08/04/2005

NI tunes into Pope's funeral

Thousands of people across Northern Ireland today tuned into television coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Churches throughout the country also showed the procession on large TV screens of the 84-year-old pontiff who died last Saturday.

Catholic schools in Northern Ireland were also given the option of closing for the day as many attended Mass in prayer for the Bishop of Rome.

Irish President Mary McAleece was one of over 200 dignitaries who attended today’s service at the Vatican. "He made an enormous impact on the Irish people, and I think not just on the Catholic people but on many people, just indeed as we have seen over the last number of weeks the impact that he has had on people right around the world,” she said.

Pope John Paul II visited Ireland on a three day trip in 1979 however he didn’t travel over the border into Northern Ireland because of a high security risk at the time.

He died last Saturday after having suffered with Parkinson’s Disease over the past number of years.

(MB)

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