ROME - The funeral mass for Pope John Paul II has started in St. Peter`s Square in the Vatican.
Presidents, prime ministers and kings from around the world joined hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and religious leaders in paying a final farewell to Pope John Paul II.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and State Minister Mehmet Aydin are representing Turkey at the funeral.
A bell tolled as world leaders took their seats outside the same church where more than 26 years ago Karol Wojtyla first emerged as pontiff.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals celebrated the mass and delivered the homily.
Pope John Paul II was the most widely traveled pontiff in Vatican history. Millions have traveled from all over the world to honor his life and legacy.
Italian authorities took extraordinary precautions to protect the royalty and heads of state or government attending the funeral. Dignitaries from more than 80 countries as well as Jewish and Muslim leaders, also are attending.
The multilingual mass is expected to last longer than two hours. About 320 priests will distribute communion to pilgrims in St. Peter`s Square.
After the public funeral ceremony, the pope`s body will be carried to the crypt in St. Peter`s for a private ceremony.
Earlier, cardinals decided to bury John Paul II in a grotto beneath St. Peter`s Basilica. The body will be carried deep under St. Peter`s Basilica, where it will join the remains of popes from centuries past near the traditional tomb of the postle Peter, the first pope.
The 84-year-old pope died on Saturday.