Millions of people across Asia are mourning Pope John Paul, warmly remembering him as an emissary of hope and peace.
Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, expressed condolences for the late pope Sunday, saying he and the pope shared a keen interest in promoting harmony among different religious traditions. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo -- whose country is home to two-thirds of Asia's Catholics -- said Filipinos feel a deep sense of loss over his passing. Hong Kong's Catholic leader, Bishop Joseph Zen, chided Beijing for never allowing the pope to visit China. Earthquake survivors on Indonesia's Nias Island gathered at a cathedral for their first mass since Monday's 8.7-magnitude quake, to pray for the pope and nine Australian relief workers who died in a helicopter crash Saturday.
Condolences also poured into the Vatican from Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and other Asian nations. Pope John Paul made at least a dozen trips to Asia during his 26-year papacy.