Blair pays tribute to the Pope
The Prime Minister Tony Blair has described Pope John Paul II as “a man of extraordinary faith, dignity and courage” following his death on Saturday.
He was joined in paying tribute to the Pontiff by Conservative leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.
Politicians have suspended campaigning for the day as a mark of respect.
In a statement, Mr Blair said the world had lost a religious leader “who was revered across people of all faiths and none.”
“He was an inspiration, a man of extraordinary faith, dignity and courage,” Mr Blair continued.
“Throughout a hard and often difficult life, he stood for social justice and on the side of the oppressed, whether as a young man facing the Nazi occupation in Poland or later in challenging the communist regime. He never wavered, never flinched, in the struggle for what he thought was good and right.”
Mr Blair, who met the Pope in 2003, recalled “he radiated such warmth and kindness that the meeting was unforgettable.”
Michael Howard said the sense of loss felt by Catholics would be shared by millions around the world, while, Mr Kennedy said John Paul II was “a pivotal presence on the international stage.”
Pope John Paul II died at his private apartments in Vatican City, Rome on Saturday.
The 84-year-old was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and recently underwent a throat operation.
His health had been deteriorating over the past few days and on Friday night he suffered a heart attack caused by a urinary tract infection.
The news of the Pope’s passing was announced to the press at 21:37 local time via an email from his official spokesman.
Thousands of people are continuing their vigil in St Peter’s Square as tributes to his papacy pour in from across the globe.
Churches in the Polish city of Krakow, where the Pope first became an archbishop, stayed open throughout the night last night to hold candlelit vigils.
