Thousands of people gathered in Dublin's Phoenix Park tonight for a special multi-faith Sunset Remembrance service to mark the Pope's funeral in Rome today.
The ceremony of hymns, prayers and reflections was planned by the Dublin Archdiocese to recall Pope John Paul II's visit to the Park in 1979. A marquee was built beside the Papal Cross where organisers also placed the symbolic brown leather seat that the Pope sat on during his Irish trip.
Event co-ordinator Fr Pat O'Donoghue said: "The empty seat signifies his absence on this very special day."
Music was provided by the Army Number One Band and the Dublin Diocesan Music Group as footage of the Pontiff's 1979 Irish visit rolled on three giant TV screens.
Mezzo soprano Bernadette McGreevy sang a reprise of the Magnificat, which she sang for the Pope in the same spot where over 1.4 million people flocked 26 years earlier.
The service was opened by the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Dr Eamonn Walsh who concelebrated with the Papal Nuncio Guiseppe Lazarrotto. Dr Walsh said of Pope John Paul: "He was the bridge-builder who led us closer to the Lord and now we pray that he is in God's company - and in that spirit we begin our Sunset Remembrance ceremony today."
People streamed into the Phoenix Park all day but several thousand rushed in before tea-time.
Dignitaries included Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who jetted in from the Pope's funeral in Rome, Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan and Chief Whip Tom Kitt.
Reflecting on the Pope's visit to the 'Youth Mass' at Galway's Ballybrit Racecourse in 1979, RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy said it created a sense of celebration, community and humanity.
"Pope John Paul came to Ireland not as a tourist but as a messenger. He warned of the dangers of drugs, materialism, of excess. Many of us present that day are now parents and grandparents. The strength of his message has grown over a generation."
I never imagined I would get so close to a Pope in my own country. His visit served to demystify the Church. It allowed us to become more open and independent in the last 25 years."
Jenny O'Shaughnessy (24) a student from Naas, Co Kildare said she was not born when the Pope visited.
"The Pope was the biggest figure of my generation and his death and funeral is probably the biggest event of the Millennium - and I just wanted to be here tonight," she said.
Papal Nuncio Dr Lazarrotto thanked the organisers of the event and said: "Pope John Paul is looking down on all of you with the same affection as he did here during his visit in 1979, he said.".
He concluded by thanking the people of Ireland for the "tremendous outpouring of affection for our Holy Father during his illness and since his death."
Church bells across Dublin tolled for two minutes just before 9am as the day of commemoration began.
Tens of thousands of mourners attended commemoration services in Catholic dioceses yesterday, and many more attended services throughout the country today.
Additional reporting PA