Santo Subito!

The Pope's funeral has just ended. I'm struck by how simple it was. Other than the Mass, there seemed to be very little that went on. It was shorter than I assumed it would be, and not much different than I would expect for any Catholic. Of course there was the choir, and the Cardinals, and the massive (did I say massive?) international crowd. But I mean the actual program of events. There was the procession wherein the Pope's coffin was brought out in front of the altar, and a book of the Gospels placed on top. The wind blew the pages and then finally in an act of symbolism, closed the book. Then the funeral Mass began, and after it was ended the Litany of the Saints was sung--but not before a long stretch of time that had to be allotted for the crowd, who began chanting "Giovanni Paulo!" and "Santo!" Banners reading "Santo Subito!" (Saint soon!) were huge and waving all over the place. Then the Cardinals gathered around the coffin and there were sung prayers by the Eastern Church Cardinals. Then an acolyte picked the Gospels up off the coffin rather curtly, and the pall bearers moved in. They headed towards the basillica, but in an act of mercy for the crowd, they turned around once more and paused for a second, letting everyone see the beloved Pontiff one last time (before the resurrection.)
A large bell in the square was tolling louding, solemnly, and then the coffin was gone, the Cardinals were gone, the dignitaries were gone, and it was over.
The Cardinals have gathered underground in the crypt to say more prayers for the Pope before the actual burial; but as far as the public is concerned, we'll never see Pope John Paul II again, not in this lifetime. Well, as far as I and millions of others are concerned: Pope St. John Paul the Great.