Pope John Paul II expressed his sadness yesterday at the death of Cardinal John O'Connor, of New York. He said he felt a sense of deep personal loss.
Cardinal O'Connor, a conservative known to have been close to the Pope, died peacefully early yesterday after a long illness. He was 80.
The Pope, who himself turns 80 in two weeks, is sending the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to Cardinal O'Connor's funeral Mass on Monday.
In a telegram to the New York diocese, the Pope described Cardinal O'Connor as "a deeply spiritual man, a warm and zealous pastor, an effective teacher of the faith and a vigorous defender of human life.
"Through the years he has been a great support to me in the service of the universal church," the Pope said, adding that Cardinal O'Connor "worked tirelessly to build better ecumenical and inter-religious relations, and for Catholics and other Christians and men and women of good will throughout the world, he was a source of inspiration in serving God in our less fortunate brothers and sisters."
Tributes poured in from politicians, including President Clinton and the Governor of Texas, Mr George W. Bush, the Republican candidate for president.
Mr Clinton praised the cardinal's long years of service and said his "courage and firm faith" in facing his final illness were inspiring. "His lifelong journey of faith was our nation's blessing, from his distinguished career as a navy chaplain to his determination to give voice to the poor and marginalised in New York and across America," he said.
Mr Bush said he was profoundly inspired by Cardinal O'Connor's "tireless work on behalf of the poor and defenceless".
Cardinal O'Connor had struggled since last August following surgery to remove a brain tumour. He died peacefully of cardiopulmonary arrest with friends and relatives at his bedside. He was rarely seen in public after years in the spotlight, often alongside politicians and other power-brokers.
Cardinal O'Connor was born in Philadelphia on January 15th, 1920, and was ordained in 1945. He began his religious career in his native city, teaching and doing parish work. From 1952 to 1979 he served as a chaplain with the US Navy and Marine Corps, rising to the rank of rear admiral and the position of chief of chaplains for the navy.
The Pope ordained him bishop for the US armed forces in 1979, and in 1983 he became bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1984 he was named archbishop of New York, replacing Cardinal Terence Cooke, and was elevated to cardinal in 1985.
In the hours before his death, St Patrick's Cathedral in mid-Manhattan was packed with worshippers praying for the cardinal.
Patsy McGarry adds: The Catholic Primate, Dr Sean Brady, paid tribute to the late Cardinal O'Connor. In a statement he said the cardinal was "a warm, welcoming man of strong Christian faith. Love of the faith drove him to work tirelessly, fearlessly and generously in the service of Christ and his church."
Dr Brady recalled that it was his "delightful privilege" to be Cardinal O'Connor's guest on a number of occasions. "He rose early, prayed each morning with his household and celebrated the 7.30 a.m. Mass in St Patrick's Cathedral, which was regularly televised," he said.
"Cardinal O'Connor was a faithful friend of Ireland - the land of his paternal ancestors. He visited on a number of occasions and was always vitally interested and willing to help, in every way possible, in the search for an enduring peace."
He concluded: "May his gentle soul rest in peace, now that his long suffering has ended."