Good afternoon,
The sadness of death of Pope Francis is now an opportunity to reset ourselves and perhaps consider in what ways could we move in our personal, social and communal lives to emulate Pope Francis. We saw a wonderful spectacle at his funeral where his person and life was celebrated.
What stood out for me was his fidelity to his call and how right to the end at 88 years of age he was still ministering and concerned for people. As the commentaries continue there is an air of expectation – who will be the next Pope. It is like so much of modern life “that’s over what is next?” For me, Francis had much to teach me, us and if I am honest this man’s life was full of teachable moments; in challenging and urging us to get back to being authentic, compassionate and humble. Qualities that stand the test of time and lead to us to a relational life with trust, hope and faith.
As we move forward there are people who will come onto our radar as possible candidates for leader of the Catholic Church. I think there is a common thread from all walks of life we need a leader who will continue the work, spirit and commitment to Francis’ vision and make it their own. There are those who wish to go back to certainty but for me personally it’s a case of been there and done that. We are in a world where there is a breakdown of truth and the values that underpin humanity. Power and prestige are the commodities on offer and as always these play out in favour of the rich and powerful.
We have a world where poverty and genuine loss has and is experienced in every country. Our hearts are burned in the knowledge that we feel powerless and we need a reminder that our core values of justice, peace, forgiveness and mercy will lead us out of this misery. Yes, it will cost. We will be ridiculed and mocked but, if we stand with people like Francis, we see sorrow, turning to joy.
Below are a couple of links that will show a Cardinal who is emulating Francis in his own way and has done for many years. There are others too but let’s share in the refreshing attitude and mindset of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Cardinal Tagle cries recounting 2 stories at PCNE https://youtu.be/Ml3FI51jSUc?si=M61tzR9b5HTYdHIU
Cardinal Tagle interview 2019 before he was appointed to Rome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26MUGmh9OEo
(Story) What do you want to become? : https://youtu.be/XCskPHTZxHo?si=Ero5r8St3ZZqoktS
Cardinal Tagle Is the Forerunner to Succeed Pope Francis but One Thing Stands in His Way. By Vinay Patel @VinayPBPatel (24th April 2025)
Eyes across the Catholic world are turning towards Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Many see him as a strong candidate to follow Pope Francis. Yet, a single factor—his age—casts a shadow on this possibility, sparking a debate about succession and the future of the Church.
With Pope Francis’s death at the age of 88, the global focus has shifted to who will take his place. Determining who will be selected as the next leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics is known to be quite challenging.
Fundamentally, any baptised Catholic man could be chosen as Pope. In reality, the next Pope will probably come from the group of cardinals who will meet in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel for the confidential papal election called the conclave.
Papal Succession: A Game of Global Intrigue
When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, hardly anyone in the Vatican thought Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina would become Pope Francis. With no clear front-runners this time, predicting the outcome is even tougher.
However, the Vatican corridors are buzzing with names of potential ‘papabile,’ individuals considered strong contenders for the papacy. Their different homelands showcase the extensive global influence of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is among the names being circulated for consideration. His respected standing and significant Vatican responsibilities have made him a prominent figure in these discussions despite the age-related considerations surrounding his candidacy.
Cardinal Tagle: The Humble Reformer
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a name commonly heard among liberal Catholics, is leading the betting markets and potentially becoming the first Asian Pope. Born in Manila, Philippines, on 21 June 1957, his good humour and reformist ideas have earned him the nickname ‘the Asian Francis.’
Mirroring Pope Francis’s humble nature, his room at the seminary in the Philippines had no air conditioning or television for around twenty years. Even after becoming a bishop, Cardinal Tagle chose not to have a car, opting to travel to work by bus or ‘jeepney,’ a popular public vehicle in the Philippines.
Cardinal Tagle has often expressed more liberal political leanings, much like Pope Francis, and, according to a report in The Independent, has been critical of the Church’s approach and wording regarding gay individuals, unmarried mothers, and Catholics who have divorced and remarried.
