Asian Catholics mourn Pope as leaders salute his legacy

VATICAN, Monday (AFP) - In packed churches across the Philippines, congregations in China and the quake-hit ruins of the Indonesian island of Nias, Catholics in Asia Sunday mourned Pope John Paul II.

In the Philippines, where his 1981 visit is credited with sowing the seeds of the movement that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, church bells tolled and parishioners wept openly.

"We are all deeply saddened by his passing although not surprised as he had been sick for some time. But we know he has returned to our maker so we are comforted by that," said Henry Kaasi, 53, outside Baclaran Church in Manila.

President Gloria Arroyo said the nation's estimated 68 million Catholics felt a deep sense of loss at the death of the 84-year-old pope.

"The weak and oppressed will always remember their hero and advocate who sowed peace and love by his awesome charisma and noble deeds," said Arroyo, herself a devout Catholic.

In Vietnam, Asia's second largest Catholic congregation with some eight million believers, churches were packed.

"God has taken with him Pope John Paul II. Let us pray for his eternal rest," said Catholic priest Dang Duc Ngan during mass at St Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi.

In Australia, where about a quarter of the 20 million population are Catholic, mourners lit candles at Sydney's St. Mary's cathedral and queued to sign a book of condolences.

Prime Minister John Howard, an Anglican, said the pope was a freedom fighter who played a key role in the defeat of communism.

"The contribution that he made to the freeing of his native Poland, and what was set in train ultimately leading to the collapse of Soviet communism is one of the more remarkable features of his life," he said.

In South Korea, home to four million Catholics, special altars were set up for people to mourn the pope, who visited the country in 1984 and 1989.

"Pope John Paul II will be remembered as an apostle of peace ... for good in history," South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun said.

The Catholic Church in China offered "grave condolences",

Special prayers were said for the pope in churches in the Chinese capital, and the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation said churches held their own remembrance services.

"News of the death of the pope has reached all churches in China, and all across the nation there are numerous holy masses for the response of the soul of the pope," said foundation president Joseph Kung.

In Taiwan, off the southeastern Chinese coast, flags were to fly at half mast to honour the pontiff.

"We believe his life-long pursuit of peace and happiness for mankind will be forever in the minds of the people," said Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.

In East Timor, where the pope was revered for championing the battle for independence, President Xanana Gusmao hailed his tenacity in the face of failing health.

"East Timor's people will never forget the pope's visit here when he gave us a message of support in our struggle for independence," he added.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark also ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.

"From Pope John Paul II's early struggles in Nazi-occupied Poland, to his 1978 election as pope, and during the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in the 1980s, he came to be one of the truly influential figures of the 20th century," Clark said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message of condolence expressing "his greatest respect for the feat achieved by the late pope's efforts towards world peace."

In India, where the pope visited in 1986 and 1999, President Abdul Kalam said he was "deeply saddened at the passing away of Pope John Paul II."