In the tradition set by the man himself, Bermuda's religious and political leaders came together under one roof last night to remember the spirit of Pope John Paul II.

The Pope will be laid to rest today in the Vatican City, while cardinals have set April 18 as the day voting to determine his successor will begin.

Last night St. Theresa's Cathedral (left) was filled with those come to pay their respects to the man Rev. Pat Aillo defined as "the good shepherd ... a prophet of old".

The leaders of five of Bermuda's religious sects ? the Anglican Church, the African Methodist Episcopalian Church, Judaism, Islam, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and of course the Roman Catholic Church ? were represented at the service, along with political leaders and Bermudians of all ages and races.

"The dignity and the value of the human person is primordial," Rev. Aillo said.

"He worked tirelessly for that."

Chronicling the Pope's courage and honesty ? "It was not beyond him to say world, please forgive the Catholic Church" ? Rev. Aillo painted a picture of a man unafraid to speak for those who could not speak for themselves.

"He could lecture a dictator like (Cuban Communist leader Fidel) Castro and the media could say, 'There go two old foxes, playing a game of chess'."

Telling the congregation how the Pope stood against communism in his own country of Poland, railed against capitalism and the abuses of the poor, stood against diplomats and championed human rights for all races, ages and denominations, Rev. Aillo likened the Pope to a prophet of the Old Testament. "May his legacy of love for human life ... stay with us for many centuries to come."

Representing the Anglican Church, Rev. Andrew Doughty offered condolences and prayers to Bermuda's Catholics for the loss of their leader.

Like Rev. Aillo, Rev. Doughty painted a picture of a man unafraid to cross boundaries and explore other ways of life while praying for the forgiveness of those ? such as Nazi leaders who murdered six million Jews during the Holocaust ? have committed the greatest crimes against humanity.

As the first Pope to visit a mosque and spontaneously kissing the Koran, and the Pope who called representatives from dozens of world religions together to pray in Assisi in 1986, Rev. Doughty said: "You and I, from whatever religion we come from, can only have admiration for the way he lived life.

"He died as he lived ? with joy, courage, humility and prayer."