In death, as in life, Cardinal George Basil Hume was "an outstanding spiritual leader . . . a man of God who touched people's hearts. Everyone thought of him as a personal friend."
This humble man, who was a "rock of spiritual strength" to so many within and beyond the Roman Catholic Church, was laid to rest yesterday in the Chapel of Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine, inside Westminster Cathedral in London, a week after he died from cancer.
Inside the cathedral, 2,000 mourners attended the Cardinal's funeral Mass, while nearly 400 people stood in the piazza outside listening to the service on loud speakers. The cathedral's dark, imposing surroundings were the perfect backdrop for a service which struck just the right note of solemnity and celebration.
The Cardinal's close family joined British royalty, politicians and religious from across Britain and beyond, not with sorrowful faces, but to celebrate his life, particularly his ecumenical work during 23 years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The Right Rev John Crowley, Bishop of Middlesbrough, delivered a homily which touched on many aspects of the Cardinal's life. He was a practical, down-to-earth man. His "deeply Benedictine soul" guided him to the middle ground during times of upheaval in the church but without compromising the truth.
And in his last weeks he entered a peaceful stage, "preparing for that new future . . . and from that wisdom he became a light for people in this country and beyond".
The Duchess of Kent, representing Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, sat at the front of the cathedral, next to the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and Princess Michael of Kent, with Mr Hugh van Cutsem representing Prince Charles.
The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, arrived with his wife, Cherie, and son Euan. With them was the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Irish Ambassador to Britain, Mr Edward Barrington. Close by sat the Tory leader, Mr William Hague, the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, and the shadow home secretary, Ms Ann Widdecombe.
The Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, and the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, and Cardinal Cahal Daly, former Archbishop of Armagh, also attended.
Shortly before the Mass began, some 500 Catholic clergy and seminarians from around the world filed through the main body of the cathedral. They took their places next to the Cardinal's coffin - mounted on a stand in front of the altar - to celebrate the Mass, led by the principal celebrant, the Pope's special envoy, Cardinal Edward Cassidy.
Cardinal Cassidy asked those present to pray for "the present endeavours for peace" in the North.
After the clergy had found their seats, bishops filed on to the altar to celebrate the Mass. Joining six cardinals at the altar was the leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, and the leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church in Britain.
The Orthodox Jewish Chief Rabbi, Prof Jonathan Sacks, watched the Mass on a television screen from an anteroom. The General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, Mr Iqbal Sacranie, also attended.
After the Prayer of Commendation, monks from Ampleforth Abbey sang the haunting chant of the Suspice from the rite of profession of monk - sung when the Cardinal joined the abbey as a Benedictine novice at the age of 18. The Westminster Choir sang In paradisum, from the Messe de Requiem by Gabriel Faure, as the Cardinal's coffin was carried from the sanctuary for burial.