The people of Poland had wished for the heart of Pope John Paul II to be removed from his body and transferred to Wawel Cathedral to be buried alongside the greatest of Poland's monarchs.Cardinal Martínez Somalo said that the request would not be obliged.
An underground grotto beside the former shrine of the now glass-entombed and preserved body of Blessed Pope John XXIII was chosen for the interment of Pope John Paul II.
He was lowered into the vacant tomb that once held the remains of Blessed Pope John XXIII, who was moved by Pope John Paul II to the main floor of the basilica after his beatification.
The College of Cardinals decided to keep the Pope beneath the altar of St. Peter's Basilica, citing the possibility of future beatification and canonization into sainthood.
Pallbearers took the coffin through the Door of Death on the left side of the altar of St. Peter's Basilica. At that point a single bell tolled.
The pallbearers took the coffin down the stairs near the statue of Saint Longinus at the base of the canopy of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
They lead down to the grottoes, a cemetery underneath the Basilica where Saint Peter is believed to be buried.
After pacing through the low ceilings and long corridors, the pallbearers stopped at the crypt of Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II was buried in this simple underground crypt according to his wishes.Cardinal Martínez Somalo then presided over the Rite of Interment.
It was a private service witnessed only by the highest-ranking members of the College of Cardinals.
As is custom, Pope John Paul II was entombed in three nested coffins.
The cypress coffin was sealed and tied with three red silk ribbons. The cypress casket was lowered into a larger solid zinc (traditionally lead) casket, which was soldered shut.
This coffin was adorned with three bronze plaques: a simple cross at the head of the coffin, a middle plaque with the Pope's name and the length of his life and pontificate, and a third with Pope John Paul II's personal coat of arms at the foot.
The zinc casket was finally lowered into a larger walnut (traditionally elm) casket, bearing three identical plaques, which was shut with nails of pure gold.
The middle plaques bear the following statement in Latin:
CORPUS IOANNIS PAULI II P.M.
VIXIT ANNOS LXXXIV MENSES X DIES XVECCLESIAE UNIVERSAE PRAEFUITANNOS XXVI MENSES V DIES XVII
VIXIT ANNOS LXXXIV MENSES X DIES XVECCLESIAE UNIVERSAE PRAEFUITANNOS XXVI MENSES V DIES XVII
English Translation:
Here lies the body of John Paul II, Pontifex Maximus
He lived 84 years, 10 months, 15 days
He presided over the whole Church26 years, 5 months, 17 days
The unified coffin was lowered into the ground, as the Pope requested, and covered with a plain stone slab featuring his name and dates of his pontificate.
Pope John Paul II asked that his burial be like that of Pope Paul VI, not in an elaborate sarcophagus and ornate aboveground tomb, but in "bare earth."
Cardinal Martínez Somalo ended the Rite of Interment with the words,
"Lord, grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him."
Those present sang "Salve Regina" or "Hail Holy Queen."
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