Ceremonies in Poland: More than 100,000 Poles attended a Mass yesterday in memory of Pope John Paul II in Krakow, the city he called home for 40 years, as Poland began mourning its Pope.
After all-night vigils in the city's churches, the official mourning period began at noon yesterday when the 16th- century Zygmunt's bell, weighing 11 tonnes, tolled in Wawel Cathedral.
Hours after it first announced the Pope's death, the bell tolled 84 times for every year of his life. It was last rung to announce his appointment as Pope in 1978.
At the same time, in the tower of St Mary's church, the bugle call that marks the hour was replaced with the Polish funeral song, Mother's Tears, a two-minute piece transmitted by radio all over Poland.
"This is our last farewell to the Holy Father," said Zygmunt Rozum, one of the firemen on bugle duty in the tower. "We played with heart today."
Jacek Majchrowski, the mayor of Krakow, said: "It will be definitely different here. This city will mourn more than others."
As people streamed into the sunshine in the old town square yesterday it looked like just another Sunday in Krakow. But a closer look betrayed the tired faces and red eyes from last night.
"I'm getting used to the feeling, but very slowly. And I'm very upset," said Andrzej Jaworowicz.
"He was our ambassador. He put Poland on the map."
The saddest place in town was without doubt the Archbishop's Palace, home to Archbishop Wojtyla until he became Pope.
With the Pope lying in state in the Vatican, the Krakovians instead gathered in the courtyard in front of a life-sized statue of the smiling pontiff, arms raised.
Hundreds queued to write in the book of condolence. Demand was so great that priests distributed extra sheets of paper.
Anna Gogola wept as she wrote: "He stopped evil, he moved the heart." Another woman wrote: "Beloved Holy Father, we've been with you forever in the past and we will have you forever in our prayers in the future."
One small girl wrote simply: "I love you."