From a massive gathering in a Polish meadow to church services in African villages and a seaside memorial in the Philippines, mourners across the globe gathered Friday to watch the historic funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Sirens blared and church bells rang as Poland shut down for a public holiday, ending six days of mourning for the Pope, who is considered an icon in the country. The Polish-born Karol Wojtyla died Saturday after a 26-year papacy.

Close to one million people watched the funeral on three giant video screens in a field in Krakow, where John Paul studied for the priesthood and served as archbishop before becoming Pope. A chair that the Pope once sat in stood empty beneath the large monitor.

Commemoration of John Paul II in front of St. Mary's Church in his hometown of Wadowice, southern Poland, on Friday. (AP photo)

Many had camped overnight next to bonfires in the city's Blonie meadow after attending a Thursday night mass that drew a million people.

In John Paul's hometown of Wadowice in southern Poland, thousands gathered in front of the church where he was baptized.

Many in the crowd came prepared to wait long hours, after television and radio bulletins advised people to bring blankets, food and chairs.

A woman prays at a service marking the funeral of Pope John Paul II at a government-approved Catholic church in Beijing Friday. (AP photo)

An estimated two million Poles travelled to Rome for the funeral, waving red and white flags throughout the huge crowds.

Catholics, non-Catholics mourn

People gathered in cities and communities across the globe to watch the service, a reflection of the Pope's many travels during his reign. Some estimate the total distance he travelled during his papacy to be equal to about 30 times the circumference of the Earth.

Mourners in the St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia watch a live telecast of John Paul II's funeral, Friday. (AP photo)

Thousands of Filipinos watched the service from Rizal Park, the seaside location that the Pope visited in 1995. John Paul was popular in the Philippines, Asia's most populous Roman Catholic nation, drawing massive crowds during his two visits.

About 7,000 people watched from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, while 500 more watched from Sacre Coeur basilica overlooking the city.

In Mexico, thousands of Catholics stayed up all night to watch the funeral, while crowds packed the Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico's holiest shrine. The Pope visited the overwhelmingly Catholic country five times during his pontificate.

In Australia, more than 14,000 people crowded onto a cricket ground in Adelaide for a memorial service, while St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney set up large video screens for worshippers to watch the funeral.

More than 1,500 people packed a memorial mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo, including Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito.

State television networks in Israel and Egypt broadcast the funeral, while Arab television networks Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya and Abu Dhabi television broadcast segments of the nearly three-hour service.

Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, arrived in Japan on Friday, urging people to remember John Paul's message of peace and spiritual values.

In Buddhist Sri Lanka, the country's top private television station interrupted regular programming to broadcast the funeral live.

Flags flew half-mast in the West African country of Ivory Coast as the government asked people in the war-wracked nation to observe a day of mourning.

Observances of the funeral were muted in Russia and China, which didn't broadcast it on state television. China didn't send an official delegation to the funeral, but did allow services at some government-sanctioned Catholic churches.