Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II, known as John Paul the Great. I offer my sympathies to his brother priests and other brothers and sisters in religious life. As a young person, I recognise the respect in which our late pontiff was held. He is the only Pope of whom many young people aged under 35 years have memories and, as the first Pope to visit this country, he will always have a special place in the hearts of Irish people. It is a special thought that Ireland was among the first countries he visited and a large number of Irish people travelled to Rome last week to attend his funeral mass when Cardinal Ratzinger's homily caught the heart of people across the world.

It is with sadness that we lost Pope John Paul II given his great leadership skills described by Deputy O'Donnell. I will always remember the simple words he spoke in Galway during a special mass for young people when he said: "Young people of Ireland, I love you."

Last Wednesday night I attended a mass in my Wexford constituency lead by the Bishop of Ferns, Dr. Eamon Walsh. He spoke of the Pope's visits to various countries across the world. The special and simple message he offered at every venue in each country will always live in the memories of those present.

On the evening the Pope passed away, I listened as Bishop John Magee, who spent many years with John Paul II, said that among the first words the Pope will hear when he approaches the gates of heaven for his eternal reward will be "Well done, good and faithful servant", a fitting description of the late Pontiff. I hope the Catholic Church will canonise Pope John Paul II in the coming years. I extend my condolences to his brother priests, bishops and cardinals and send prayers and good wishes to the College of Cardinals in electing a new Pope in the coming weeks.

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