Obituaries — His Holiness Pope Francis

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I seek leave to move a motion without notice to acknowledge the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.

Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON: Thank you. I move, That this House express its deep sadness on the recent death of His Holiness Pope Francis and express its sincere condolences to the Holy See and to Roman Catholics in New Zealand and around the world, who are feeling a profound sense of loss and sorrow at this time.

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. It was also my great honour to pay respect to His Late Holiness on behalf of all New Zealanders at his funeral.

The Pope was a man of enormous humility: a priest who had worked as a nightclub bouncer and a floor sweeper; a servant leader who saw his life’s work through a prism of service to others, not to his own self-aggrandisement; a Pope among the people, who embraced the poor and washed the feet of prisoners.

A man who described himself as being from the end of the world, Francis was the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, with his second-to-last pastoral visit to our neighbourhood in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Singapore. He was also a moderniser, a man who wanted the Church to bend down to every person regardless of their beliefs or condition.

With nearly 100 heads of State and of Government in attendance at his funeral, we heard the Pope’s exhortation to build bridges, not walls. World leaders were reminded that this was a man of peace. He believed in negotiated solutions. He intervened himself to mediate conflicts, engaged in interreligious dialogue, and he felt personally the pain of those most afflicted by war. I have no doubt that the world leaders present heard his message of peace.

On behalf of the Government, I join other members in sharing the sense of loss and sorrow at His Holiness’ passing and also a profound sense of gratitude that we were graced by his leadership in this world. May he rest in peace.

On behalf of the Labour Party, can I also offer our heartfelt condolences to Catholics in New Zealand and around the world, as we join in mourning the loss of a spiritual leader whose impact extended across nations, bringing hope to the world and to the Church. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was a beacon of hope, compassion, and mercy. He embodied the values of humility, mercy, and devotion to justice.

He chose the name “Francis” after Saint Francis of Assisi, stating in one of his first speeches, “He is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and cares for Creation.” Pope Francis lived out those values in both word and action. He called on world leaders and everyday people to take urgent action on the climate crisis. He wrote, “Caring for ecosystems requires a perspective that extends beyond the immediate, because when the focus is solely on … economic gains, genuine concern for their preservation is often lacking.”

He spoke out against systems of inequality and called for global justice. A lasting legacy is his request that his popemobile be turned into a health clinic for the children of Gaza—a symbol reminding the world that they are not forgotten. He apologised to indigenous peoples across the world for the Church’s role in colonisation.

May he rest in peace, and may we carry forward his message of mercy and compassion, and work towards creating a world that is more just, more equitable, and fairer for all.

It’s a privilege to stand and pay tribute to the Holy Father on behalf of the Green Party—the grief of so many people who share my Catholic faith but also the millions of others who are not Catholic who expressed grief at his passing. The Holy Father was a man who was a sinner, a prophet, and a peacemaker.

Let me begin with an acknowledgment of the Pope’s sins and failings. Perhaps it is fitting that some of his first words after elevation of the Chair of St Peter were “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon with mercy.” I want to acknowledge the sexual abuse survivors, particularly those who suffered at the hands of the Catholic Church. While progress was made during Pope Francis’ reign, there was not enough and it was compromised by the blind spots that the Pope had. I also want to acknowledge the Rainbow community, particularly Rainbow people of my Catholic faith. The Church hasn’t always been the kindest place for you, and while the Pope went the furthest in affirming your human dignity, dining with trans, gay, and lesbian prisoners, calling the criminalisation of homosexuality an injustice and funding abuse shelters for trans people, the Church is still fundamentally a conservative institution with millennia of doctrine to evolve.

The Pope’s ministry has been likened to that of a prophet by others, like the Archbishop of Louisville, and, like the prophets of old, he was a man utterly unafraid to call out the injustices of a broken global system that throws away the most poor and marginalised. About one year ago, I was sworn in on Laudato Si’, the papal encyclical on care for our common home. In the papal encyclical, he calls for the end of the throwaway culture that throws away lives, that throws away the unwanted, and that throws away the waste, the refuse, of modern society. Pope Francis stressed that “The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation.”, and that “the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.”

