Pope John Paul has been interred beneath St. Peter's Basilica after an emotional funeral mass attended by world leaders and hundreds of thousands of ordinary pilgrims.
The late leader of the world's Roman Catholics was laid to rest beside his 264 predecessors Friday in a crypt located beneath the church's nave. Only close friends and senior clerics were present at his burial.
After a public funeral mass broadcast on live television throughout the world, twelve pallbearers carried the pontiff's plain wood coffin away and into the crypt under ringing applause from the crowd.
During the mass, many in the crowd called for the church to declare John Paul a saint now and set aside the normal canonization process, which can take decades to complete.
Thousands of dignitaries -- monarchs, presidents, prime ministers and religious leaders -- sat at the front of the gathering for the funeral mass. President Bush led the American delegation. Roman Catholics worldwide joined in memorial services.
The former Karol Wojtyla died last Saturday at the age of 84 after a 26-year pontificate.