By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Catholics in St. Louis filled the Cathedral Basilica Sunday night to pay their respects to the late Pope John Paul the Second.
A portrait of John Paul stood in front of a single candle as mourners prayed at the Cathedral.
In his homily, Archbishop Raymond Burke recalled the pontiff as a man who connected with everyday people.
The solemn ceremony drew faithful from around the Archdiocese, including more than 40 priests and a group from the Knights of Columbus.
Kurt Sommerhauser, a member of the Catholic men's organization, says John Paul will probably be remembered as one of the greatest popes of all time.
John Paul will be laid to rest beneath St. Peter's Basilica on Friday.
Artifacts from the Pope's visit to St. Louis are on display this week at the cathedral. They include a hockey stick that children of the city gave him and the white chair he sat in during his visit.