He condemned the short-termism and influence of elites in modern politics, saying that “A politics concerned with immediate results supported by consumer sectors of the population is driven to produced short-term growth. In response to electoral interests, governments are reluctant to upset the public with measures which could affect the level of consumption or create risks for foreign investment.”

Pope Francis always had a special place in his heart for the marginalised, the poor, and the imprisoned. One of his last acts was to defy medical advice to visit prison on Holy Thursday, the week before he passed away.

Finally, Pope Francis was a peacemaker and a builder of bridges. Throughout his whole career, he held a consistent record for facilitating interfaith dialogue between all peoples of faith and fostering a spirit of broad ecumenicalism within the Christian faiths. The Pope understood that the first step towards building peace was talking to and loving your enemies. I have always tried to keep this in mind as I engage in my parliamentary business, and I hope that colleagues all across the House do so as well. In his final public address, the Pope called for peace in this world, for the release of the hostages, and for an enduring ceasefire that ends the genocide in Gaza. He called for peace in Ukraine, South Caucasus, Africa, and all around the world.

I want to conclude with his words: “I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear, which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger, and to encourage initiatives that promote development. These are the ‘weapons’ of peace: weapons that build the future, instead of sowing seeds of death!”

Rest in peace, Pope Francis. Thank you for being a channel of the Lord’s peace as you lived. Rest easy, for it is in dying that you rise to eternal life.

Mr Speaker.

SPEAKER: Sorry, I’ve—

Hon Member: Nicole McKee.

SPEAKER: I’m sorry about that. I’m just slightly moved, given the nature of the debate. The Hon Nicole McKee.

Hon NICOLE McKEE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I stand on behalf of the ACT Party to acknowledge the passing of Pope Francis from Casa Santa Marta, the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, our Holy Father Francis.

I went to Ss Peter and Paul School and also to Sacred Heart College before moving to Rotorua in my college years, and I recall seeing Pope John Paul II in photographs all over the schools and being in awe of this strange man who spread the word of God all over the world. Then, in 1986, he came to New Zealand—the only Pope to have ever visited—and the entire school of Sacred Heart College was a choir that sung at his Mass delivered at Athletic Park alongside 25,000 other Catholics excited at his arrival. The momentum and the movement were inspiring. Here was the picture on the wall in real life, giving us all his blessings. So I was saddened when he passed, and I’ve always watched with interest the popes that came after him and the messages that they gave us.

Pope Francis is not just a religious leader for the Catholics worldwide but also a symbol of continuity who walked a very delicate path between tradition and the modern world. He carried that responsibility with a unique grace, speaking often of mercy and championing the poor, while at the same time addressing issues such as the position of women within the Church. What seemed like small steps to the outside world were massive achievements as Pope Francis appointed the first woman leader of a department in the Church’s central administration, and the first female president of the office governing the Vatican City State.

In a time when so much feels fractured, the presence of a figure who spoke for the possibility of unity, forgiveness, and meaning is not something to take lightly. He reminded many, including some of us who no longer attend Mass, of the better traits of human nature and the importance of forgiveness, love, and faith—faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in humanity.

To Pope Francis, thank you for your service, for your witness, your imperfections, and your efforts. May your soul rest in peace in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

I am grateful to this House to give time to recognise the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, and honoured to be speaking on behalf of NZ First. This honour is an opportunity to pay respect not only to the Pope but to the Church, my faith, and the influence that this has on who we are as a nation and our place in the world.

With over 400,000 Catholics in New Zealand and nearly 1.5 billion Catholics throughout the world—representing 20 percent of the population—I am truly appreciative of the importance the Church and the papacy still has in this modern world. Our world leaders came together to pay their respects, and the international media honoured the Pope, and, in so doing, honoured the place that the Church and faith still has in our daily lives. Pope Francis, as with every pope before him, was called by his faith to serve. The Catholic faith has filled my life, and when I was last in Auckland on Anzac Day, I was able to visit my aunt, Sister Monica Costello, who is still the epitome of faith and service. She taught at Carmel College in Auckland from 1959 and became the second principal, in 1975. She was elected as a Superior-General of the Auckland Sisters of Mercy in 1982 and continued to serve well into her 80s. Finally, in her 90s, she has taken time to rest and be cared for, as she cared for so many in her life.

