Māori Catholics mourn the loss of Pope Francis

Pope Francis was remembered with affection as Pāpā Werahiko by many Māori Catholics. Te Tai Tokerau kaumātua for the Church, Bobby Newson, said the late Pope’s humility extended beyond his public ministry and into the way he lived his daily life.

Mr Newson noted that, at the start of his pontificate, Pope Francis did not want to live in a house like the “castle” where most of the popes before him had lived.

“He had already gone to one of the houses next to it. It was a guest house, and he lived there,” he said.

Auckland Diocese Vicar for Māori Manuel Beazley attended the funeral of Pope Francis with his whānau. He told 1News that they had travelled to “say thank you to Pope Francis for the hope he has brought to the world and to the Church”.

The 1 News report said Mr Beazley had met the Pope last year, and had discovered the Pontiff’s fondness for Aotearoa, despite having not visited this country.

“He was quite interested in how Māori view the land and he said to me that we have a great richness in our culture, in all indigenous cultures, regarding the environment,” Mr Beazley said.

Former Vicar for Māori in the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington, Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard, described Pope Francis as a transformative leader who set aside traditional thinking in favour of open and inclusive dialogue.

“We are strongly encouraged to welcome all people in the world. Whether they are gay, lesbian, male, female or Māori,” he said. “The Christian faith is that we should welcome each other, no matter where you are from, no matter the colour of your skin, no matter how you live in this world.”

Deacon Karatea-Goddard said that the new Pope should follow in the footsteps of Pāpā Werahiko.

“The hope is that someone will continue, that Werahiko’s words will continue to be carried forward. That is the hope of my heart, that the Catholic Church will have someone who does the same things as Werahiko did.

“Let us not go back to the world of stone.”

Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania, a former student and teacher at Pompallier Catholic College in Whangarei, took to social media after the death of Pope Francis to convey his message of aroha to parishioners across the Mid and Far North.

“The Catholic Church has such a strong history here in the Far North. The first Catholic Mass was celebrated at Tōtara Point, Hokianga in 1838 by Bishop Pompallier, who is well known for his push for the inclusion of the fourth, verbal article of Te Tiriti o Waitangi protecting religious freedom and Māori customs,” he said.

FULL STORY

Māori Catholics reflect on the life of a transformational Pope – Te Ao Māori News (By
Michael Cugley/Te Ao Māori News)

“Thank you, Holy Father” Māori leaders pay tribute to Pope Francis – Te Ao Māori News (Te Ao Māori News)

1 News 6pm bulletin April 27 (1 News – video available until May 4)