Speaking Up For The Marginalised
”The harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers [and so on], in the past, they were quite severe,’ he said in 2015. ‘Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society.”
‘Five or six years ago, he was Pope Francis’s favourite to succeed him,’ Edward Pentin, a Vatican expert and the author of The Next Pope: The Leading Cardinal Candidates, said. ‘He’s head of the important new super-dicastery for evangelisation. He’s quite a strong contender. And he’s still relatively young,’ Pentin added.
The College of Cardinals Report indicates that in 2019, Pope Francis asked Tagle to reside in Rome as prefect of the respected congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Subsequently, the congregation was restructured, and Tagle’s new role was announced as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation
Furthermore, in 2020, the Pope elevated Tagle to the status of cardinal-bishop, a promotion that many saw as an indication that the Filipino cardinal was a preferred successor at the time.
Will His Age Work Against Him?
However, Cardinal Tagle’s age might be a disadvantage. Cardinals often hesitate to choose a comparatively young individual because their time as Pope could extend for many years, potentially hindering other cardinals’ aspirations and reducing their own opportunities for election later on.
While Cardinal Tagle remains a prominent name, the landscape of potential papal candidates includes several other individuals whose names frequently circulate within Vatican circles.
Other Leading Contenders
Despite the absence of a dominant candidate, which complicates any attempt to guess the outcome, the internet is abuzz with the names of several cardinals who are considered to be in the running:
10 Potential Papal Selections – https://youtu.be/FS1BfqV5Geo?si=glfyhw4aCYawOz2f
Keep May 7th Is a time for reflection and prayer as the church contemplates the election of a new Pope
May the heart of Jesus inspire the church going forward
Have a good week – God go with you, Paul
Scripture reflection for Third Sunday of Easter Year C, 4 may.
It is the Lord
May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of Resurrection.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Responsorial psalm: Psalm 29(30):2, 4-6, 11-13
Second reading: Apocalypse 5:11-14
Gospel: John 21:1-19
Link to readings – click here
As we continue the Easter season, today’s joy-filled readings speak of the meaning of discipleship, both in our personal relationship with Jesus and in our relationships with other people.
The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit (First Reading), continue to proclaim the teachings of Jesus. When confronted by the religious leaders, they insist on obeying God rather than any human authority. The joy of the apostles is based on their faith that God will change our ‘mourning into dancing’, as the Psalm of praise and thanksgiving proclaims. Our merciful God will lift us from our troubles.
The Second Reading presents a vision of heavenly worship, with every creature in the universe praising Jesus as the risen Lamb that was slain: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!’ John recounts Jesus’s third post-Resurrection meeting with the disciples, who have returned to their old ways of fishing (Gospel). Jesus calls to them at dawn, guiding them to a miraculous catch, followed by a shared breakfast. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, instructing him to care for his followers.
As we ponder these texts as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, we pray for a spirit of justice and generosity in all situations of conflict, injustice and poverty in our world.
Formation: As stated in the last newsletter as part of this Jubilee Year Paul will be offering to visit parishes and or regions to conduct a mini formation using two talks and discussion/sharing opportunities – one on ‘Belonging’ and the “On Being Church – Why community matters?”. If you or your community or region would like a presentation please let Paul know and dates that would suit you.
At this stage Hawkes Bay are booked for May 10th. Mt Maunganui and Whakatane 26th & 27th July and Ashburton August 9th and Christchurch August 10th for Formation
We had a very good turnout for East Coast Bays Formation and the PP attended and was very positive about the evening and we have been invited back. Shelley and Graham Ward did a great job promoting and organising the evening. They received three families wanting to join and another couple who want to chat further.
Reflections of the PFG meetings:
- The death of Pope Francis invites us to see that our call to Christianity is not bound by our pensioner card rather by our call to follow Jesus! Francis was still ministering to those around him at 88n years of age. The gospel requires commitment to the values of building community.
