Nobel Laureate and former SDLP leader John Hume said he was deeply saddened by the death of his friend, Fr Alec Reid.
In a statement, Mr Hume said: “Fr Reid was a pillar of the peace process. Without his courage, determination and utter selflessness, the road to peace in our region would have been much longer and much more difficult to traverse. A man of faith and deep conviction, his commitment to our people was a key part of the foundation on which our early, fragile peace was built,” he said today.
“Fr Alec was not simply a ‘go between’ in the early days of negotiating for peace. He was an active player in fighting for an end to violence,” he added.
“While we mourn the loss of a great man, we must also celebrate the legacy of peace and an opportunity to reconcile our people that he gave to us. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste,” said Mr Hume.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Fr Reid's base in west Belfast during the Troubles, Clonard, was "the cradle of the peace process".
“I feel deeply saddened. I have not absorbed it yet. I knew him for the last 40 years,” he said.
“He was also a very good friend of mine, of my wife, of my family.
“What Alec Reid did was he lived the gospel message. He developed a view which was contrary to the official view, that there had to be dialogue, and he was tenacious — I remember quite a few times saying he was like a terrier.”
Mr Adams told RTE Radio he was with Fr Reid last night in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and had been due to visit him again today at midday.
Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers said, "We all owe a debt of gratitude to him for the role he played in the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. "
Alliance leader David Ford said Fr Reid played a very significant part in the peace process. "His compassion and deep humanity will always be remembered," he said.
“He was a man who put his faith into action. He was an inspiration to all those involved in the peace process. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the work he carried out to bring an end to the Troubles.
Fr Reid’s remains will repose at Marianella Chapel, 75 Orwell Road, Dublin 6 tomorrow from 2pm - 8pm and on Sunday from 1pm - 8pm. Mass will be held in the chapel at 11 am on Monday after which his remains will be taken to Clonard. An ecumenical Service of Gratitude for Fr Reid’s life and ministry will take place at 7.30 pm in Clonard Church. His funeral Mass will be at 12 noon in Clonard Church on Wednesday.
