Anthony Albanese pays tribute to Pope Francis

Australian Community Media

"His was a papacy of firsts", the Prime Minister said, whilst declaring that flags would be lowered to half-mast in recognition of the Pope's passing on Easter Monday.

Transcript

00:00Today the prayers of more than a billion people, from all nations and every walk of life, go

00:07with Pope Francis to his rest.

00:11Born in Argentina in 1936 and ordained a priest in 1969, Pope Francis' fellow Cardinals elected

00:21him Pope in 2013.

00:26This was a papacy of firsts, the first Pope to hail from the Americas, the first Jesuit

00:32Pope and the first to take the name of that great champion of the poor, Saint Francis of

00:40Assisi.

00:42Pope Francis' compassion embraced all humanity and today he will be mourned by Catholics and

00:50non-Catholics alike.

00:53He urged us to remember all we hold in common and he asked the world to hear the cry of

00:59the earth, our common home.

01:03He invited world leaders to join him and, to quote him,

01:08emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future

01:18into the dawn of a new and radiant day.

01:24He was very much a modernist.

01:31His message that he sent out echoed in our region during his historic visit to Indonesia, Papua New

01:40Guinea, Singapore and Timor-Leste.

01:44The first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere was close to the people of Australia.

01:50For Australian Catholics he was a devoted champion and loving father.

01:56Pope Francis lived out his faith and vocation in word and deed.

02:01He was truly inspirational.

02:04In his modest way of life and at his weekly audiences he demonstrated his commitment to

02:11peace, equality and inclusion.

02:15Pope Francis' love for humanity was powerful and profound.

02:20The memory and example of his compassion will long endure.

02:26As we mourn his death we celebrate the gift of his life and presence among us and we hold

02:32on to the resonant truth of Pope Francis' final Easter homily.

02:40The light quietly shines forth even though we are in darkness.

02:46The promise of new life and a world finally set free awaits us and a new beginning, however

02:52impossible it might seem, can take us by surprise for Christ has triumphed over death.

03:02May God welcome Pope Francis to eternal life.

03:08I have asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that all flags from the Commonwealth

03:17Government of Australia will fly at half-mast tomorrow as a sign of respect and my sincere

03:26condolences to everyone who for tonight it will be a very difficult evening.

03:38God bless you!

03:40God bless you!

03:43Thank you!

03:46Thank you very much.

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