LONDONDERRY (NORTHERN IRELAND) – John Hume, the peacemaker of Northern Ireland, was remembered for his unwavering commitment to non-violence at his funeral on Wednesday. The pope, former US President Bill Clinton and fellow Nobel Laureate, the Dalai Lama, sent messages of support.
The Roman Catholic architect of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord ending 30 years of sectarian violence, Hume was credited with bringing a British region soaked in blood to the negotiating table. He passed away on Monday at the age of 83.
In the wake of the coronavirus restrictions, less than 100 mourners wearing masks were present and they included Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and the Catholic and Protestant leaders of Northern Ireland at the St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry where Hume hails from.
Bishop Donal McKeown read out messages in which Pope Francis praised Hume’s untiring efforts to promote peace, the Dalai Lama his deep conviction to the power of dialogue. Clinton and his wife, Hillary, shared their sadness at the loss of a friend.
“With his enduring sense of honour, he kept marching on against all odds towards a brighter future for all the children. He was Ireland’s Martin Luther King,” Clinton said in his message.
Hume’s family asked people to stay home and light a candle for peace at their door on Tuesday night in view of the coronavirus restrictions.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a message that he lit a candle at the door of No. 10 Downing Street to commemorate “a giant of a politician”.
Aidan, one of Hume’s sons, could not attend the funeral due to coronavirus restrictions. Instead, he watched the ceremony online from his home in Massachusetts, USA. The service was streamed live on both sides of the Irish border.
“If Dad were here today, witnessing the current tensions in the world, he wouldn’t waste the opportunity to say a few words,” Hume’s son, John Hume Junior, said.
“He’d talk about our common humanity, the need to respect diversity and difference, to protect and deepen democracy and to place non-violence at the absolute centre.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field