The passing of Pope John Paul II last Sunday has seen an extraordinary outpouring of grief and condolences which carried strong messages of his mission and humanity that touched the lives of millions.

Messages coming from Malaysia also reflected similar characteristics of history's third-longest serving pope.

Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, in an eulogy, listed down what he remembers most of Karol J Wojtyla - the pontiff's given name.

"In his early years as a priest, bishop, cardinal and finally pontiff, he was a man who was very much with nature, his outdoor activities seeing him sometimes kayaking, mountain hiking, swimming and playing soccer," recalled Murphy.

The archbishop quoted a second century spiritual master - St Irenaeus from his authored Bishop and Father of the Church who had called the pontiff "a man fully alive for the glory of God" - when he referred to the pope as "John Paul the Great".

"I also recall his intellectual and cultural pursuits in his formation as a priest (possessing) doctorates in philosophy and theology (and) his numerous church documents on various issues," added the archbishop.

The pope began his academic journey in university, in his native land Poland, in 1938. He went on to continue pursuing knowledge even after his election to the papacy in October 1978.

Murphy also remembers the 84-year old pope, who survived the Nazi occupation as a youth, as someone who cultivated friendships with people from all walks of life regardless of race, religion, intellect, age, stature and political beliefs.

"Most of all I recall his personal relationship with God. He had a great sense of the presence of God in his life," Pakiam noted of the pope, who would have celebrated his 85th birthday on May 18.

Pray and sign book

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in Kuala Lumpur has opened a condolence book for those wishing to express their sympathy on the passing of the pontiff.

Government ministers and senior officials, foreign diplomatic mission heads and the public are welcomed to visit the parish hall located behind St John's Cathedral in Jalan Bukit Nanas.

The book will be available for signing from today till Thursday between 10am - 4pm.

Catholics are invited to pray at the cathedral while signing the condolence book. A memorial mass will be conducted at the cathedral on Thursday at 5.30pm.

"As I bid farewell to him, I remember vividly the last chapter of his life. As the ravages of illness brought a gradual breakdown in his vigour and body, he preached silently that our lives are in the hands of God as he accepted the cross of suffering like Jesus Christ," Murphy said.

The Polish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has also opened a book of condolence for the public until the day of the pope's funeral. The public can sign the book at the Chancellery of the embassy in Jalan Ampang from 11am to 3pm.

Malaysia will be represented by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, Bernard Dompok and Dr Abdullah Md Zin at the pontiff's funeral at the Vatican on Friday.

The Catholic Dompok, who met the pope at the Vatican as part of a Malaysian delegation in 2002, told the Star yesterday that "I felt I was in front of holiness and greatness".

"This was a man who led 1.2 billion Catholics around the world and yet you could feel the simplicity within the person," he reminisced.