But his passing was anticipated and all of the newspapers are in reflective frame of mind.

The Mail on Sunday says before John Paul II, Britain saw pontiffs as "distant, Italian and irrelevant".

But the Pope, the newspaper says, was "none of these things" and he rapidly proved that "serious faith... could have global power".

Political role

For The Sunday Times, the Pope's life was a reminder that "while there are many global religions, there is only one truly global religious leader".

The newspaper recalls the importance of his Polish roots.

"His role in opposing communism added enormous moral and material force to the wind of change that blew through the Soviet bloc in the 1980s".

"That he has influenced so many... says much about his dedication to his followers," the Observer says.

Contraception question

As well as praising John Paul II's legacy, several newspapers also reminded their readers that he was a controversial figure.

The Sunday Mirror writes that the Pope "kept the Catholic church together, but at a price".

"He would not tolerate birth control, even though he knew the vast majority of his one billion followers practised it," the paper's editorial says.

The Pope's successor will face an enormous task, concluded the newspaper.

Influential figure

The Sunday Telegraph thought the election of the 265th Pope would be a "battle of wills between the liberalisers and the traditionalists".

His successor will have to follow a man who "realised the seismic role the Vatican could play in world politics," The News of the World says.

John Paul II "has done more to shape our world than almost anyone else now alive," says a Sunday Express column.

"His influence was real," concludes the Independent on Sunday.