Poland: Thousands of Poles attended candlelit vigils for Pope John Paul last night, after thronging the nation's churches to offer prayers for him.
Though he is most closely associated with southern Poland, where he was born Karol Wojtyla and served as an archbishop before becoming Pope in 1978, the capital Warsaw mirrored the entire country yesterday in being transfixed by his fight for life.
"I watched television all night in the hope he would survive," said Maria Ostrowska (63), shortly after leaving church in central Warsaw.
"When he was still alive this morning I thought that perhaps there is still hope. So I went straight to church to pray."
Janusz Poniewierski, a friend of the Pope and author of books about him, said it was hard to overstate the impact that the Pontiff's death would have on his homeland.
"The Poles are watching their sun disappear," he said. "We love him. We are not prepared for him to leave. We will never be prepared."
While Poland's television channels maintained a sombre mood, monitoring news from the Vatican and broadcasting special church services from around the country, on the streets of the capital people remained optimistic in the bright spring sunshine.
"He has been ill for a long time but has always pulled through," said pensioner Maciek Groznicki, who was on his way into church to offer a prayer. "He was always strong in body and mind - he was both a poet and a good sportsman - so he may fight back now this time, too."
Red and yellow flowers were scattered at the foot of a statue of the Pope outside Warsaw's All Saints Church, and posters of the pontiff appeared on lampposts in the city centre.
Young and old alike seemed to spend their day between the church and the television set, where senior clergymen and politicians praised the Pope's role in fortifying Poland's spirit through grim years of communist rule and martial law.
Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, who became Poland's first non-communist president in 1990, said the Pope's death would be a heavy blow to Poland and the world.
"I pray that he comes back to health because the world and Poland needs him very much," he said, amid glowing tributes to his role in defying communism and helping Poland endure the transformation into a market economy and member of Nato and the EU. "I really hope that if the entire world prays hard enough then God will listen," Mr Walesa said. "I still hope the Pope will pull through." President Alexander Kwasniewski cancelled his appointments to monitor events in Rome. "He is closely observing the Vatican and the situation surrounding the pope," said presidential spokeswoman Teresa Grabczynska. "He is very worried and all other events have been put aside."
Hundreds of young Poles travelled from Warsaw and other cities to the Jasna Gora sanctuary in the southern town of Czestochowa, home of an icon of the Virgin Mary which is known as the Black Madonna and credited with many miracles.
"He is our guide, he shows us the way through life," said Jurek (19). His friend Wacek, who also travelled the 180 miles from the capital, added: "He can't leave us when times are so difficult, when there is so much evil - terrorism, unemployment, no more hope."
Danuta, a florist from a Warsaw suburb, said, with tears welling in her eyes: "It's as if we were losing a father or a mother. I can't imagine him not being here any more, that there is no longer a Polish pope. We need him like a child needs a mother."
Other Varsovians already seemed to be pondering life without Pope John Paul.
"His death will be a loss to the entire world, not just Poland. But I am certain his legacy will remain," said Andrzej (40), an advertising executive.
"It's very sad for Poles because he's Polish. But we Poles have to question the way we regard the Pope - whether we look at his role in the world and church or whether we admire him simply because he's Polish."