This week, the Internet auctionhouse had more than 6,300 items related to the pope for sale. They included dozens of commemorative gold-plated coins, T-shirts, rosaries and John Paul II prayer books. They also included a chicken breast resembling the late pontiff and a ``bottle of Heaven's Tears'' - rainwater collected in Ohio the day the pope died.

``It's not surprising,'' says Hani Durzy, an ebay spokesman. ``We see it quite often when famous people pass away. And the pope may have been the most famous and most recognized person in the world.''

The pontifical postings are among the highest ebay has seen, Durzy says, though the Web site keeps no such official data.

Based on recent sales, it seems ebay shoppers can spend a little or a lot. A 1978 Newsweek magazine featuring the pope's election went for $11.50 this week. An uncorrected paperback copy of ``A Pilgrim Pope,'' written by the pontiff in 1999, sold Monday for $177.50.

A 1920 Vatican City tapestry blessed by the Pope in 1987 was going $200 Thursday, with two days of bidding left. The tapestry is described as ``extremely rare.''

Among the most expensive postings is a $1 million handwritten ``Note to the Pope'', which reads in part ``Having witnessed such a magnificent being is a tremendous honor.'' There were no bids Thursday, which was probably a good thing.

``This is not intended to sell,'' the ``seller'' notes under Seller's Payment Instructions. In response to a browser's query, she writes, ``This is just a form of therapy for me. I'm writing a note every day to express how I feel to my pope. It's just my way of dealing and coming to terms with John Paul's death.''

Others do hope for a 6-figure sale. The seller's opening bid for a vial of holy water blessed by the late pontiff in 1980 is $100,000. As of Thursday, there were no bids and two days to go.

Some sellers, of course, will be disappointed. Terry Millie of Kansas City, Kan., was one of several people offering pope-inspired domain names. He bought rememberingpopejohnpaulII.com the day after the pope died.

``I came up with the name myself to sell it and pay tribute to him,'' he said. ``I hope I get a couple hundred dollars for it.''

After a seven-day posting, it went for $25.

Then there's the divinely inspired baked chicken breast.

``I was about to dig in and I started staring at it,'' said Edward Rouzin-Moy, 19, a student at Eastern Illinois University. ``I turned to my buddy and said, `It looks like the pope.' ''

Rouzin-May posted the breast on ebay shortly after ordering it for lunch in the school's dining hall. But his listing ran afoul with ebay officials. Holy or not, the chicken violated the auction site's food policy. It was reposted after Rouzin- Moy labeled it ``not for consumption.''

Bidding was up to $51 Thursday with 7 days to go.

Julie Busby, 34, of Crown Point, Ind., is selling a tissue pulled from the dispenser bearing a faint image of the Holy Father. A sort of Shroud of Turin on Kleenex?

``I think my husband had something to do with it but he's not talking,'' she said.

Dana Dawdy's ``tears from heaven'' came with no claims of miracles or heavenly intervention. The Vermillion, Ohio, woman, who shares the late pontiff's Polish ancestry, collected rainwater outside her home April 2 and bottled it as ``Heaven's Tears The Day The Pope Died.''

She started the bidding at 42 cents in honor of the month and date of the pope's death and her mother who died the same day in 1990.

After three days, the winning bid was $1.25, with an additional $8 for shipping and handling to a buyer who also lives in Vermillion.

``What better way to look at it than heaven is crying,'' says Dawdy, 38. ``God made it rain to purify the way for him [the pope] to get to heaven.''

Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656.