Many university students currently studying in Rome had front-row seats to history this weekend as Pope John Paul II died Saturday. Sophomore economics and finance major Amanda Darcey, junior art history major Lisa Friedman, sophomore anthropology major Amy Higgins, junior marketing major Brian Legg and junior family studies and finance major Francesca Lepore sent e-mails to The Diamondback about the scene in Rome and Vatican City.

MEDIA

“On Friday all of the TV stations were watching St. Peter’s around the clock. Every channel had something on about John Paul II, whether it was a montage of his life, televised prayer groups or a reporter stationed outside Vatican City … [On Sunday] there was Mass at St. Peter’s at 10:30 a.m. All day the television has been showing the wake as well, and it’s a little strange to see the pope’s dead body on TV.” — L.F.

“The media has been saturated with information about the pope’s condition and now is concerned with finding out the wishes of the pope as disclosed in his will.” — B.L.

ST. PETER’S SQUARE

“Since word came that the pope was read his last rites, San Pietro and the area surrounding the Vatican have had a constant crowd in the tens of thousands. … The overall mood is very somber, especially in St. Peter’s Square which is flooded with the very pious, the curious and the tourists.” — B.L.

“Really, it isn’t that crazy or anything at all. People are pretty subdued and solemn. I was at Mass this morning at the Vatican and it was very crowded, but people were very calm and respectful.” — A.H.

ROME

“Pretty much everything shut down last night (Saturday night), and it seemed like all of Rome kind of drifted down to the Vatican. The streets were a bit chaotic as everyone was just wandering around kind of just wondering what was happening.” — A.D.

“Rome is usually filled with clergy, but recently there’s been an influx. All the local buses are filled with nuns and priests, and it seems like everyone is ready for John Paul to pass. … My friends went to see a soccer game last night, but it was canceled due to the pope’s death.” — L.F.

“Despite there being hundreds of churches in Rome, most have huge crowds of people and have been holding vigils and special Masses in honor of the pope. The city of Rome and its police force and the police of the Vatican are preparing for an estimated extra 2 or 3 million people to make a journey/pilgrimage to Rome to pay their respects over the next two weeks. … The official viewings for the public are expected to start around Wednesday, and the crowds have really slowed things down. The metro is operating with extended hours to help cut down on bus traffic, and the roads around the Vatican are like a parking lot. It will definitely be a long process and a large ordeal.” — B.L.

FRIDAY

“The mood was so peaceful; (St. Peter’s) was filled with people, yet it was silent. Everyone was facing the direction of the pope’s apartment, waiting to see if the lights would ever go off (signaling the pope’s death). People here and there had candles or flags, and most were praying, some crying hysterically, and others just sitting on the ground together. We stayed and watched the pope’s apartment until around midnight, and when we left there were still a few hundred people there.” — L.F.

“On Friday night many of us went (to St. Peter’s) because the Italian media had incorrectly announced that the pope died. It was a beautiful sight in which people of all ages followed along with the clergy saying the rosary. It was hard to follow because everything was done in Italian, but the emotion was felt regardless of the language.” — F.L.

SATURDAY

“When we got down to the piazza it was more crowded than the night before, and people everywhere were singing, holding signs and lighting candles. It was a difficult sight to take in because so many people were in incredibly emotional states, crying and hugging, yet there were photographers all around taking pictures right in people’s faces. Most people were cheering ‘Giovanni Paolo’ and clapping or singing ‘Ave Maria.’ We wandered around and ended up standing with an American priest near the obelisk in the center of the Square. Around 9:30 p.m., a group of cardinals came out onto the steps of the basilica and started to give Mass. The piazza was silent and everyone was participating and reciting the prayers for Hail Mary and Our Father. Mass lasted until about 10 p.m., when they finally announced that the pope had gone to ‘sleep in the House of the Lord,’ which they said in Italian so the priest we were with translated it for us. At this point everyone was crying, getting on their knees with their rosaries — it was a really powerful sight. The bells of St. Peter’s started ringing and the mood was so still and surreal. On our way out a reporter from NBC stopped us because we looked American …” — L.F.

“Everybody is a weird mix of sad and excited as most Catholics mourn for their pope, but we are all interested to be part of history in the making. By the time we leave here we will have most likely been blessed by not one but TWO popes! (Many of us went to the pope’s blessing shortly before he first came down with the flu).” — A.D.

SUNDAY

“As far as the city goes, most things are generally closed on Sunday so it’s hard to tell which stores are remaining closed out of respect. The Vatican museums will be closed throughout the burial and conclave, and I’m not sure when they will reopen. As far as I know, we still have school tomorrow, but I’m not sure about local schools, jobs, etc.” — A.D.