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Pacific Cardinals Heading To Rome For Vatican Conclave
Koroi
Hawkins, RNZ Pacific Editor
Christina
Persico, RNZ Pacific Bulletin Editor
Two cardinals will be representing Pacific Island countries at the conclave in the Vatican to elect the new pope.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday morning, local time, aged 88.
The pope's death prompts a period of mourning, after which all cardinals under the age of 80 will convene to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote, although they can take part in the conclave.
There are currently 252 cardinals, 138 of whom are cardinal electors.
Cardinal Mafi of Tonga and Cardinal Ribat of Papua New Guinea will travel to Rome to take part.
The Vatican confirmed Cardinal Mafi's participation in the conclave to RNZ, and the Catholic church in Papua New Guinea has confirmed travel arrangements are being made for Cardinal Ribat to travel to Rome.
The Bishop of Lae in Papua New Guinea Rosario Menezes said Pope Francis, who visited the country in September last year, has done a lot for the church in PNG.
"This is our privilege, also because of Pope Francis, we have the first cardinal in the person of Cardinal John Ribat," Menezes said.
"By appointing him as a cardinal, he has put the Catholic church in PNG on the world map, giving us the confidence that even though we are a missionary church here, we can contribute a lot to the universal church.
"We are very proud that PNG can also be part of the part of choosing the next leader of the Catholic church."
Pacific leaders have joined those from around the world in paying tribute to the late pope.
Papua New Guinea's prime minister James Marape said the pope's death is a loss to all humanity.
"He was a spiritual father to over a billion Catholics around the world and a moral voice of conscience in times of global uncertainty," Marape said.
The pope had visited PNG in September last year, and Marape said his words and presence inspired the people, reminding them to care for the
vulnerable, to act justly, and to walk humbly with God.
"During his time in Port Moresby and Vanimo, Pope Francis brought a message of unity, inclusion, and hope."
The Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, said the late pope was "a man of deep humility and unwavering faith".
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the legacy of faith, compassion, and service that Francis leaves behind will continue to inspire generations within and beyond the Catholic Church.
The head of Fiji's Catholic Church, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, said the pontiff would move around in his wheelchair with a sense of humour, joy, and comfort.
He said the Pope embraced his own vulnerability, often asking people to pray for him.
Father Paulo Filoiali'i from Samoa was the first Pacific islander to study in Rome, and Samoan Mass was celebrated for the first time in the Vatican at his ordination in 1990.
He said Pope Francis, then a Jesuit priest, was his teacher in spirituality.
Father Paulo said to him, Francis was not only a Pope but a Father.
Real or fake
Menezes said they have been flooded with phone calls and messages from people wanting to confirm the news of the Pope's death.
He said earlier this year when the Pope fell ill, there were a lot fake posts about his death being circulated on social media.
"We had to call a press conference to make it clear to the people that when Pope dies, there are protocols to follow, and we will get the news from the Vatican," he said.
"To make sure that it is true, there were many calls in the evenings and just to confirm that it is true. So people have been very much saddened, and the condolences are pouring in."
Pope Francis' body will be taken into St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning at 0700 GMT, in a procession that will be led by cardinals. He will lie in state there until Friday evening.
His funeral service will be held at 10:00am the following day in St Peter's Square, in front of the 16th century basilica. It will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals.
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