More than 150 city Catholics came together to celebrate the life of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in a requiem mass at St John's Cathedral.

Bishop of East Anglia, Peter Collins, paid tribute to the late pope at midday on Monday, January 2, after the religious leader died on New Year's Eve at the age of 95.

Pope Benedict will lie in state at the Vatican until his funeral on Thursday, January 5.

Bishop Peter said: “Joseph Ratzinger was nurtured by the authenticity of faith, hope and love that was embedded within his loving and courageous Catholic family.

"He was a man whose natural demeanour was characterised by courteous gentility and with a generosity of spirit he sought always to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

“He was a man endowed with an intelligence that prompted searching enquiry, that enabled honest and precise analysis and provided a foundation for the creative integration of faith and reason."

Solemn Vespers will also be celebrated at St John’s Cathedral on Wednesday, January 4 at 6pm with ecumenical and civic representatives in attendance.