Serigne Saliou Mbacke, 92, Senegal's spiritual leader whose image was ever-present in the homes of his millions of followers, died Friday.

He was the leader of the Mourides, the most powerful Muslim brotherhood in Senegal.

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade called for a three-day national period of mourning.

Although Senegal is a secular country, the majority of its democratically elected rulers had to seek the endorsement of Mbacke. His image is on the dashboards of taxis and in the homes of his millions of followers.

Heliodore Mejak, 98, a monsignor who led a Catholic parish in Kansas City, Kan., for 63 years, died on Christmas Day.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas said it believes Mejak was the nation's oldest active priest. He was ordained in 1935 and served under seven popes. He said his first mass at Holy Family Church on Aug. 1, 1944, and never left.

"To be that old and to continue to function and to care for the community, that certainly shows his dedication and his love for his people," said Thomas Tank, vicar general of the archdiocese.

He also made repairs in the church, cut the grass, managed the finances and even prepared the weekly bulletin.

"He was a stellar priest," said Mary Ann Grelinger, a former parishioner who wrote his biography for a religious magazine.

Mejak celebrated mass until about a week before his death despite failing health and eyesight.

ASSOCIATED PRESS