Bells toll sad news for city faithful

The ringing of funeral bells for 9am Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland was the first inkling many worshippers had that Pope John Paul II was dead.

A little more than an hour after the Pope died at 7.37am, about 400 worshippers attended Mass to pray for the Pope, some arriving late and visibly upset.

Outside the cathedral were two large photographs of the pontiff, one of him draped in a Maori cloak on his only visit to New Zealand (as Pope; he came once earlier as a Cardinal) in 1986, with the words "John Paul II We Love You".

Cathedral assistant priest Father Craig Dunford said he learned of the death only about half an hour before the 9am Mass, just enough time to uncover biblical messages under photographs of the Pope inside the cathedral, "Eternal Rest Grant to Him O Lord" and "May the Angel Come to Greet You".

Father Philip Handforth, who learned of the Pope's death when he arrived to say Mass, told worshippers the second Sunday of Easter was a day of rejoicing "but it doesn't mean we can't be sad".

"The great leader has died. Pope John Paul was a vibrant, energetic shepherd. He led us ... he has spoken out boldly. Nothing could silence him," Father Handforth said.

After the hour-long service, Dave and Stella Blampide said when they arrived the bells were tolling differently from normal and they thought then the Pope might have died.

When they left their Te Atatu home for Mass, news reports were still saying the Pope was gravely ill.

"I think he was a marvellous Pope, not just as a Pope but as a politician and a human being," Mr Blampide said. "I think he is one of the 20th century's greats."

Keith Holliday, visiting New Zealand from India, said "although it was a bit of a shock when we came in to church to find out he had passed away, it is something we expected".

An evening Mass at St Patrick's last night was attended by about 500 people with candles lit as the congregants prayed for the soul of their spiritual leader.

Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn said the Pope left "a huge gap as an international figure on the world stage.

"A lot of people feel they have lost a dear friend."

The Pope was a universal teacher, a great traveller and a man of integrity, said Bishop Dunn.

"There is a sense of great loss but also of relief. He can now enjoy the reward he so richly deserves."

After the service, there was a sense of relief and happiness.

"I feel great that he'll no longer feel any pain and he's going to heaven," said Deoneia Pires, from Waterview.

David Samson Rao, from Avondale, said the Pope served for peace.

"He was loved by all countries, a great man."

The scenes of mourning were played out at Catholic services across New Zealand as the passing of the Holy Father was mourned.

In Wellington, at St Mary of the Angels, where the congregation included newborn babies, toddlers and several people who had walked in off the street to pray for John Paul II, he was remembered as a man of courage and inspiration.

"His name symbolised where he stood as a moral authority and world leader. John was an icon of the contemplative and Paul was a missionary to the world. He gave to the people and was the Pope for the people," Father Allan Jones said.

The new Archbishop of Wellington, John Dew, told parishioners at Wellington's Sacred Heart Cathedral that the Pope would be remembered as a "great believer" who had an ability to connect with people.

- additional reporting by Derek Cheng