The death of the Pope has touched thousands of people across the world, but one Malvern man is feeling his loss more than most.

Monsignor Patrick Kilgarriff, of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, in Newtown Road, worked in Rome as rector of the English College for more than a decade and frequently met with Pope John Paul II.

"He was a very warm, engaging character," he said. "He was someone who I felt had something very special about him."

Mgr Kilgarriff said he felt extreme sadness at the Pope's death, but also relief that his suffering had ended.

"He had not been able to walk for a long time and could only move around in a wheelchair," he said.

"He also lacked the ability to speak properly, which must have been extremely distressing as he was such a persuasive speaker, with a beautiful voice."

Mgr Kilgarriff said he remembered the Pope as a young, agile man.

"He was full of life and vigour and loved to ski," he said.

A mass and special evening service was held at St Joseph's on Sunday and a second evening service takes place tonight (Friday ), at 6pm.

Also personally touched by the event, was the James family of Victoria Road, Ledbury.

David and Susi James's youngest daughter Barbie, who became a nun, Sister Jordan, met the Pope and was anointed by him during the three years she was based in Rome.

"She said that people knew when they came into his presence that here was a holy man," said Mr James, of Christians together in Ledbury.

"He also wrote and published probably more than all the other Popes put together."

Sister Jordan, now back in England, is based near the New Forest.

A requiem mass was held yesterday (Thursday) at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in New Street, Ledbury, and a vigil service took place in the evening.

A requiem mass also replaced the normal service at St Joseph's RC Church in Upton this morning (Friday).