A crowd of millions of pilgrims flocking to Rome in response to the death of Pope John Paul II has overwhelmed Italian and Vatican authorities. In what is developing into the "greatest display of Christian fervour of modern times," officials are struggling to keep up with the flood of mourners in the city. The exact number of mourners are unpredictable and some estimate the total to reach 5 million.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, approximately one million people had filed past the Pope’s body by yesterday morning, with another million waiting in the queue outside. The prefect of Rome, Achille Sera, admitted that emergency plans had not been planned for four million people that had arrived since the day of the Pope’s death.

"People, this is a dramatic situation," announced Andrea Astolsi, a security co-ordinator, over a loudspeaker. "This is a 14- to 15-hour wait." Mobile phone users received text messages from their phone companies warning them with the news. However, no one seemed to be dissuaded. The crowds blocked the bridges across the Tiber that linked the Vatican to the rest of Rome. Main roads were closed off by police as traffic became chaotic. Every street and square was filled with pilgrims heading to catch a glimpse of the Holy See.

Every hotel room in Italy was booked, leaving many to wonder where they would sleep.

"This is a unique event. The situation is evolving so quickly it's impossible to keep on top of it," said Gaetano Bastoni, a disaster expert.

Tents have been set up on the city’s outskirts. Special hostels were opened and authorities appealed to Romans open their homes to the visitors.

Tens of thousands of people slept on a patch of pavement – and with luck, a blanket distributed by the civil defence organisation.

All shops and businesses will shut and the city centre will close to all traffic except for emergency and police vehicles and pilgrim shuttle buses. The security forces were due to stop newcomers joining the queue after 10pm last night so that preparations could take place for the funeral tomorrow.

All airspace over Rome will be closed today and warships will be stationed off the coast 20 miles to the west to prevent any possible terrorist attacks towards the 200 world leaders that will be attending the event. Thousands of special police officers have been ordered in to the city.