From Charles Collins:

I am at the end of Via della Conciliazione. They have set up speakers and television screens along the road. When the Pope came out, the applause were deafening (people applaud at funerals in Europe).
The police are doing a very good job of keeping order. I had a co-worker who was able to leave my office and go to the front of St. Peter’s Square in 10 minutes…which means they have not lost control of the crowds.
It seemed a bit iffy when they first opened the gates around 6:30. People ran to the square from every direction – we thought they were going to suffocate each other at the intersections. This was nothing the authorities could have done, except use clubs…and I don’t think that was going to happen.
They have done a good job with making sure everyone has water. There are crates of it all around.
It is very windy, which makes it seem colder than it really is. People are huddling, but happy.