Sky Tower Lights Turn Off In Honour Of Pope Francis
The Sky Tower will turn off its lights tonight and tomorrow night to honour the passing of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
The move follows a directive from the Prime Minister for the New Zealand Flag to be flown at half-mast on all Government and public buildings on Tuesday 22 April and Wednesday 23 April 2025.
The Sky Tower, a landmark of national significance, will go dark as part of the country's tribute to Pope Francis.
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1News
19-05-2025
- 1News
Pope Leo offers message of unity for polarised Catholic Church
Pope Leo XIV has vowed to work for unity in a polarised Catholic Church and world, as history's first American pope offered a message of healing during an inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square before an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs and princes. Leo officially opened his pontificate by taking his first popemobile tour through the piazza, a rite of passage that has become synonymous with the papacy's global reach and mediatic draw. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary smiled and waved from the back of the truck to people waving U.S., Peruvian and other national flags, and stopped to bless some babies in the crowd. During the Mass, Leo appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him — the lambswool stole over his shoulders and the fisherman's ring on his finger — as if the weight of responsibility of leading the 1.4-billion strong church had just sunk in. He turned his hand to look at the ring and then clasped his hands in front of him in prayer. US Vice President JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died, led the American delegation honouring the Chicago-born Leo. Vance paid his respects at Francis' tomb after arriving in Rome late Saturday. In his homily, Leo said that he wanted to be a servant to the faithful through the two dimensions of the papacy, love and unity, so that the church could be a force for peace in the world. 'I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,' he said. 'In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalises the poorest.' His words echoed some of Francis' key priorities, but his call for unity was significant, given the polarisation in the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond. Francis' radical 12-year pontificate, which emphasised care for the poor and marginalised, and disdain for the capitalist economic system, often alienated conservatives who begged for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's election on May 8, after a remarkably quick 24-hour conclave, appears to have pleased conservative Catholics who seem to appreciate his more disciplined, traditional style and Augustinian background, emphasising core truths of Catholic doctrine. Leo drove that message home by wearing the papacy's formal red cape, or mozzetta, to receive Vance and official government delegations after the Mass. Francis had eschewed many of the formalities of the papacy as part of his simple style, but Leo's return to the traditional garb has pleased conservatives and traditionalists, who breathed a sigh of relief when he came out onto the loggia wearing the red cape on May 8. But Leo did break protocol when he gave his older brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described political 'MAGA-type,' a bear hug in the basilica when he and his wife came up to greet the pope. 'Let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,' Leo said. Strict diplomatic protocol dictated the seating arrangements at the inaugural Mass, with both the US and Peru getting front-row seats thanks to Leo's dual citizenship. Vance, a Catholic convert who tangled with Francis over the Trump administration's mass migrant deportation plans, was joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Rome ahead of time to try to advance Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was one of around a dozen heads of state who attended, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia had planned to send its culture minister, but was represented by its ambassador, reports said. Diplomatic protocol also dictated the dress code: While most wore black, a handful of Catholic royals — Queen Letizia of Spain and Princess Charlene of Monaco, among others — wore white in a special privilege allowed them. Three dozen of the world's other Christian churches sent representatives, the Jewish community had a 13-member delegation, half of them rabbis. Other representatives headed Buddhist, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Sikh and Jain delegations. Security was tight, as it was for Francis' funeral on April 26, which drew an estimated 250,000 people. The Vatican said that 200,000 were on hand Sunday in the piazza and surrounding streets, parks and piazzas, where giant television screens and portable toilets were set up. At the end of the Mass, Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza — children, families and older people who are 'reduced to starvation,' he said. Leo made no mention of hostages taken by Hamas from southern Israel on October 7, 2023, as Francis usually did when praying for Gaza. Zelensky later had a formal audience with Leo at the Vatican, and then met with Vance and Rubio at the US residence in Rome. In a post on X, Zelensky said that he stressed the need for a 'full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible' and for diplomatic pressure on Russia 'until they are eager to stop the war.'
