Pope John Paul joined yesterday in mourning the death of Cardinal Basil Hume, leader of Catholics in England and Wales for 23 years, commending his "noble soul" to God.
"I thank the Lord for having given the church a shepherd of great spiritual and moral character, of sensitive and unflinching ecumenical commitment and firm leadership in helping people of all beliefs to face the challenges of the last part of this difficult century," the Pope said in a letter to the Archdiocese of Westminster.
Dr Hume, a Benedictine monk once spoken of as a possible pope, died of cancer on Thursday in a London hospital aged 76.
A spokesman for the Archbishop of Westminster's office said the cardinal's body would lie in state in the cathedral from Monday to Wednesday. His funeral takes place next Friday.
Tributes from all sections of British society and of all faiths have poured in. Queen Elizabeth said she was "deeply saddened" by Dr Hume's death, and the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, described him as "goodness personified."
The cardinal announced in April that he was dying of cancer. He urged Catholics not to make any fuss, saying he had received two "wonderful graces" in being given time to prepare for death, and being at peace.
His final engagement was at Buckingham Palace to accept the Order of Merit, in recognition of his work in moving the Catholic Church to toward the centre of British life.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, said: "We worked together closely and productively for many years and throughout that time my respect, admiration and affection for him have grown.
"I especially value his personal commitment to bringing our Christian communities and traditions closer to one another."
Cardinal Thomas Winning, the leader of Scotland's Catholics, said: "His contribution to the `coming of age' of the Catholic community in England and Wales cannot be overstated."
Dr Hume won admiration during his 23 years as Archbishop of Westminster through his dignity, eloquence and respect for other churches. There are around 4.4 million Catholics in England and Wales.
"Cardinal Hume was very much loved by the Benedictine order as well as by the Catholic community in England and Wales," said Father Mark Sheridan, dean of the theology faculty at the Pontifical Athenaeum and procurator of the English Benedictine Congregation in Rome.
Frank Kilfeather adds:
The death of Cardinal Hume was an immense loss to the Catholic Church in his own country and throughout the world, the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady said yesterday . He said Cardinal Hume was a man of profound faith and deep prayer, a truly charismatic leader and a much loved pastor to his people. On behalf of the Catholic bishops, priests, religious and faithful of Ireland, he wished to express his deep sorrow. The Church of Ireland Primate, the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Cardinal Hume. "He was a man of tremendous personal courage and faith and a confident leader of his people. He reached out to people of other faiths and spoke with genuine humility for those with no voice of their own."