More from Charles Collins:
I am closer at the other tail-end of that crowd you see. It continues until it reaches Castel San Angelo, the fort which used to guard the Vatican.
Some people are in still in the tent city that was set up overnight. Sadly, I saw two people still alseep in their sleeping bags. They came all this way, and collapsed.
But back to the Mass…People do not realize how well respected Ratzinger is within the College of Cardinals. Even those who do not agree with him find him to be a soft-spoken, spiritual priest. Everyone knows that he would rather be teaching theology and writing books than be heading up a Vatican Congregation. But he stayed for the sake of the man being buried today. Their relationship was a special one. I am so glad that he was appointed Dean of the College a couple of year ago, if only for this moment.