It was the largest event in modern Christian history as millions of mourners paid their last respects to Pope John Paul II.

The Pontiff's death prompted a wave of grief across the world that yesterday was focused on St Peter's Square in Rome.

There, the world's elite sat in solemn silence for the funeral service, but ordinary mourners broke into spontaneous chanting that underlined the Pope's popular appeal.

At an emotionally-charged service, hundreds of VIPs - kings and princes, presidents and prime ministers - were joined by a sea of humanity, all anxious to pay tribute.

They wept, they laughed, they prayed and applauded, and, in contrast to the formality of the ancient liturgical service, they chanted "Giovanni Paolo", John Paul in Italian.

The Pope's mortal remains were the focus of their attention. A simple wooden coffin was laid at the foot of the steps of St Peter's Basilica in the spring sunshine.

The mourners applauded as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, a close confidant of John Paul and a possible successor, celebrated the Mass and delivered the homily.

"We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the father's house, that he sees us and blesses us," he said.

The German-born Cardinal's voice quivered with emotion as he spoke of the man whose death last Saturday at the age of 84 drew about four million people to Rome.

The Prince of Wales, who postponed his wedding to attend, was among the mourners, along with Tony Blair, US President George Bush and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

Tory leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy were also there as UK election campaigning was suspended as a mark of respect.

Dignitaries from at least 155 countries were in Rome, including the president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, and Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei - both of them Muslims.

Israeli President Moshe Katsav put aside differences with Syria to shake hands with the country's President Bashar Assad.

But when Mr Bush's face appeared on giant screens showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St Peter's Square booed and whistled.

The service began with an intimate ceremony attended only by high-ranking prelates, who placed a pouch of silver and bronze medals and a scrolled account of his life in his coffin.

John Paul's long-time private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and the master of the liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Piero Marini, placed a white silk veil over the Pope's face.

The coffin was then closed and carried into St Peter's Square for the main service.

After the ceremony, the coffin was definitively closed with red bands, sealed with papal and Vatican seals before being placed in two further caskets.

The Pope was finally buried in the grottos under the basilica.

Families from across the UK and Ireland had travelled into the Eternal City to witness the three-hour ceremony.

Margaret Merryweather, a 56-year-old nurse from Teesside, wrapped in a Union Flag, said she had waited all night to get a position in St Peter's Square.

She said: "It's difficult to express in words what I feel right now. All I can say is that the Pope would be very proud. There are so many young people from all over the world, it's overwhelming."

Business manager Graham Matthews, 50, from Norfolk, said: "We are not here to grieve, we are here to celebrate his life by joining the other people who loved him.

Paul Bell, 40, a trade union official from Drogheda, near Dublin, said the funeral had great significance for his home town which the Pope visited in 1979, calling on people to move away from violence.

He said: "He is a man who touched everybody, especially in his work for social justice."

Around the world, large crowds gathered at churches or watched the funeral on large screens.

About 800,000 people gathered in a field in Krakow, Poland - where the Pope was once archbishop. And in his hometown of Wadowice, the square in front of St. Mary's Basilica where he was baptised was filled with 15,000 people.

In London's Trafalgar Square, about 200 mourners stood in the driving rain to watch the funeral broadcast.

Throughout the world, people of all religions joined Roman Catholics in church services to mourn for a man who had touched the hearts of millions.

Cardinals of the Catholic Church will meet on April 18 to begin the process of electing a new pope