I talked with her about Pope Francis and the papacy. She reminded me of the impact that the leader of the Church has and why the ethos of service means so much. Her eyes lit up when she recalled meeting Pope John Paul II, who was the only pope to visit New Zealand. The strength of faith and the value of the Church is fundamental to who we are as a nation, and it is my hope that we will receive the next pope with the same reverence. It is this leadership that guides us, not just as Catholics, in a direction that honours God and provides a pathway to unity.

Pope Francis once said, “I think this is truly the most wonderful experience we can have: to belong to a people walking, journeying through history, together with our Lord, who walks among us! We are not alone; we do not walk alone. We are part of the one flock of Christ that walks together.” In our reflection around the world on the Pope’s passing, we, I believe, acknowledge that we are journeying together. The honour we afford to him today and at his death was greater than to the man but it is a tribute to the Catholic faith. It is this faith that is greater than any one person, and a foundation to the Church. The papacy provides this foundation as Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are a rock, Peter, and on this rock foundation, I will build my Church, which not even death will ever be able to overcome.”

In closing, in honour of Pope Francis and the Catholic Church I wish to say: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

Tēnā koe e te Pīka. Today, I’m honoured to rise on behalf of Te Pāti Māori to acknowledge the passing of a figure of immense global and spiritual influence—Pope Francis—a spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics around the world. His death marks the end of an era for many, the loss of a guide, the voice of a conscience, and a symbol of continuity in a rapidly changing world. We extend our huge aroha to our Catholic whānau in Aotearoa, across the Pacific, and across the globe. Your mourning is shared. Your grief is heard.

For billions, we have seen his navigation around complex global crises—from wars, to pandemics, to poverty, to migration, to climate devastation, and to takatāpui issues. While his role was rooted in the traditions of the Catholic Church, it’s an influence that has reached beyond the faithful, affecting geopolitics, indigenous rights, and the spiritual lives of people across many cultures and nations. But, as we reflect on his life, we also take time to reflect on his legacy—not only that of the man but of the institution he led. That is where our responsibilities as leaders of people come into sharp relief.

The Catholic Church, under his watch, faced enormous reckoning. Survivors of abuse—many of them are indigenous people—continue to carry intergenerational pain that was often met with silence, bureaucracy, or denial. The Church’s relationship with colonised peoples—particularly in Canada, Australia, and, yes, Aotearoa—remains unresolved. Our histories, our lands, and our languages were often suppressed in the name of salvation. But we also acknowledge the mana of this pope. Unlike many before him, he did begin to name the pain. He apologised to indigenous peoples in Canada. He denounced what he called the “colonising mentality of the Church”. While it was not enough, it was a beginning. It was a beginning towards a movement of truth. Pope Francis was a champion for many of those who are left behind by global leaders and global movements—those who are marginalised. It is the humility of a great leader to remember those and never leave anyone behind.

Pope Francis showed strong support for Gaza through both action and advocacy. He donated his popemobile to be converted into a mobile health clinic for tamariki—children—in Gaza, providing vital medical services where the health system was devasted. He repeatedly—repeatedly—called for peace, urging a ceasefire, urging for the release of hostages, and urging for humanitarian aid to be able to get through. He personally supported Gaza’s Christian community, phoning the Holy Family Church regularly during the conflict. He respected peace and dignity for all. His final public appeal was a plea for justice and of compassion for the people of Gaza.

Let us use this moment not just to mourn but to commit to his legacy, to commit within ourselves as leaders of Aotearoa to upholding justice over silence, to protecting children and survivors over protecting power, to honouring indigenous spiritual knowledge without the need for erasure or conversion, and to ensuring that we have dignity for our takatāpui community. True faith, whether in Church and whenua or in w’akapapa, does not fear accountability; it embraces it. So we say haere atu rā e te rangatira [farewell, noble leader]. May you rest in peace. Kia tau ngā manaakitanga ki runga i ngā whānau katoa e tangi ana i tēnei wā. Haere, moe mai, moe mai rā.

[May all the families that are grieving at this time be cared for. Farewell, rest in peace.]

Motion agreed to.