below which he will be buried.
11.28: The coffin is sprinkled with water from the River Jordan and further sanctified with incense. Cardinal Ratzinger reads the final prayer: "We commit to your mercy most loving Father our Pope John Paul. He was a brave herald of your world and a great dispenser of the divine mysteries. To you Father, the source of all life and master of death, glory be yours for ever and ever." The multitude respond: "Amen."
11.24: Rome may be at a standstill, with the boutiques of Louis Vuitton, Bulgari and Armani closed for the day, but it was not enough to put off Norma Obergh - a tourist from America - from enjoying the attractions: "We absolutely do not want to miss seeing the sites because we’re only here for a few days," she a told reporter.
11.22: The Pope's body is commended to God with the words: "God of all souls, concede a resting place to this your servant John Paul: a place of light and joy. A place of happiness where pain, light and tears are no more". There is a rare and brief moment of silence amongst the throng.
11.16: The Supplication of the Church of Rome, pronounced by the Cardinal Vicar Camillo Ruini, ends with the words to God: "Welcome your servant our Pope John Paul." The patriarchs, archbishops and metropolitans from the Eastern churches then encircle his coffin for the Supplication, as Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State, sanctifies the Pope's body with incense.
11.12: Thousands of people, mostly Poles, briefly interrupt the funeral with calls for his immediate canonisation. A section of the vast throng of mourners assembled on Saint Peter’s Square held up Polish flags and banners reading "Santo Subito" (sainthood at once), and broke into a chant of "Santo, Santo" lasting about seven minutes.
11.04: The Cardinals move forward to surround the Pope's coffin in symmetrical ranks on either side of the basilica's central portal for the final series of blessings of his body.
The applause drifts up once more from the piazza. Cardinal Ratzinger leads the prayer: "Oh Lord we pray to the Holy Spirit that the late Pope be freed by death and that his body rises on the last day." The prayer is followed by the haunting Invocation of the Saints, a call and response chant listing the names of the Apostles and saints.
10.55: Cardinals sit in silent prayer as the invited guests file one-by-one to the altar to receive the Holy Communion.
Despite an official news blackout, Catholics in China are also reported to be marking the funeral in Beijing’s old official churches and among the underground congregations across the country. Huge gatherings also reported from Krakow and Bucharest to Mexico. In a rainy Trafalgar Square in London, around 200 people gathered to watch the broadcast on the square's giant screen.
10.40: Italian police estimate that one million people have gathered in and around St Peter's. The distribution of the sacraments begins as the bread and wine, as far as is possible, is shared.
10.35: The preparation of the Eucharist ends with the singing of the Lord's Prayer. Kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and ayatollahs seated to the right of the altar joined the Cardinals and congregation in exchanging handshakes, a symbol of peace.
10.27: The Sistine Chapel choir, which traces its origins back 1,000 years, falls silent for the sacred Communion prayers, followed by the tolling of the basilica bells and echoed around the world.
10.21: The Cardinal leads the Blessing of the Communion from the altar: "When this earthly dwelling is dissolved and eternal dwelling is made in heaven." The Cardinals file towards the altar to receive the sacrament. The Sanctus, its words "Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts.." almost as old as the Christian Church itself - is sung by the choir.
10.16: The bread and wine for the Communion is laid out on the altar as incense billows across the square in preparation for the Mass.
Television cameras show Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie who have joined the heads of state from more than 80 countries, including President Bush, and President Mohammad Khatami of Iran. The Prince of Wales is attending the funeral in place of the Queen.
10.13: The choir sings Psalm 17 as representatives from churches around the world, dressed in national costume, file up to Cardinal Ratzinger in twos, to present the bread and wine for Communion.
10.10: Cardinal Ratzinger reads the Universal Prayer, which is followed by prayers in read in French, Swahili, Phillipino, Polish and German, Portuguese. The extraordinary mix of language - reflecting the pontiff's travels - is reflected in the hats worn by the faithful. Turbans, fezes, yarmulkes and mantillas, joined the zucchettos or skullcaps of Catholic prelates.
10.03: The Nicene Creed, an ancient doctrine which outlines the principles of Christian faith, is sung by the congregation. It closes with the words: "We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."
10.02: At the conclusion of the homily, the Cardinal says that through his suffering and his life: "Our Pope became at one with Christ." The crowd erupts in applause.
10am: Cardinal Ratzinger reminds the crowds how the Pope's mother died when he was 9 years old, and he gave himself up to the Mother of God. He reflects on the final Easter of the Pope's life when, his face etched with pain, he struggled to give a blessing to the faithful gathered below. He adds: "We can be sure that our beloved Holy Father is at the window of the House of the Father and he sees us and blesses us from there."
9.55: A printed copy of the eulogy - which continues with accounts of how the Pope interpreted the "mystery of mercy" - will be placed in the coffin with the Pope's body, sealed in a lead tube. The simple cypress coffin will be triple-sealed, nested inside zinc and then oak.
9.52: Cardinal Ratzinger explains how in 1978, Karol Wojtyla who was then the Cardinal of Krakow, was called on to become the Pope after the death of John Paul I after just 33 days in office.
9.45: Among the hundreds of flags being held aloft in the square - many bearing the red and white colours of Poland from where more than a million pilgrims have made the difficult overland journey to Rome - is a yellow Ferrari flag.
9.41: Cardinal Ratzinger extends his greetings to the heads of state, the representatives from churches all over the world and the millions who have flooded into the Rome, many without a hope of entering St Peter's Square.
9.40: The Bible is returned to the altar for the Cardinal Ratzinger to give his sermon, a homily to the life of the Pope. The crowd applauds as he says: "Even though hearts are full of sadness we are also filled with hope, joy and gratitude."
9.33: Paul Moss, Archdeacon of Oxford, gives the Acclaimation of the Gospel - a reading taken from John 21, v15 - 19. The Archdeacon carries the gilded Bible to the lectern as the congretation joins in a chorus of Allelujahs.
9.27: St Peter's Square fills with voices as pilgrims are led in the singing of Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
9.24: The first lesson is read in Spanish, the Liturgy of the Word taken from Acts Chapter 10, v34-43. The lesson ends with the words: "By His name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him. This is the word of the Lord."
9.23: Cardinal Ratzinger reads the Collect. Hundreds of thousands watch on, using tiny television sets and giant screens set up for pilgrims across the eternal city
9.22: Cardinal Ratzinger leads the cardinals in the opening prayer, a confession of sins which begins the Eucharist service.
9.20: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Dean of the College of Cardinals, waves incense around the altar as the Gregorian chant fades.
9.13: Cardinals continue to file from the Basilica down the steps to kiss the Pope's coffin. Their robes, too, fluttering in the wind.
9.11: Hundreds of thousands of mourners join their voices to sing the Requiem Eternal, opening the service.
9.10: The College of Cardinals, all dressed in scarlet robes walk to the altar in front of St Peter's Basilica. Each walks forward to kiss the altar before taking their places on seats lined behind the altar.
9.07: The Book of Gospels is placed on lid of coffin, its pages blowing in the light spring breeze.
9.06: The coffin is placed on carpet in front of altar, beside which burns the Pescal candle.
9.05: The Pope's simple cypress wooden coffin carried in to the piazza by pall-bearers from his household. It bears the cross and the letter M, representing Mary.
9am: St Peter's Square is a sea of humanity and tens of thousands of people gather joined by the biggest gathering of world leaders for many years. Bells toll across Rome. Chants merge with the sound of helicopters hovering overhead as Mass begins.
