Mixed emotion over Pope's illness

Archbishop Peter Smith has met the Pope on several occasions

The most senior Catholic clergyman in Wales has said he has mixed emotions over the Pope's grave illness.

Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith said he was "a little sad, but in another sense quite joyful really".

He said that, for Christians and the Pope in particular, death was not the end.

"With death, his suffering will be ended and he will go and meet the Lord face to face and what a meeting that will be," he said.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Archbishop Peter said that the Pope's suffering in recent years had been "very, very hard".

"His life is clearly ebbing away - I am sad because I met him quite a few times, he will be much missed," he said.

He described Pope John Paul II as "very human, very down-to-earth", with a great sense of humour.

The evening before his funeral, we are going to have Solemn Evening Prayer in the cathedral Archbishop Peter Smith

"He always listens - he has got very intense eyes and if you are saying something to him, he is clearly taking it all in," he said.

Looking back on the Pope's legacy, Archbishop Peter said he "had lived what he preached".

"He has taught us very clearly in his cyclical letters, in his preaching, in trundling all over the world - no Pope has travelled as much as he has - he has taught us how to live fully," he said.

"And now in his suffering, he is teaching us how to die with dignity and serenity and surrendering ourselves into the hand of the Lord."

Special prayers

He added that Pope John Paul II had spoken "very strongly and consistently" on life issues, stressing that everyone had great dignity as a human being, whether they are suffering or disabled, or in the fullness of health.

Archbishop Peter said that usual masses would be held across Wales on Sunday, with special prayers for the Pope.

He also revealed that, in the days after the Pope's death, a special mass would be held at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff.

"And the evening before his funeral, we are going to have Solemn Evening Prayer in the cathedral, to which a lot of people will be invited - not just Catholics but a lot of civic people as well," he added.