Pope Francis 'was kind and dedicated to us all'

Religious leaders across the north-west of England have paid tribute to Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88.

The Vatican confirmed the death of the Pope, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, at 07:35 local time (06:35 BST) on Easter Monday.

It comes just a day after he appeared on the Vatican's St Peter's Square to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers.

Former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon told BBC Radio Merseyside Pope Francis always had Liverpool "very much in his affections".

He said: "Locally, here in Liverpool, he always used to say to me 'ahh you're in Liverpool, the Napoli of England, the Naples of England'.

"I didn't quite know what he meant by that but I think it referred to football, rather than pizzas. That was his little joke about Liverpool, he had Liverpool very much in his affections, in his mind."

Pope Francis was discharged from hospital last month after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia.

The governing of the Catholic Church will now be handled by the College of Cardinals, its most senior officials, until the new Pope is chosen.

Bishop of Salford Rt Rev John Arnold, whose area covers a third of Lancashire's Catholic community, said he could only imagine how many people were "shocked and greatly saddened" by the news.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "He was a wonderful, humble man. There was never any sense of 'I'm the Pope, I'm really important', there would always be a warm handshake and humour.

"There was a real simplicity and humanity to the man.

"Although there have been various episodes of illness in recent times, he has always shown such determination to fulfil his commitments and return to his ministry."

The papal inauguration of Pope Francis was held on 19 March 2013 in St Peter's Square, with an estimated crowd of between 150,000 and 200,000 who came to witness.

One of his final acts of his 12-year tenure as the head of the Catholic Church was to appoint Bishop John Sherrington as the new Archbishop of Liverpool, to succeed the Archbishop McMahon OP, who had been in the post since May 2014.

The North West has the biggest proportion of Catholics outside of London, making up more than one in 10 of the population, according to St Mary's University.

Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said the region sent its deepest sympathies to Catholics across Merseyside, the country and around the world.

Dean of Liverpool, the Very Rev Dr Sue Jones, said the Church had lost an "inspirational leader".

"His calls for justice and focus on the least in society is something that chimed strongly with all of us in Liverpool.

"His teaching and pastoral care will have a long-lasting impact."

Rt Revd Ruth Worsley, Interim Bishop of Liverpool, said the Pope's leadership remained "steadfast through a rapidly changing world, shaped by many global events".

"He was someone who 'smelt of the sheep' - a man of the people who was for the people".

• Pope Francis's life in pictures
• What next after the death of Pope Francis?

Requiem masses will be held across the country in memory of Pope Francis. Lancaster Cathedral is holding a service on Monday at 19:00 BST, while Liverpool Cathedral has opened a prayer station in the Lady Chapel.

Prof Anna Rowlands, of Durham University, spent two years seconded to the Vatican during Francis's papacy.

The professor of Catholic social thought and practice said the pontiff had roared with laughter when she told him she was a Manchester United fan the first time.

She said he wanted to know what football team she supported, and when she said she was a "genuine, bona fide Mancunian, Manchester United fan by origin", he had "roared laughing" and told his aide "you see, she must have a sense of humour".

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