Queen leads tributes to Pope

THE DEATH of Pope John Paul II prompted tributes from a range of public figures throughout Britain, among them politicians, pop stars and the leaders of groups who looked to the Pope for inspiration. They include: Buckingham Palace: “The Queen has conveyed to the Holy See her deep sorrow on receiving the news of the death. Her Majesty remembers the untiring efforts of Pope John Paul II in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world. The Queen also remembers well his work for Christian unity including closer ties between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and, in particular, His Holiness’s visit to Britain in 1982.” The Prime Minister, Tony Blair: “The world has lost a religious leader who was revered across all faiths and none. He was an inspiration, a man of extraordinary faith, dignity and courage. To anyone who was fortunate enough to meet him, as I was with my family two years ago, he radiated such warmth and kindness that the meeting was unforgettable. He will be remembered with profound respect and admiration.” Baroness Thatcher: “His life was a long struggle against the lies employed to excuse evil. By combating the falsehoods of Communism and proclaiming the true dignity of the individual, his was the moral force behind victory in the Cold War. Millions owe him their freedom and self-respect.” Michael Howard, Conservative Party leader: “In a world of change and uncertainty people saw him as a rock – steadfast in his support of freedom, unswerving in his opposition to totalitarianism, robust in defence of Christian values.The world has lost a truly remarkable Pope and a very great spiritual leader.” Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader: “His was a pivotal presence on the international stage and he took his Christian message of hope to millions across the world. He will be remembered with deep affection and reverence by the countless numbers of people whose lives he touched and influenced.” Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2: “Pope John Paul II was the best frontman the Catholic Church ever had. He was a great showman, a great communicator of ideas – even if you didn’t agree with all of them – and a great friend to the world’s poor, which is how I got to meet him. Without John Paul II it’s hard to imagine the Drop the Debt campaign succeeding as it did.” Fr David Smolira SJ, British Jesuit Provincial: “His commitment to freedom, to life and human dignity, and to dialogue with peoples of other faiths will be his legacy. He will be particularly remembered for his love of young people ... and his recognition of the relationship between faith, culture and evangelisation, something that the Jesuits hold dear and value.” Chris Bain, director of Cafod: “We feel a great sense of grief and loss. The Pope was a tireless champion of justice and peace who has been an inspiration for our work. He was a global figure but he was also someone who touched people personally, through his teaching, which so often addressed the global issues of our time, and through his visits around the world. He challenged all of us to live our faith, with its radical values and principles, more deeply.” Jack Scarisbrick, national chairman of Life: “Pope John Paul II was a pro-life giant. His tireless defence of the unborn and commitment to upholding the dignity of women – given memorable expression in his majestic encyclical Evangelium Vitae – inspired the pro-life movement worldwide.” Julia Millington, the ProLife Alliance: “The world has lost a remarkable champion of the pro-life cause, who died as he had lived – as a witness to the dignity of human life.” Charlotte Church, opera singer: “I have met many politicians and film stars over the years but meeting the Pope was the closest I have ever felt to God.”