'Very beautifully done': NZ's only cardinal attends Pope Francis’ funeral

John Dew. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

New Zealand’s only cardinal, John Dew, says he felt incredibly privileged to have attended Pope Francis’ funeral.

Tens of thousands gathered at the Vatican to mourn the late Pope, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years before his death last week.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended, as did other world leaders including Ukraine’s Volodymor Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and United States President Donald Trump.

Cardinal Dew said the enthusiasm and desire for people to come and farewell the Pope had been outstanding.

"St Peter’s Square was absolutely packed and all the streets around, and the amazing thing was there were 50 heads of state and that’s pretty rare for that to happen, for a pope anyway.

"It just speaks volumes about the esteem that he was held in and how much people appreciated what he offered the world.

"From where I was sitting at the funeral Mass this morning, I could look across and see President Macron, President Trump, Prince William and President Zelenskyy, all those people lined up, which again I think speaks volumes of how much Pope Francis has appealed to people."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Holy See Tara Morton bow their heads in front of Pope Francis’ coffin inside St Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinal Dew said the Mass itself was "very beautifully done, very simply done", allowing the diversity of the church to be seen through prayer, language and music.

"The silence, too, at times, was amazing. There were thousands and thousands of people there, but just before we sang the Litany of the Saints, there was this absolute silence."

Mr Luxon told

1News

it was a "tremendous privilege" to be at the funeral representing New Zealand and all the Catholic community back home.

"To see all those world leaders coming to acknowledge him and to recognise his passing, but also, most importantly, the legacy and the life that he lived."

Cardinal Dew said he expected a decision this week about when the conclave to choose a new pope would begin.

"It’s a bit daunting to think I’ll be going into the conclave to be part of the process of electing a new pope, but I also know that I and everybody else is really supported by the prayers from all around the world, so that’s very much appreciated."

He said the next pope would need to be a leader in terms of faith and living the gospel himself, and someone who encouraged others to live the gospel.

Cardinal Dew will be the third New Zealander to participate in a papal conclave.

— RNZ