Valentino's funeral, the homily: 'Beauty saves and he sowed it'

Beauty' was the key word in the homily of Don Pietro Guerini who, in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome, celebrated the funeral of Valentino Garavani, the last 'emperor' of fashion - a nickname crystallised in the 2008 documentary 'The Last Emperor' - who passed away at the age of 93 on 19 January.

"Valentino," said Fr Guerini, "I like to think of you before the Lord asreaping the fruits of beauty that you have sown in so many examples of life. Beauty saves, and produces dreams that change the world. Dear Valentine, esteemed teacher, we accompany you today in your encounter with the Lord. We can only imagine and say in timid words the wonder of the encounter with the greatness of God.

 And he added: "He releases the beauty that belongs to him, that passes through this world, the shadows of the world. Here is the divine beauty, it is hidden in the minutiae and in the habitual positive gestures, in the smiling face in the heart-filled word. Even in illness, failure, evil and forgiveness, here is divine beauty. Dear Valentine, as you enter God's life you encounter all the fragments of human history in which but beauty has won, been liberated, redeemed death. I like to imagine you before the Lord in this universal vision. Master Valentine, you now encounter this divine beauty that saves and bears fruit. Beauty that falls in love. Her works have laid new visions and a new divine wisdom. She always thanked the lord for what he gave her every day".

After waiting for hours in Piazza della Repubblica, those present entered the basilica at around 11 a.m. In front of the altar was a large photo of the designer. Valentino's coffin, followed by cars with his former partner and historical associate Giancarlo Giammetti and his late partner Vernon Bruce Hoeksema, arrived at 11.15 am. Many personalities from the world of institutions, culture, show business and fashion were already seated and ready to pay their respects to the stylist.

They included Anne Hathaway, who hugged Valentino's family for a long time. Among the VIPs were also Elizabeth Hurley, Anna Fendi and Cucinelli. "He used to tell me: please, never leave home without putting on some lipstick," recalled Bianca Brandolini D'Adda. "He was an incredible, exceptional man, always perfect, always elegant, who loved women, he loved beauty,' said Tiziana Rocca. 'I think he was the first one really to be known by all the divas of the world and all the women adored him because of the way he exalted beauty.