Parliament mourns the death of Pope John Paul

[April 6, 2005 - 11.00 GMT]

Parliament yesterday paid tribute to the leader of the Catholic Church Pope John Paul II who passed away Sunday April 03.  Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said, “The late Pope John Paul II admired inter-religious co-existence and gave priority for social justice, peace and peaceful co-existence when fulfilling his religious responsibility.”

The third longest serving Pope gave leadership to more than one billion Catholics in the world for 26 years.

The Premier further said the Pope was a man of all the people, of all races and religions and he took a courageous stand in opposing the war on Iraq. 

Christian Affairs Minister Milroy Fernando described the Pope as a champion of world peace and religious unity.

JVP Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said his party was particularly impressed by the Pope's stand against globalisation and his solidarity with Cuba. 

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said the Muslim people were grateful to the Pope for the work he had done towards bringing about religious harmony. 

Chief opposition whip Mahinda Samarasinghe said all parties in the opposition were joining the Prime Minister in paying the highest tribute to the Pope. 

JHU parliamentarian Ven. Uduwatte Nanda Thera paid a tribute to the Pope on behalf of the Buddhist clergy and the people. 

TNA parliamentary Group Leader Joseph Pararajasingham said his party saw the Pope as a great man of peace and was particularly grateful for the Church's role in finding a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict. 

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Last Updated Date: April 6, 2005 - 11.00 GMT