- While we have some green shoots we are also experiencing the ageing effects of PFG’s and the lack of new blood so to speak. Illnesses and sickness have meant that we have lost PFG members and the result is grief and loss.
- There are questions of how to engage with the other cultures that now dominate the pews of our churches. We have to find ways of understanding their faith and culture without expecting them to follow ours.
- Many have started the year slowly but are organising their planning for the year. This is critical for us to function.
- We would do well to move to having ‘connections’ within our group rather than worrying about the next function. Involve people through passing on our contact lists and each week find someone you haven’t spoken to and give then a call. This is a positive process for those house bound
- Many have been isolated and just plodding along but there was a sense that we need to promote and move out to engage with our faith communities.
- There is enthusiasm for ‘relaunching PFG’s in parishes and the need to invite and speak to all about PFG;s and be welcoming.
- There is energy to engage with PP’s and Pastoral Councils to support promotion and relaunches of PFG’s.
- In his role Paul wishes to seek to find ways to support, enthuse and encourage support and growth but it is something we all have to work on and with. Our call is to be family and through care, hope, faith and love for one another we can and will be the difference in sustaining and creating community.
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Safeguarding: “Working Together for a Safe Church”
Any complaints should be directed through the National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS) or report directly to the New Zealand Police
or Oranga Tamariki.
Phone: 03 365 1993 or 0800 114 622
Email: prof.standards@nzcbc.org.nz
www.safeguarding.catholic.org.nz
or concerns or complaint20800
Please remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please remember Deidre Lynch whose husband Tom died this week. Tom and Deidre have been long time supporters and engaged in Passionist Family Groups. Please keep the family in your prayer.
- Please remember Pauline Prendergast whose husband Michael fell in while visiting family in Melbourne and died last Tuesday week.. Our thoughts are with the family and Pauline
- Remember brother in law and uncle Michael of the Bartells family
- Please remember Maggi Gribble whose brother Peter died on Tuesday April 1st. Maggi is now is the last of her seven siblings. Remember her family and Charlie.
- Please keep Linda Darbyshire and family in your prayer.
- Please remember Jocelyn Bryant, Kev and family in your prayer.
- Robyn Burns (Hill;) –.. Our thoughts and prayer are with Robyn as she recovers slowly. We also remember, her husband Andrew and their children
- Remember Rencha who is dealing with cancer.
- Please remember Sean and Ann Mulcahy who are both battling major health issues
- Lease keep Di Buckley in your prayer she is recovering from a stroke
- Christine Geoghegan daughter Kate and extended families
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Rod Carson and remember Pat and family; Maureen and Graeme Matthews;; Adrian van de Pas and her son Robert ; Graeme and Margaret Armstrong
- Jenny Epplett, Preston, Kate and family ;
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill;
- Clair and Ray Hague;
- Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ; Bryan Davidson;
- Tim Bartell’s son Sam and family ; Richard and Sue Gibbs;
- Charlie and Maggi and their daughter and her partner in prayer.
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health;; Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer along with the people of the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan and Syria.
- Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew;
- Please keep in your prayers those who continue to deal with the after effects of droughts on the horn of Africa. Also weather effects on other countries across the planet
- Please pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill)
.
- Your own intentions
We pray the Jubilee Prayer for ourselves and our world.
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Humour:
- Did you hear about the stolen dog collar? Police are looking for leads.
- Have you ever heard of “quiet tennis?” It’s the same as regular tennis but without the racket.
- Why should you borrow money from pessimists? They never expect to get it back.
- What did the duck say to the waiter when he brought the check? “Just put it on my bill.”
- I really love the word “plethora.” It means a lot to me.
- Why did the guy get fired from the calendar factory? He took a day off.
- What do you call someone who raises hens? A chicken tender.
We are a “Family for All”