Books of condolence open for Pope

Books of condolence are being signed across NI

Books of condolence have been opened across Northern Ireland to allow people to write their own personal messages of respect for Pope John Paul II.

Messages of sympathy have been issued by religious and political leaders from all communities for the Pope, who died on Saturday after a long illness.

Meanwhile, Belfast City Council has held one minute's silence in memory of the 84-year-old pontiff.

The Catholic Church has begun nine days of official mourning.

Masses are being held throughout Ireland, including special services in Belfast and Armagh.

On Monday, Bishop of Down and Connor Patrick Walsh conducted a Vespers for the Dead service at St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast.

Archbishop Sean Brady said the Pope set an inspiring example

A Diocesan Mass was held in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, whilst many Catholic parishes will hold special Masses during the course of the week.

Archbishop Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, said Pope John Paul II was a "gentle teacher and a courageous leader".

Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames conveyed his "deepest sympathy" to the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell described the late Pope as a man of "great courage" who stood up for what he believed to be right.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said Pope John Paul II was "a great leader of the Catholic Church and a towering figure in 20th Century history".

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the Pope's "powerful spirituality" had impressed people during his 1979 Irish visit and "ever since".

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said Pope John Paul II had "showed huge courage and determination" throughout his illness "as he continued to travel and to lead the Catholic Church worldwide".

POPE IN IRELAND Pope's 1979 Ireland visit

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble offered his condolences to Catholics in Northern Ireland, adding: "We will all remember him for his time as a Cardinal in Poland and the Polish Catholic Church's role in standing up to and ending Communism".

Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley said: "We can understand how Roman Catholics feel at the death of the Pope."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Pope had been "a towering figure of our lifetime" and paid tribute to his passionate pleading on his visit to Ireland calling for an end to armed struggle.

However, Mr Ahern has been criticised for not holding a national day of mourning for Pope John Paul II.

Mr Ahern said schools would be allowed to close for the funeral if they wanted to and arrangements could be made for employees who want to attend Masses.

Irish President Mary McAleese said it was a source of pride that "Pope John Paul II was the first Pope in history to visit Ireland and that, in the final years of his life, it was his ambition to return to our midst".

Pope John Paul II made Ireland the third pilgrimage of his 26-year pontificate when he visited for three days in September and October 1979.

He made an impassioned plea for peace in Northern Ireland, however, he did not visit the province.