The Pope led tributes to Sir David Amess at the murdered MP’s funeral in Westminster.

In a message read out at Westminster Cathedral, Pope Francis praised the Conservative Southend West MP’s years of “devoted public service” before he was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery on 15 October in Leigh-on-Sea.

The Pope, who Sir David met several times, called for mourners’ resolve to be strengthened to “combat evil with good” and “build a society of ever greater justice” following the devout Catholic’s death.

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Hundreds of mourners attended the Requiem Mass, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined by former Conservative prime ministers David Cameron, Theresa May and John Major.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle were also joined by senior Cabinet members, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

Julia Amess, Sir David’s wife, was joined by family members as they paid their respects to the much-loved father-of-five, husband, colleague and MP.

Sir David’s body lay in the chapel at the Palace of Westminster overnight before his coffin was driven in a hearse and carried into Westminster Cathedral by pallbearers on Tuesday morning.

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The insignia of the Knights Bachelor awarded to Sir David when he was knighted was carried on a velvet cushion into the cathedral.

A private funeral was held in his constituency and home of Southend-on-Sea in Essex the day before, and a private burial is taking place after the Westminster funeral.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, read out the message from the Pope to convey “his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to the Amess family”.

“His Holiness recalls with gratitude Sir David’s years of devoted public service guided by his strong Catholic faith and evidenced in his deep concern for the poor and the disadvantaged, his commitment to the defence of God’s gift of life, and his efforts to foster understanding and co-operation with the Holy See in its universal mission,” the message continued.

“Commending Sir David’s soul to the loving mercy of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Holy Father prays that all who honour his memory will be confirmed in the resolve to reject the ways of violence, to combat evil with good, and to help build a society of ever greater justice, fraternity and solidarity.”

Canon Pat Browne, parliament’s Roman Catholic duty priest, celebrated his good friend as a “true bridge builder”.

“David’s death was the catalyst for everyone in Parliament realising their oneness as a community working differently, but together, for the good of the nation in our world,” he told the service, before noting his success in bringing unity was also witnessed during his life,” he said.

“He literally took his life in his two hands and threw himself into it. And indeed, he died doing so, in service of others.”

A chuckle rippled through the cathedral as the priest recalled the moment Sir David had a boiled sweet blessed by the Pope.

Laughter broke through the sombre silence again as Canon Browne told the story of Sir David posing in a suit of armour to celebrate his knighthood in 2015.

At midday, Sir David’s coffin was carried out of the cathedral as mourners sung a hymn.

Mr Johnson tweeted shortly after that to say: “Today we mourn the death of Sir David Amess, a beloved colleague, public servant and friend, and pay tribute to his immense contribution to politics, to the people of Southend and to this country.”

Sir David, who was 69, had served Southend West since 1997 and Basildon before that since 1993.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, has been charged with Sir David’s murder and preparing acts of terrorism between May 1 2019 and September 28 this year. He is due to enter pleas in December.

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