Belfast-born bishop Anthony Farquhar has been remembered as "a man of joyful faith" following his death.
The 83-year-old, who was one of the longest serving Bishops in Ireland, passed away on Friday.
He served as auxiliary bishop of Down and Connor, Ireland's second-largest diocese for 32 years before stepping down in 2015.
A keen football fan, often seen at Windsor Park internationals, he famously helped set up the famous meeting between Pope John Paul II and the Republic of Ireland's footballers at the 1990 World Cup.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, leader of the Catholic church in Ireland, paid tribute to Bishop Farquhar, recalling his "warmth, friendliness, good humour".
“Along with so many people across these islands and beyond, I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Tony Farquhar," he said.
“I recall Bishop Tony’s warmth, friendliness, good humour and, of course, his prayerfulness and deep commitment to his vocation as priest and bishop.
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“When Bishop Tony retired back in 2015 he was the longest serving bishop in the country.
"During his 32 years membership of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, his insightful contributions were highly valued and respected.”
A former pupil of St Malachy’s College Belfast, Bishop Farquhar was ordained as a priest in 1965 and served in Ardglass before becoming chaplain to Musgrave Park Hospital alongside chaplaincy to Forster Green Hospital and St Patrick’s Training School, Glen Road.
In September 1966, he was appointed to the staff of St MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower where he taught until 1970 before taking up an appointment as assistant chaplain at Queen’s University Belfast.
In 1975, he became chaplain and lecturer to the new University of Ulster as well as chaplain to the Dominican College in Portstewart.
He was appointed auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor in 1983, a role he held until his retirement.
Bishop Donal McKeown, Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor, recalled Bishop Farquahar's "affectionate smile and his pastoral charity".
“Bishop Tony was a sincere, warm and engaging human being and a man of joyful faith who had a renowned and remarkable capacity to remember all those he had met and an infectious wit and sense of humour that endeared him to others," he said.
"Bishop Tony will long be remembered for this disarming presence, his affectionate smile and his pastoral charity."
Bishop Farquahar also held numerous ecumenical friendships, particularly that with the late Reverend Ray Davey who founded the Corrymeela Community, he was also close to the late Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg.
In 2016, Bishop Farquhar received the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from Ulster University for his distinguished service to the university and to the community.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
