新西兰唯一的一位主教出席了教父弗朗西斯的葬礼

New Zealand's only cardinal, John Dew, expressed his deep honor in attending the funeral of Pope Francis. In Vatican City, thousands gathered at St Peter’s Basilica to mourn this former leader of the Catholic Church who served for 12 years, passing away last week.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as U.S. former president Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the funeral ceremony. Cardinal Dew emphasized that people express deep remembrance of Pope Francis' passing and hope for his peace.

Cardinal Dew noted:

"St Peter’s Square was extremely crowded, with everyone along the sides. It was fascinating to see 50 heads of state attending the funeral, a figure that has never occurred before in Pope Francis' history."

From Cardinal Dew's perspective during the Mass, President Macron, Trump, Prince William and Zelenskyy stood beside him, which made him feel deeply moved by Pope Francis' influence. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described attending the funeral as "a very precious experience" in an interview with 1News.

Cardinal Dew stated that the Mass itself was庄重而优雅, showcasing Pope Francis' life through prayer, language and music. He added that when he announced the names of the saints during the Mass, the entire church seemed to fall silent momentarily.

Cardinal Dew also estimated that the decision on the next pope will be made within a week, beginning the election process.

Cardinal Dew expressed:

"This is an extremely daunting task, but I know that global prayer has given me great support. This makes it an honor for me."

He emphasized that the next pope must be a man of firm faith, one who lives out the teachings of the Gospel and inspires others to follow in his footsteps.

"I am the third New Zealander to vote on the College of Cardinals for the papal election."