A MUCH-LOVED churchman who dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the priesthood has died.
Bishop John Mone, retired Bishop of Paisley Diocese, passed away peacefully yesterday morning, aged 87, at the Holy Rosary Residence in Greenock.
Tributes have poured in for the ‘good, kindly and holy man’ from Bishop John Keenan and senior clerics in Rome.
Bishop Keenan said: “We announce the sad news that Bishop John Mone died peacefully yesterday morning just before 6am in the Holy Rosary Residence, Greenock. He was taken unwell an hour or so before and passed away tranquilly.
“Bishop John was a holy man of God who was a gentle and faithful pastor of his people and who was dearly loved by the faithful, clergy and religious of Paisley diocese. May he rest in peace.”
Bishop Keenan passed on his condolences to Bishop Mone’s loved ones and thanked everyone who cared for him in his latter years.
He said: “Our condolences go to his family who will thank God for his good life along with the people of the diocese.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to Mother Stephen, the sisters and staff of the Holy Rosary Residence who cared for him lovingly to the end. Bishop John was given special spiritual care by Monsignor Gerry Gallagher and we remember him too in our prayers.” 
Bishop John Aloysius Mone was born on June 22 1929 and studied for the priesthood in Paris.
He was ordained on June 12 1952 for the Archdiocese of Glasgow and later as auxiliary Bishop of Glasgow on May 14 1984.
He became Bishop of Paisley on March 8 1988.
After retiring on October 7 2004, he lived on the Esplanade in Greenock and latterly at the Little Sisters of the Poor. 
Monsignor Denis Carlin, former parish priest at St Mary’s in Greenock, said Bishop Mone was a ‘good, kindly and holy man, a great priest all his days and a father to his clergy’.
A statement was also released from the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, saying: “With sadness, the community of the Pontifical Scots College joins with all Catholics in Scotland in praying for the happy repose of Bishop John’s soul. May he rest in peace.
“He will be sorely missed by his family and the people of the Diocese of Paisley.”