RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinians were on Saturday mourning the death of John Paul II, remembering him as a pope who supported those suffering from injustice.
"A great man who left his mark all over the world has departed," said Tayeb Abdel Rahim, secretary general of the Palestinian Authority.
"The death of the pope is a loss for all of humanity, for peace lovers and for the Palestinian people," he told AFP.
The Palestinian nation greatly appreciated him as a man whose "support for our legitimate rights was well known", he said, remembering how John Paul had welcomed the Palestinian leadership to the Vatican on several occasions.
"We will miss him but we are hopeful that his successor will follow the same path in spreading peace and love between nations and in supporting the just rights of those suffering from injustice."
News of his death was announced by the Vatican late Saturday, which said the 84-year-old pontiff died two days after suffering heart failure brought on by two months of acute breathing problems and other infections.