POPE John Paul was called simply "a good man whom we remember so fondly" by Bishop John Crowley, leader of the 80,000 Catholics in North Yorkshire and Teesside, when he met journalists on Monday.

The previous day, at St Mary's Cathedral, Coulby Newham, he told 500 worshippers that the Pope, whom he met several times, had been a "long-distance runner" with his faith.

Bishop Crowley, who was in Rome at the election of Pope John Paul in 1978 when secretary to the late Cardinal Basil Hume, spoke at the cathedral of the Pope "saving his best witness until his last three years".

"There are so many suffering hunger, disease, depression and terminal illness - what encouragement he gave.

"With dignity, he gave enormous hope and renewed courage to a world often in deep pain. He remained a man of hope."

The bishop said he would lead a requiem mass at the cathedral on Thursday, at 7pm. Civic leaders, people from other Christian denominations, and members of the Muslim and Jewish communities would be invited.

Similar services are to be held in York and Hull for the southern end of the diocese.

At his news conference, Bishop Crowley would not speculate about which cardinal he supported as the next Pope, but felt a different type of man would be elected. He thought the election would take only two or three days.

Did the bishop go along with a comment by Middlesbrough's Mayor Ray Mallon that the Pope had been "probably the closest thing to a living saint." He said he "would not dispute that."

Bishop Crowley added that the Pope had faults and failings like every human being. And he (the bishop) had met a lot of saints in his work.

The yellow papal flag was flying at half-mast outside St Mary's Cathedral. Spokesman Jim Whiston said it was only flown at the appointment and death of major figures like the Pope, a bishop and the King or Queen.

* The Rt Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, took part in a service on Sunday at Ripon Cathedral, where prayers of remembrance were said.

The bishop said: "We express our sympathy with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters and give thanks for the life and witness of Pope John Paul II.

"We give thanks for his courageous example and leadership, for the way he was willing to stand for truth and for the important part he played in the breakdown of animosity between East and West.

"Prayers have been offered in Anglican churches throughout the diocese today - prayers of thanks for the life and witness of Pope John Paul II and prayers for the Roman Catholic Church.

"I have written today to express my sympathy and prayers to the Bishops of Leeds and Middlesbrough Roman Catholic dioceses with whom we have very warm relations, the Rt Rev Arthur Roche and the Rt Rev John Crowley.

"Pope John Paul II touched the hearts of Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He encouraged Christian unity, both through his visits here and in welcoming Anglican visitors to Rome