Latest news with #Leung-Wai
1News
26-04-2025
- General
- 1News
Kiwi family among last to pay respects to late Pope Francis
A trip to Rome to take part in Catholic commemorations over Easter for the Leung-Wai family has become a mission to pay tribute to their church leader Pope Francis. 'It is very important for all of us and I will definitely keep this as something for the rest of my life,' Fatima Leung-Wai told 1News. Leung-Wai and her siblings woke early to join the masses and pay their respects to the pontiff lying in state. 'It was really emotional and moving and sad at the same time but also really important and beautiful. Just to see him there…' Since then, the family has been preparing for the Pope's funeral, packing water bottles, food and warm clothes for their parents, who have also made the trip. Around 300,000 people are expected to be in Rome for the event. 'It wasn't planned for this. No, we came for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and Easter and Holy Week as well as gifting our parents the opportunity to come to Rome and Italy,' Leung-Wai said. 'My parents are from Samoa, they worked hard, they're faithful Catholics, part of the Legion of Mary and we wanted to take them, go as a family before we move on with our own lives.' Her sister Ann-Margaret is still processing the moment in history they've found themselves to be a part of. 'I'm just in shock, I'm still processing that I'm here in Rome… but then hearing the death of Pope Francis is just even another thing I wasn't expected but I'm grateful to be here,' she said. The sisters have met Pope Francis before, nine years ago at the Catholic World Youth Day in Poland. Fatima had lunch with the Pope. 'He has created a massive impact, reaching the marginalised, the poor, the people in prison , those in hospital so I was very much happy to meet him.' Ann-Margaret was meant to be part of a walk with the Pope, but he extended his time with the group of young people. 'We were only meant to walk with Pope Francis but he ended up changing the plan, shaking our hands, telling us to go on the popemobile, go for a ride.' 'He was just loving and he felt like my grandma... so much love." On attending the funeral, Ann-Margaret says it's another opportunity to represent the Catholic faithful in New Zealand. 'I do feel like (we're) representing Oceania and those that can't make it that aren't here. People always ask where we're from and we say New Zealand or Samoa.' The Leung-Wai family were in Rome to take part in Catholic commemorations over Easter. (Source: 1News) A small group of Catholic New Zealanders will be at the Pope's funeral, including some that live here in Rome in church roles. Cardinal John Dew will be in attendance before representing New Zealand in the conclave process to elect the next Pope. 'It's daunting to think we have the responsibility of electing someone to be the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church but at the same time, it's a real privilege,' he said. Dew said while he's focused on the funeral, he's also preparing for the election process – the first he's taken part in. 'I have some people in mind who I think would be good. I mean, some I know better than others and some I've heard things that they've said but at the same time, I have an open mind to be listening.' He said New Zealanders are praying for him as he prepares for the task and he's received hundreds of supportive texts since news of the Pope's death. 'I do feel that I have incredible support from people.' Dew said seeing the reaction of people to the Pope's death in Rome has moved him. 'I just couldn't believe the number of people, thousands of people who were lining up to go into the basilica to see the Pope's body and I thought this is just saying something incredible about him and the way people held him in such esteem.' Dew said he's been reflecting on the impact of the Pope's service, comparing his act of duty to that of Queen Elizabeth's. 'It's something which obviously it took every moment of Pope Francis' life and he gave his every ounce of energy.'
RNZ News
25-04-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Samoan nun recalls meeting Pope Francis
Sister Susana Vaifale (left) and Michael Muller at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Mike is a parishioner at St Cecilia Church in Tustin Photo: Orange County Catholic The doors of St Peters basilica have now been closed, ahead of preparations for tonight's funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican says a quarter of a million people have paid respects to Pope Francis in the last three days. Sister Susana Vaifale of the Missionaries of Faith has lived in Rome for more than ten years and worked at the Vatican's St Peter's parish office. She told Pacific Waves that when she met the Pope in 2022 for an "ad limina" visit with the bishops from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, she was lost for words. "When I was there in front of him, it's like a blur, I couldn't say anything," she said. Sister Vaifale said although she was speechless, she thought of her community back home in Samoa. "In my heart, I brought everyone, I mean my country, my people and myself. So, in that time... I was just looking at him and I said, 'my goodness' I'm here, I'm in front of the Pope, Francis... the leader of the Catholic Church." Sister Vaifale said she was at the Easter celebration in St Peter's Square where Pope Francis made his last public appearance. However, the next day it was announced that Pope Francis died. The news shattered Sister Vaifale who was on the train when she heard what had happened. "Oh, I cried, yeah I cried... until now I am very emotional, very sad." "He passed at 7:30... I am very sad but like we say in Samoa: 'maliu se toa ae toe tula'i mai se toa'.. so, it's all in God's hands." Siblings pay final respects Pope Francis with Fatima Leung Wai in Krakow, Poland in 2016 Photo: Fatima Leung Wai The Leung-Wai family from South Auckland are in Rome and joined the long queue to pay their final respects to Pope Francis lying in state at St Peter's Basilica. Fatima Leung-Wai along with her siblings Martin and Ann-Margaret are proud of their Catholic faith and are active parishioners at St Peter Chanel church in Clover Park. The family's Easter trip to Rome was initially for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis - a young Italian boy who died at the age of 15 to leukemia and is touted to be the first millennial saint. Leung Wai siblings in St Peter's Basilica were among the thousands paying their final respects to Pope Francis Photo: Leung Wai family Plans changed as soon as they heard the news of the Pope's death. Ms Leung-Wai said it took an hour and a half for her and her siblings to see the Pope in the basilica and the crowd numbers at St Peter's Square gets bigger each day. Despite only seeing Pope Francis' body for a moment, Ms Leung-Wai said she was blessed to have met him in 2016 for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. She said Pope Francis was well-engaged with the youth. "I was blessed to have lunch with him nine years ago," Ms Leung-Wai said. "Meeting him at that time he was like a grandpa, he was like very open and warm and very much interested in what the young people and what we had to say." Leung Wai siblings with their parents, mum Lesina, and dad Aniseko Photo: Leung Wai family
