THE Bailiff, church leaders from other Christian faiths and politicians have also been paying tribute to the late Pope.

Sir Philip Bailhache said this morning: ‘I express sympathy to members of the Roman Catholic faith on the death of the Pope John Paul II.

He was a remarkable figure who exerted a powerful influence on world events and who also touched the lives of ordinary people of many different beliefs.

Few can have failed to be moved and inspired by his extraordinary courage in the face of suffering.’ The Dean of Jersey, the Very Rev John Seaford, said: ‘The Pope was a strong moral force and well respected around the world.

We all prayed for him yesterday.’ The Superintendent of the Island’s Methodist Church, the Rev David Coote, said: ‘We remembered him in prayer in every church on the circuit yesterday and he will be remembered as a very great man who made a huge difference to the world.

‘There are some issues of faith on which there were clearly differences, but it was his affirmation on the worth of a human being which was something that we can all share.

I doubt that we would have seen this sort of reaction 20, 30 or 40 years ago, which I think shows the mark of his influence in the Church, and not just the Roman Catholic Church.’