RELIGIOUS and political figures from across Scotland came out in force yesterday for the funeral of respected former Inverclyde bishop John Mone.

A service took place at St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley at noon led by current Bishop of Paisley John Keenan, who described his predecessor as ‘gentle, kind and holy’.

Bishop John, right, died last Friday at the Holy Rosary Residence in Greenock 
He became Bishop of Paisley on March 8, 1988, and dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the priesthood.

After retiring on October 7 2004, he lived on the Esplanade in Greenock and latterly at the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Bishop Keenan said: “Bishop John was gentle, kind and holy.

“The hundreds of tributes that have poured in, together with the fond stories and memories, can be distilled down to these qualities so uniquely knit together: John Mone was a gentle, kind and holy shepherd, usually full of fun.”

Bishops from across Scotland turned out for the funeral, including from as far afield as Aberdeen, as well as Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia, who succeeded Bishop John when he retired 12 years ago, and new Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Brian McGee, who was ordained as a priest by Bishop John in St Mary’s in Greenock on June 29, 1989. 

Provost Robert Moran was in attendance representing Inverclyde along with council leader Stephen McCabe, deputy Jim Clocherty, former civic head Ciano Rebecchi and fellow councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld.

There were also representatives from Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire councils, former Inverclyde chief inspector Bob Kennedy, who is now a superintendent of Police Scotland, and representatives from the Church of Scotland including Reverend Ann McCool, moderator of Greenock & Paisley Presbytery.

In his homily, Bishop Keenan said: “Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled. Surely our hearts are saddened at the passing of a pastor loved so deeply by so many of us.

“And yet our sadness is overtaken by wider feelings of gratitude for a life poured out for us by this good priest and bishop.

“And that gratitude gives way to confident hope that Bishop John has gone no further than from his room in the Little Sisters’ Residence to a room forever in His Father’s mansion, prepared by the Lord Jesus, Our Saviour."