Tēnei te Pō! Tēnei te Pō! Tēnei te Pō!
Te Pō-uriuri, te Pō-tangotango, te Pō-i-oti-atu.
Tom Roa
This is the Night, this is the Night, this is the Night!
The darkest Night, the deepest Night, the Night of completion.
The very sad news of Pope Francis’ passing heralds a time for the Catholic Church of prayer, reflection, preparation for his funeral, and the gathering of the Cardinals to appoint his successor.
Worldwide he will be remembered for his legacy of reform, and his not infrequent clashes with world leaders over immigration and economic issues.
Pope Francis was very well known for his strong views on justice, human rights, his condemnation of conflicts, in particular, the Gaza conflict.
The Holy Father Pope Francis sets a dove free in a Wednesday audience
His Christian heart saw that the glorification of his God, and the following of Christs’ teachings of love for one another were being totally ignored.
In fact, every conflict, every war, ignores that so important base of Christian faith. Of having love for one another.
I wait, with bated breathe, even though I am not Catholic, with how the Catholic Church will replace him, and what will be the guidance, the leadership of the new Pope to be.
But first, let us mourn Pope Francis, the passing of a good man, a man who lived up to his belief in the importance of loving one another.
His Holiness Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photo: iStock
Echoes of the strength of will of those before Pope Francis resound here in Aotearoa New Zealand with the recent rejection of the Treaty Principles Bill. Many commentators and submissions to the Parliamentary Select Committee paid little to no heed to the ‘fourth Article’ of the Treaty, also known as ‘Te Ritenga Maori’ which called for the guarantee of the right of freedom of religious expression.
Catholic Bishop Pompallier proposed this ‘Fourth Article’. Hobson’s translator Henry Williams announced to the gathering: ‘The Governor says the several faiths of England, of the Wesleyans, of Rome, and also the Māori custom shall alike be protected by him.’ In Māori, Williams read out to the gathered rangatira: ‘E mea ana Te Kāwana, ko ngā whakapono katoa, o Ingarani, o ngā Weteriana, o Roma me te ritenga Māori hoki, e tiakina ngātahitia ana e ia.’
The Māori chiefs present at Waitangi quickly agreed and Hobson accepted but never wrote that down as part of his written draft.
E te Kāmaka, nāu te tūru o Hato Pētera i kawe ki te ao-tūroa –
Haere ki raro i ngā parirau o tō Kaihanga;
Nāna koe i hōmai – Nāna koe i tango.
Moe mai rā.
Oh Rock of the church founded by Saint Peter whose role you have so ably fulfilled. Farewell. Be with your Creator, who gave you to us, and now has taken into his care, sleep in peace.
Pope Francis superimposed over Bernini’s window of the Holy Spirit in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
