Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, April 8:

As the Vatican witnessed the largest crowd in its history to pay final tributes to Pope John Paul II at his funeral ceremony today, the Church of Assumption here in Lalitpur also made arrangements to bid farewell to the pontiff.

The requiem Mass at 5 pm in the church at Dhobighat was attended by over 500 people. Msgr Anthony Sharma read out the late Pope’s life history, which was followed by a reading from the Bible.

A bouquet, candle, Bible, globe and pigeon were placed before the portrait of the late Pope.

According to Rajan Ghimire, youth leader of Nepal Christian Youth Movement, these offerings symbolise unity, light, God, solidarity and peace respectively.