Two billion set to see funeral

A worldwide television audience of two billion people - believed to be the biggest ever - is expected to watch the Pope's funeral on Friday.

Today a river of mourners again began the long, slow process of filing through the doors of St Peter's Basilica for their last sighting of Pope John Paul II.

St Peter's reopened at 3am today with a queue stretching nearly a mile from the steps of the Basilica, along Via Della Conciliazione and around to the ancient home of the Popes, St Angelo's Castle.

This morning police estimated it to be at least 200,000 strong, but the number grew as special trains arrived from Milan, Turin and Venice in the north and Naples, Reggio Calabria and Sicily in the south.

Thirty extra services have been laid on and a rail strike planned for Friday has been cancelled. Several international airlines said they would also up the number of flights to Rome after a surge of inquiries.

Two to four million mourners - along with as many as 200 world leaders - are expected in Rome for the funeral, giving police and officials a security nightmare.

Virtually every country will be represented by their heads of state or most senior politicians, with American president George Bush the biggest name. Cuba will be represented by national assembly president Ricardo Alarcon, despite years of persecution of the church which ended only recently.

The latest to confirm they will attend are: King Albert II, Queen Paola and prime minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium; Canadian premier Paul Martin; French president Jacques Chirac and his wife; German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and president Horst Koehler; president Vicente Fox of Mexico.

Police leave is expected to be cancelled - there will be 10,000 officers on duty - and the army may be drafted in. Dignitaries could be helicoptered in to the Vatican, said civil defence chief Guido Bertolaso. "The rest of the journey would be made by car but as yet we have not made any decisions."

Mourners waiting in St Peter's Square have kept themselves occupied singing hymns, praying and watching images of Pope John Paul flashing across giant video screens. Student Alessandra Cetro, 17, from Avellino, who came with friends on a special bus, said this morning: "We just had to be here. It's a historic event and we wanted to experience it but above all we wanted to say goodbye to the Pope. He taught us so much so the least we can do is come and give him a final salute."

Sister Lina, a nun from the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, said: "The crowd have been singing and praying but most of the time it's very quiet and people are just thinking and reflecting on what the Pope did for us."

Those leaving the Basilica spoke of a sombre yet serene atmosphere inside. Charlotte Vincent, from Geneva said: "The Pope looked so peaceful. It was such an overwhelming emotion to see him like that."

The surge into Rome prompted local consumer watchdog Codacons to warn businesses against exploiting the pilgrims.

It is estimated they will earn an additional £65million, including £26million on religious artefacts, including rosaries and images and small statues of saints.

Special camps were being set up in on the outskirts of Rome - with campsites at its two main stadia - to accommodate visitors who cannot afford or cannot find hotel rooms.