Religious and political leaders across Wales have been reacting to the death of the Pope, who passed away on Saturday evening, aged 84. The most senior Catholic clergyman in Wales, Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith, said he had made a "colossal impact on the Church and the world".
He described Pope John Paul II as "a truly great man, a great Christian and a great Pope".
First Minister Rhodri Morgan said he would be remembered with respect.
Archbishop Peter said the Pope had been "a true apostle", who took the Gospel "to the ends of the earth".
"His lasting legacy will be that he not only taught us how to live life to the full, he also, by his personal example taught us how to accept suffering with courage and generosity, and approach death with dignity and serenity," he said.
"I have no doubt that he will now be warmly welcomed by the Lord and Master whom he served with such love and fidelity throughout his life."
A special mass is being organised for St David's Cathedral in Cardiff.
Archbishop Peter also said that, on the evening before the Pope's funeral, Solemn Evening Prayer would be held at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff, to which Catholics and civic leaders would be invited.
'Admiration'
Representatives of other Christian denominations have also been paying tribute to the man who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter of a century.
 Archbishop Peter Smith said the Pope had been "a truly great man" |
The Anglican Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan, praised Pope John Paul II's "bravery, forthrightness and energy".
"Whether one agreed with him or not, one could not but be full of admiration for Pope John Paul II's deep faith, personal bravery and the forthrightness with which he expressed his opinions," Archbishop Barry said.
"This was evident throughout his many years in office, but was also demonstrated very clearly during recent years in the way in which he expressed his opposition to the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces."
Meanwhile, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the Pope had broken new ground for his outstanding service to Christianity and the Catholic Church worldwide.
"He will be remembered with great admiration and respect and not just by Welsh Catholics," Mr Morgan said.
"He was totally committed to peace and reconciliation throughout his quite exceptional 26 years service as Pope."
Reverend Gethin Abraham-Williams, the general secretary of Cytun (Churches Together in Wales), expressed the sorrow of all the churches in Wales.
"All Christians in Europe will mourn on hearing that this remarkable Pope has reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage," he said.
"He has been an example to us all of faith and confidence in the goodness of God.
"We pray especially at this time for our Catholic brothers and sisters as they mourn their earthly leader."
Sheikh Said Ismail, resident imam of the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff, described Pope John Paul II as "a great man".
"We are all mourning his death," he said.
"He was not only for Christians, he was for everyone who was suffering."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
We pray especially at this time for our Catholic brothers and sisters as they mourn their earthly leader
