SPECIAL masses are being held in West Devon following the death of Pope John Paul II on Saturday. People have been going to pray quietly and light candles at churches as they reflect on one of the longest papal reigns in history. Father Peter Morgan, of St Boniface?s Church in Okehampton, said special prayers for Pope John Paul II had been said following mass on Sunday and a special requiem mass would be held at 10am tomorrow (Friday). Father Peter said: ?He served the church extremely well and was dedicated to the very end. ?He gave an incredible example of faith and the Church will miss him greatly. His spiritual influence and moral conscience will also be missed. He was a great influence to the world.? Father Peter said people locally had reacted with a mixture of sadness at losing someone who had been such a good shepherd and who was looked up to, and relief that his recent sufferings were over. ?It has been a mixture of sorrow and celebration of his life,? he said. The Pope had led the world?s billion Catholics for 26 years. He was born Karol Wojtyla on the May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He was the first Polish pontiff and, at 58, the youngest Pope of the 20th century. Tavistock and Okehampton are part of the Plymouth diocese, which has almost 70,000 Roman Catholics. The Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Budd, said it was a sad day for people of all denominations. ?It is a sad day in one sense, but Pope John Paul has given an example of how to die,? said Bishop Christopher. ?He was always a very public Pope, though not in a showy way. He was willing to be seen at windows or on balconies and that carried on almost to the very end. ?It?s as if in death, as in his life, he chose to share his dying. One could almost think he was saying to us: ?There is nothing wrong with dying and we can do it with dignity??. West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who is a practising Roman Catholic, met the Pope in 2000 on the steps of St Peter?s, when he was introduced by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O?Connor. Mr Burnett said: ?For me the Pope symbolised great courage, hope and love. His message was directed to the entire world and particularly to the poor and dispossessed. ?He had a massive part to play in the downfall of communism and the endeavour to reconcile the different religions of the world. May he rest in peace.?