John Hume, one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement, “never lost faith in peace”, mourners at his funeral have been told.
The former SDLP leader and Nobel Prize laureate died on Monday aged 83.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings, there were limited numbers at the funeral Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry.
Fr Paul Farren said that in life, Mr Hume never kept a distance, got involved and “put everybody first”.
About 100 people – mostly close family and friends – attended the funeral service.
Political dignitaries including First Minister Arlene Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin and Irish President Michael D Higgins were among the mourners.
Fr Farren, who gave the homily at the Mass, said the long-standing politician always “made peace visible for others”.
“His vision revealed what could be, and with time and determination and single-mindedness and stubbornness he convinced others that peace could be a reality,” he told mourners.
“He never lost faith in peace and he never lost faith in his ability to convince others that peace was the only way.
“If ever you want to see a man who gave his life for his country, and his health, that man is John Hume.”
Fr Farren added that Mr Hume gave “dignity and life to so many people”, in a time when “small-mindedness and self-focus seems to be the driver” and never put any specific group first.
One of the highest-profile politicians in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years, Mr Hume helped create the climate that brought an end to the Troubles.
He was a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1970 and led the party from 1979 until 2001.
The former Foyle MP and MEP for Northern Ireland, who had dementia and in recent years had lived in a care home in Londonderry, died in the early hours of Monday morning.
Since his death, tributes have been paid from across the world, reflecting his international reputation.
Others in attendance at the funeral included NI Secretary Brandon Lewis, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, current SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance leader Naomi Long and former Ulster Unionist MEP (Member of the European Parliament), Jim Nicholson and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne.
Tributes from across the world
The Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, presided at the Mass.
He began by reading out a number of messages from global dignitaries, including the Pope, the Dalai Lama, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former US President Bill Clinton.
