Lentorama 2009: Great(?) Moments in Catholics on Television

April 8, 2005: John Paul II's funeral is seen live worldwide

When Paul VI and John Paul I both died in1978, their funerals were televised, but the most anyone outside of Italy saw of the ceremonies were on tape and likely during the evening news. That would not be the case 26 years and change later, when John Paul II's funeral was seen live across the globe.

I couldn't find viewership totals, but there's an assumption that this was likely the most-watched funeral ever, surpassing that of Princess Diana. If it didn't, it's safe to say it was the most-watched Catholic funeral ever, thanks to the combination of technology and JP2's long reign.

But it was also interesting television, given the number of people who'd never seen a Papal funeral before and the fairly unprecedented turn-out by secular and religious leaders. The pope is a head of state, of course, but you'd not expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 world leaders to show, a number from not particularly Catholic countries. On the religious side, I don't think you'd have had such a showing of Protestant, Orthodox, and non-Christian leaders for anyone else.

So between the pomp, novelty, and chance to watch probably the only event ever that would have the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, and the Queen of Norway in attendance, it was something to see. Or so I heard; I slept through most of it, catching the last 20 minutes or so.