When an international story breaks you have to try and localise it and make it relevant for your patch and this was a perfect example. Scunthorpe had a strong Polish community and the pope, who was from Poland, had been ill.

I was working the weekend and, if he died, I had to go and speak with a few people for something to go in Monday’s paper. Sadly he passed away but I think it made a nice tribute. And it helped build good contacts with the Polish community.

Catholics and non-Catholics alike pay their respects

NEWS of the death of Pope John Paul II was greeted with sadness by both Catholics and non-Catholics in North Lincolnshire this weekend.

Flags flew at half-mast, people bowed their heads in silence and prayers were said in memory of the popular pontiff, who lost his battle with illness on Saturday night.

The Vatican announced the Pope had finally succumbed to his illness and died at 8.37pm UK time.

Since Thursday the 84-year-old’s poor health had worsened further as he suffered from a failing heart and kidneys.

He had led the Roman Catholic Church and its one billion members, for more than a quarter of a century and he became history’s most travelled Pope.

His body was this morning lying in state in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing before his funeral, which is expected to take place later this week.

Officials said they expected up to a million people to pay their respects.

Residents in Scunthorpe joined millions of Catholics worldwide in prayer.

Father John Cahill, of Holy Souls Catholic Church on Frodingham Road, said the news was sad but not unexpected. He said: “It is sad, but people are accepting of it.”

“It is really part of life in the church. His was an epoch-making papacy. The church goes on as it does.”

Father Cahill said the news was given a ‘special mention’ in prayers during the regular services, which were arranged for yesterday He said: “After the evening mass there will be a quiet hour of prayer, with people getting together during the hour.”

The chairman of the Multi-Faith Partnership in Scunthorpe, Canon Derek Brown, said Pope John Paul Il was an ‘international figure for us all’. “It will be interesting to see what happens next,” he said.

“I hope the College of Cardinals wiIl have great courage and appoint a Iiberal Pope.”

Mariola Grant, steward of the Polish Social Centre on Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe, said people had been ‘stunned’ by the news. “It’s a relief. It’s been on the cards for a long time,” she said. “When he died it was a blessing in disguise. He is at peace.”

Mrs Grant added John Paul II had been a ‘very good Pope’. “To be quite honest, he was the first Pope I’ve known who actually did something,” she said.

“He went all around the world and made a point of learning the languages so he could communicate with people.”

Members of the centre flew the Polish flag and the Union Flag at half-mast yesterday, and held a minute’s silence on Saturday evening as a mark of respect.

Fellow Pole Margaret Lampkowska said a quiet prayer and lit a candle to the memory of her former spiritual leader on Sunday morning.

Miss Lampkowska, who has lived in Scunthorpe since moving from her home village near Gdansk, Poland, said she was sad to have heard the news.

She was attending the regular Polish mass at Holy Souls Church.

“I just found out this morning. I always pray for him, I loved him and he was a good Pope,” she said.

“I wish he was still alive. It is a sad day”

• An extra special mass in memory of Pope John Paul will be sald at St Augustine Webster Roman Catholic Church, Whitecross Street, Barton-upon-Humber on Wednesday at 7pm. All are welcome.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Monday, April 4, 2005.