ROMAN CATHOLICS who came together to mourn Pope John Paul were told he was a faith leader who urged people to banish fear from their hearts.

Prayers were said for the Pontiff at churches across York and North and East Yorkshire yesterday - the morning after he died in his private apartment at the Vatican.

Some were too upset to attend Mass, but others sought comfort from the prayers, and company of their friends.

At Our Lady's Church in Acomb, Father Pat Smith read aloud a letter from Methodist minister Colin Smith, assuring local Roman Catholics they were in the prayers and thoughts of Methodists.

It was standing room only at St Wilfrid's Church, in Duncombe Place, York, where Canon Michael Ryan told his congregation one of the greatest things Pope John Paul II had done was to urge the world not to be afraid.

"He was a man who was not afraid, a man who was able to give people encouragement and enthusiasm for the Gospel," he said.

He added: "His main interest was human rights; he was a passionate believer in human rights and the dignity of each individual.

"He was a great gatherer of people."

Bernadette Ruane, 46, said Canon Ryan had been right to remember the Pope telling the world not to be afraid.

She said: "I think it's fear that restricts us. If you have no fear, then anything's possible, and I really do think that that's what the Pope tried to do all around the world.

"In Catholic churches around the world everyone will be feeling the same thing; thanks that God gave us his life and I suppose regret that that bit of it has ended."

Father Derek Turnbull, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, which includes York and North Yorkshire, said Catholics had been as impressed with the way in which the Pope died as they were with the way he lived.

He said: "He's given the modern world a tremendous example of facing the inevitability of death in a calm and faithful way.

"I think Catholics in the Diocese of Middlesbrough are remembering 1982 when he came to visit the area. There are lots of people who went to York and saw him at a distance and I think their memories are very much coming back to that amazing event."

The Anglican Bishop of Selby, the Right Reverend Martin Wallace, said: "The Pope has been a tireless and fearless leader over many years, and has been an inspiration to millions.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those Christians who look to Rome for leadership. The process will soon begin to seek a new leader who will relate the ever-changing issues of the 21st century to the changeless truths of Jesus Christ.

"This will undoubtedly mean some hard decisions and some new directions will have to be faced, and for that the chosen man of God will need all our support and prayers."


:: Story first published on Monday, April 4, 2005