Tributes to the Polish-born Pope came from political leaders of every faith and denomination for a man who took the world stage, travelling more than one million kilometres in visits to some 130 countries. During his more than 26-year-long papacy he held general audiences in the Vatican with almost 18 million people and met face to face 776 heads of state and about 1600 political
leaders.

"The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd; the world has lost a champion of human freedom, and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home," US President George W. Bush, a United Methodist, said at his White House residence, his wife Laura at his side. He described John Paul as "a hero for the ages."

The world's most populous nation, China, which does not recognise the Vatican, on Sunday reported the death of the Pope on state-run television, saying that it offered its sympathies while asserting it hoped his successor would act to improve relations.
 

"China expresses its condolences on the passing away of Pope John Paul II due to his illness," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said in a statement. China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported: "According to Liu, Pope John Paul II had once apologised for the wrongs against the Chinese people committed by some Catholic missionaries during the colonial period."

China broke ties with the Holy See in the 1950s after expelling foreign clergy and all religion was severely restricted during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. The Vatican has diplomatic ties with Beijing's rival, Taiwan, but Liu said: "The Chinese government consistently adheres to two basic principles in handling China-Vatican relations. China is willing to ameliorate relations with the Vatican and it is hoped that the Holy See, under the leadership of the new Pope, will do something that is conducive for the improvement of Sino-Vatican relations."

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, who leads a coalition of secular political parties in the world's second most populous nation, which has an overwhelming Hindu majority, described John Paul II as the "People's Pope who led the Catholic Church through a period of historic changes."

Singh said: ''The Pope endeared himself to the people of India by initiating the process of granting Sainthood to Mother Teresa.'' He noted that John Paul reached out beyond the Church and inspired people of all faiths.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, said in an official message of condolence sent to the Vatican: "Pope John Paul II was a disciple of religious mysticism, philosophic deliberation and thought and artistic and poetic creativity." Khatami, who met the Pope in 1999, said, "By emphasising his experience and teachings, [he] earnestly tried to utilise them in the path of the triumph of truth, justice and peace." The Iranian president, a Shiite Muslim cleric, also called on the Vatican to continue John Paul II's quest for inter-religious dialogue.

In the Holy Land, where the Pope made a historic visit in 2000, Israel praised the pontiff's work to promote understanding among peoples. "Israel, the Jewish people and the entire world, lost today a great champion of reconciliation and brotherhood between the faiths," Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said. "This is a great loss, first and foremost for the Catholic Church and its hundreds of millions of believers, but also for humanity as a whole."

Israel was in concord on this occasion with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas who said: "We have lost a very important religious figure who dedicated his life to peace and justice for all."

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who leads Africa's most populous nation where Muslims make up half the population, said: "Pope John Paul II not only visited Nigeria twice but stood by the country in its fight against dictatorship and injustice."

In Cuba, a predominantly Catholic nation before the communist revolution in 1959, relations with the Church have not been easy, but the country's foreign minister, Felipe Perez Roque, said: "We have always seen the Pope, and will always see him, as a friend who was concerned for the poor, who fought neo-liberalism and strove for peace."

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany praised the Pope for helping to lift the oppression of communism from Europe. "We know that Pope John Paul II used his personal stature to fight against communist dictatorships, for a bloodless and peaceful transition," Gyurcsany said in a statement. "For this all of central and eastern Europe, including all freedom loving citizens of Hungary must pay their respects to the memory of the holy father."

The British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, expressed her "deep sorrow", noting in a statement from Buckingham Palace: "Her majesty remembers the untiring efforts of Pope John Paul II in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world."