VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of weary pilgrims who flooded Rome to mourn Pope John Paul II began their journeys home Saturday after one of the largest funerals the world has ever witnessed.

Police gradually emptied St. Peter's Square late Friday, moving on groups of Poles who stood in a circle in the light rain, praying under umbrellas.

John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death April 2 at 84, was buried Friday in a crypt under St. Peter's Basilica after a funeral that millions of people watched.

The world's 1 billion Roman Catholics are looking to the College of Cardinals to begin the difficult task of choosing a successor to the pope

The cardinals have conferred daily for the funeral plans and a conclave that will begin meeting April 18 to choose the next pope. They held the sixth of their general meetings Saturday, the Vatican said.

The cardinals decided unanimously against giving interviews, a Vatican spokesman said Saturday.

The spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said journalists are asked to abstain from making requests to cardinals for interviews.

He said the move shouldn't be interpreted as a sign of disdain or disinterest in the media.

The church has begun nine days of official morning for the pope after the funeral. At the end of the mourning period, 117 cardinals -- all younger than 80 -- are eligible to attend the conclave where the next pope will be elected by secret ballot.

Navarro-Valls said two cardinals -- Archbishop Jaime L. Sin of Manila, Philippines, and Archbishop Alfonso Antonio Suarez Rivera of Monterrey, Mexico -- have confirmed that they will not be able to participate in the conclave, citing health reasons.

Before pilgrims began their mass exodus, some expressed hope the new pontiff will model his papacy after his predecessor.

"We hope that the new pope will continue the work that John Paul set up," Monica Barthicka, 23, a student from Warsaw, Poland, told The Associated Press.

Rome officials estimated that most visitors will leave by the end of Saturday.

Police say about 4 million pilgrims traveled to the Italian capital to pay tribute to the pope. The turnout was similar to the vast crowds that gathered to mourn Mohandas Gandhi of India, Mao Zedong of China and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran.

John Paul's funeral was also one of the most prestigious, drawing presidents, kings and religious leaders from around the world, including President Bush and his immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

'Priest to the last'

Guests attending the elaborate, outdoor service in St. Peter's Square cheered and applauded, many chanting "Santo, Santo" -- a call for John Paul II to be granted sainthood. Some pilgrims who came from the pope's homeland waved Polish flags.

"Today, we bury his remains in the earth as a seed of immortality -- our hearts are full of sadness, yet at the same time of joyful hope and profound gratitude," Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said in the homily during the Mass.

The German-born Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals and a possible successor to the pope, traced the pontiff's life from his days as a factory worker in Nazi-occupied Poland to his final moments as the head of the church.

Ratzinger said John Paul was a "priest to the last" and said he had offered his life for God and his flock "especially amid the sufferings of his final months."

"We can be sure that our beloved pope is standing today at the window of the Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us," Ratzinger added, pointing to the window where John Paul made his final public appearance. (The homily)

With so many world and church leaders in St. Peter's Square, security forces numbered 15,000, including 1,500 military forces, and metal detectors were used before the ceremony, an official said.

Around the world, millions watched on television or gathered to celebrate the life of John Paul II

In his native Poland, 800,000 people in Krakow watched the funeral in a vast field where many had spent the night after attending a Mass on Thursday.

CNN.

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