The President, Mary McAleese has described Pope John Paul II as a "pillar of the modern world" and said that while "his extraordinary life" would be mourned it "must also be celebrated".
In a statement released shortly after the Pontiff's death she said that for over a generation Pope John Paul II "was a pillar of the modern world, serving the Catholic Church and the cause of all humanity".
"He continued the work of his predecessors in interpreting and implementing the Second Vatican Council, that milestone in the long history of the church.
"The story of Pope John Paul II is that of a man of immense faith and conviction and, in latter years, great personal courage," she said.
Mrs McAlees said that he had "engaged with human culture and civilisation in every aspect and in every corner of the world.
"His trust in the future, his never-wavering commitment to the worth of each human life and his witness under the burden of personal suffering constituted a sign of great value in the modern age. His influence on the history of his beloved native country and on European history is already evident.
She expressed pride that he was the first Pope in history to visit Ireland and that, "in the final years of his life, it was his ambition to return to our midst.
"I consider it a wonderful privilege to have met him in person as President of Ireland. Pope John Paul II laboured long and fruitfully in the vineyard of this world.
"It is particularly poignant that his death has occurred in Easter week, a period that reinforces the enduring images of life, renewal and resurrection. Our prayers accompany him at the ending of the day as he returns at last to the heart of his Merciful Father."
