NEW ORLEANS — Retired Archbishop Philip Hannan was buried with all the pomp of a Catholic ceremony and a touch of the New Orleans quirkiness he loved so much.
More than 1,000 mourners moved past the artist, mimes, musicians, tarot card readers and street musicians that fill Jackson Square to enter St. Louis Cathedral for the funeral of the popular clergyman who delivered the graveside eulogies after the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert.
The 98-year-old archbishop, who had close ties to the Kennedy clan dating to the 1940s, who some likened to the "pope of New Orleans," died peacefully before dawn on Sept. 29. He had been in declining health recently.
Thousands viewed Hannan's body at New Orleans Notre Dame Seminary for three days starting Monday and more lined the 4.5-mile New Orleans route as the remains were taken by horse-drawn hearse to the venerable French Quarter cathedral. Entrances to the cathedral were adorned with black crepe and huge black bows and a spray of red-and-white flowers with red, white and blue ribbons cascading below.
Another 300 seats were set up in the grassy park outside where tourists milled about. People also stood or sat on the ground watching the final farewell to Hannan, who was the most active of the city's archbishops for his 23 years, and remained active during his retirement.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, state and parish lawmakers were among the mourners as was Victoria Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Among the honorary pall bearers were former U.S. Rep. Lindy Boggs and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and Xavier University president Norman C. Francis.
Boggs, 95, said she had been friends with Hannan for many years and said he would have been thrilled with the ceremony.
"When I was a member of congress he came often to Washington," Boggs said. "He would have loved the service today."
One of Hannan's friends, the Rev. Monsignor Clinton J. Doskey, delivered the homily, calling the late archbishop "a man of God with the will of iron." He ended his address, describing Hannan as "God's gift to New Orleans."
He had known and worked with Hannan for years and recalled for the crowd a time when the two had lived together and Doskey cooked their dinner every night.
Doskey said Hannan told him "You do the cooking, I'll do the pots," he said. "And he did every night."
Hannan was the 11th archbishop in New Orleans history and its most active, combining conservative politics with generous service to the poor. When he turned 75 and had to retire as archbishop, he became president of WLAE-TV, the public television station he founded.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond remembered joking when he was installed two years ago that he noted that New Orleans had four living archbishops, "and we all know who's boss."
After Hannan celebrated the 70th anniversary of his being ordained last year, Aymond recalled asking him what he should do when Hannan eventually returned to the Lord.
"I think you should be installed as archbishop," Hannan shot back.
Aymond also recalled Hannan's love of the city's long-suffering NFL team.
"He loved the saints in heaven and the Saints in New Orleans," Aymond said.
Hannan said he decided to push the diocese to serve the poor when he walked through the city's squalid public housing projects in 1965, shortly after his transfer from Washington. Hannan also created what was at the time the largest housing program for the elderly — 2,780 units — of any U.S. diocese. The archdiocese also operates one of the biggest Catholic Charities in the nation. When Hannan stepped down, its $20 million budget was helping more than 47,000 people a year.
When President Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, his widow Jacqueline asked Hannan to deliver the eulogy because of his friendship with the president. Hannan also officiated at a quiet reburial of two Kennedy infants in 1964 so their bodies could be near their father's in Arlington National Cemetery. And in 1968, Hannan traveled again from New Orleans to deliver the graveside eulogy for Sen. Robert. F. Kennedy after he was assassinated.
When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died of cancer in 1994, Hannan was again at Arlington to preside at a brief service before her burial.
Aymond led the celebration of the Mass and delivered the eulogy. Co-celebrants included 18 bishops and 300 priests.
Many watching the service outside were tourists.
Shanna Alexandria, 65, of Baltimore, said she saw people gathering and didn't know what was happening, but stayed to watch. "I just happened to be here at a time in history that's very important," she said.
Dina Cornu, 65, who lives on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, said she had no contact with Hannan personally but couldn't resist attending the service.
"I just really wanted to be here," she said. "I live 60 miles away but I was compelled to be a part of all of this. He was a great man."
Judi Verdin, 54, of Lafitte, said Hannan performed her confirmation ceremony years ago. "He was the pope of New Orleans, a wonderful man that we loved dearly," she said.
Members of the 82nd Airborne, the brigade Hannan served with during World War II, provided the Honor guard.
After the mass, with three members of the Louisiana National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team, saluting, the flags dipped and a bugler played Taps.
Hannan's casket was then carried by priests to the side of the altar and lowered into a tomb built under it.
"He is in heaven praying for us now," Aymond said after the service.