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- NZ Herald
First US pope Leo XIV to celebrate inaugural Mass
After spending two decades as missionary in Peru, the 69-year-old from Chicago is unknown to many Catholics, but during the past week he has offered glimpses of the kind of leader he will be. In meetings with journalists, clergy and diplomats, he has repeatedly called for peace in a world full of conflicts, and defended social justice. In a lighter moment, the sports fan and amateur tennis player also met men's world No 1 Jannik Sinner at the Vatican. Zelenskyy, Merz Leo's elevation has sparked huge enthusiasm in the US, which is being represented by Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic. Before becoming Pope, the new pontiff on his personal X account criticised President Donald Trump's Administration over its approach to migration, and also pilloried Vance, but those messages have since been deleted. Vance was the last world leader to meet Pope Francis, the day before the Argentine died on April 21 after 12 years as pontiff. Other notable guests expected include Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – who memorably met Trump in St Peter's Basilica at Francis' funeral – and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Argentine President Javier Milei, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Colombia's Gustavo Petro and a host of European royals are also due to attend. Italian authorities have deployed thousands of security officers for the event, alongside snipers on rooftops and anti-drone operations. Fisherman's ring Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope on May 8 after a secret conclave vote of cardinals that lasted less than 24 hours. Succeeding the charismatic and impulsive Pope Francis, he takes over a Church still battling the fallout of the clerical child abuse scandal, and trying to adapt to the modern world. Modernity is not the concern today, however. Although no pope has been crowned during an inauguration Mass since Paul VI in 1963, the event is still a grand affair steeped in tradition. Leo will begin by visiting the tomb of Saint Peter – who in the Christian tradition was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the first pope – which is located under the altar of the basilica that bears his name. Leo will then receive the pontifical emblems – the pallium, a strip of cloth worn over the chasuble, his robe, and the fisherman's ring, which is forged anew for each pope and which he will wear on his finger until he dies, when it will be destroyed. With other cardinals and clergy, the pope will walk in procession into St Peter's Square, where large screens will display the proceedings to the gathered crowds. At the end of the ceremony, the pope will greet the delegations of heads of state – although it is not clear yet if any of them will also be accorded a one-to-one private audience.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Pope Leo to take charge of Catholic Church
Pope Leo XIV will formally take up his role as leader of the global Catholic Church on Sunday, with a Mass in St Peter's Square that will draw tens of thousands of well-wishers, including dozens of world leaders and European royalty. Crowds are expected to cram the Square in the Vatican and surrounding streets in Rome for the formal celebration, which starts at 10am (local time) and includes the first ride in the white popemobile by Leo, the first pope from the United States. Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff spent many years as a missionary in Peru and also has Peruvian citizenship, meaning he is also the first pope from that South American nation. Robert Prevost, a relative unknown on the world stage who only became a cardinal two years ago, was elected pope on May 8 after a short conclave of cardinals that lasted barely 24 hours. He replaces Pope Francis, from Argentina, who died on April 21 after leading the Church for 12 often turbulent years during which he battled with traditionalists and championed the poor and marginalised. US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert who clashed with Francis over the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, will lead a US delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will also attend and would be happy to meet other leaders, a top aide has said, as he did at Francis' funeral when he had face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump in St Peter's Basilica. Zelenskiy last met Vance in February in the White House, when the two men clashed fiercely in front of the world's media. Also expected at the Vatican ceremony are the presidents of Peru, Israel and Nigeria, the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Australia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Many European royals will also be in the VIP seats near the main altar, including Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia. Focus on peace In various sermons and comments since his election as pope, Leo has praised Francis repeatedly but has not offered many hints about whether he will continue with the late pontiff's vision of opening the Church up to the modern world. His homily on Sunday is likely to indicate some of the priorities for his papacy, having already made clear over the past 10 days that he will push for peace whenever possible. His first words in an appearance to crowds in St Peter's Square on the night of his election were "Peace be with you all," echoing words Catholics use in their celebrations. In a May 14 address to officials of the eastern Catholic Churches, many of whom are based in global hot spots such as Ukraine and the Middle East, the new pope pledged he would make "every effort" for peace. He also offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was "never inevitable". Sunday's Mass will feature prayers in several languages, in a nod to the global reach of the 1.4-billion member Church, including Latin, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese. As part of the ceremony, Leo will also formally receive two items as he takes up the papacy: a liturgical vestment known as a pallium, a strip of lambswool which represents his role as a shepherd, and a special band known as the fisherman's ring. The ceremonial gold signet ring is specially cast for each new pope and can be used by Leo to seal documents. It features a design of St Peter holding the keys to Heaven and will be broken after his death, marking an end to his papacy. Pope expected to live at Apostolic Palace Pope Leo is expected to live in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, unlike Francis who shunned the palace in favour of a Vatican hotel, according to several Vatican officials. The papal apartments occupy the top floor of the palace, a 16th century building that overlooks St Peter's Square. They feature about 10 rooms, including a bedroom, private library and study, dining room, kitchen and chapel. Renovation works at the palace are under way and Leo was expected to move in some time after the Mass on Sunday, a senior Vatican official told Reuters, asking not to be identified. Another official said the Vatican thought it would be easier to provide security for the new pope at the palace than at the hotel facility where Francis lived. Leo has been living in an apartment that he previously used at the building that houses the Vatican's doctrinal office near St Peter's.
