Religious leaders in Northern Ireland have paid tribute to former Pope Benedict XVI following his death aged 95.
The German theologian led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until 2013 when he became the first Pope to resign in almost six centuries due to ailing health.
Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Dr Eamon Martin described him as a "person of deep spirituality and prayer" and "one of the greatest theologians of our era".
READ MORE: Former Pope Benedict XVI dies aged 95
Dr Martin said the former Pope was a "gentle soul" who "followed closely, and prayerfully, the peace process as it matured" in Northern Ireland.
He added: "On a personal level, it was his characteristic humility and gentleness which struck me when I first met him in 2009 while visiting the Vatican as Executive Secretary to the Irish Bishops' Conference.
"I found him to be calm and softly spoken, kindly and personable, and genuinely interested in the Church in Ireland."
He added: "In his lifetime, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was an outstanding teacher and academic whose impressive intellectual ability, combined with clarity of expression, made of him one of the greatest theologians of our era."
Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, expressed his condolences.
He said: "Pope Benedict was manifestly a man of deep spiritual insight combined with a capacity for focused and articulate theological expression.
"During his life, he combined the role of churchman and theologian with energy, leaving as a legacy a substantive body of published work that stands testament to a Christian scholar of great intelligence and learning.
"His loss will be felt very keenly throughout the Catholic world and my prayers in the coming weeks will be for all who are bereaved and diminished by the passing of a great man and a humble disciple of our common Lord, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ on the island of Ireland."
Political and state leaders have also paid tribute to the former Pope.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said Benedict had a "steadfast interest in peace in Northern Ireland".
In a statement, he said: "At this time of the return of war on our continent and in so many areas of the world, he will be remembered for his untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world, including a steadfast interest in peace in Northern Ireland.
"He will be remembered too for the value he attached to intellectual work and for the personal commitment he gave to such within the Roman Catholic Church, this work being respected by both supporters and critics.
"Of particular importance was that during his tenure, Pope Benedict sought to highlight both the common purpose of the world’s major religions and his injunctions as to how our individual responsibilities as citizens require the highest standards of ethics in our actions."
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