Page last updated at 18:29 GMT, Sunday, 18 April 2010 19:29 UK

Polish president Lech Kaczynski funeral : Your comments

Krakow prepares for funeral
Polish Scouts stand guard in honour of the late polish president

Thousands of people have gathered in Krakow for the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

After a funeral Mass, the president was buried in Wawel Cathedral, the resting place of Poland's kings and national heroes.

Here are some of the comments which have been sent to BBC News:

I am in Kraków today. I had never seen anything like it, a sea of people from Poland and other countries of Europe are waiting for the ceremony. The aura is magic. Thousands are paying their respects. God bless Poland and the President!
Kamil, Kraków, Poland

I will be watching the funeral ceremony all night. It is a great loss to Poland and since I cannot be there I wish to express my sympathy by watching and praying! He, his wife, Mr Seweryn and all other passengers were great patriots and will be dearly missed by Poland! This will bring birth to a political movement in Poland for the better! Rest their souls!
Karolina, Chicago, Illinois

I'm on business here for three months, today the burial procession just passed by my street and balcony. Sadness and mourning has filled the streets of Krakow since last Saturday, a horrid event that shook the country and its people. This is an experience I will not forget in my lifetime.
Cesar Correa, Uruguay

There are many flags all over Krakow with black ribbons showing the people's feelings of loss and shock. I have never seen so many flags being flown as the Poles remember their president and 95 others that died tragically over a week ago. The decision to inter the president in Wawel has polarised the people and most disagree with the decision. However, it is a beautiful day and all Poles will gather under the sun to mourn and celebrate the life of the president and his wife.
Colin van Overdijk, Krakow, Poland

It's as if this entire event is cursed. At least the funeral is not postponed. This does not change the controversial question as to why the burial had to be in Krakow's Wawel Castle! The pathetic way of finding a plausible answer after having made the original decision by the bishop shows how influential the church is. Politics and church must remain separate. The weeks to come will prove the intermingling and I'm sorry for the current prime minister as he will be torn into a typical Polish dirty political struggle as the twin brother will aim for power and the church will back him. This does not look good for the coming elections as the local priests don't hesitate to openly preach politics in their sermons. I'm crossing fingers for the future of Poland and hope that common sense will prevail and that they will not give the country away once again.
Peter Schellinck, Gent, Belgium

I never supported president Kaczynski as politician but, of course, I do feel sad because of his death (especially giving the circumstances of his death). But what I really think is that President Kaczynki and his wife at least had a chance of watching their daughter grow, they experienced what it means to have grandchildren and a happy family life. Many of the people who died in the plane crash didn't have that chance, and what is most tragic in this situation, is that some left small children behind. Many of the families besides facing the death of loved ones are facing financial problems because the person who died in the crash was the only one who supported the family financially.
Evelina, Kraków, Poland

We are stuck in the centre of Krakow (50m from St. Mary's church) until further notice. Therefore we decided to go and pay our respects to the late president and his wife this morning. Yesterday the town was packed full of people, many being police, security guards and undercover agents. Although the town has gradually filled with thousands, the atmosphere is quite sombre, with all live entertainment, concerts and music cancelled until after today's events as a mark of respect. I think that there could be angry protests about this controversial funeral happening later after speaking to some Polish people yesterday....but we will see.
Helen Williamson and Graeme Kerry, Washington, UK

I live in Krakow but I am not going to attend the president's funeral. In fact, I have no intention of watching it either. I feel sorry for all those who died in the crash, no matter what their political affiliations were, but I hate the current "festival of hypocrisy" in the media. All of a sudden the late president has become "the father of our nation", "the hero who sacrificed his life for Poland", someone "who will always live in our hearts" while, if I recall correctly, not so long ago he was seen by many as conservative to the extreme and obsessed with Russia, as a man who constantly opposed reforms and suffered from a superiority complex. In short, lots of people disliked or even hated him. Ironically, he is going to be buried at Wawel Cathedral today, in the city he never liked. The city seems to be generally opposed to the idea of burying him among kings and heroes.
Anna, Krakow, Poland

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