SUBJECTS: Pope’s Funeral.
STARTS: 11.35am
ENDS: 11:41AM
GEORGIA ROBINSON:
How are you feeling about going to Rome for the Pope’s Funeral?
MICHAEL McCORMACK:
It is an incredible honour, a rare privilege. Of course, it will be a time of sadness. Catholics around the world indeed Catholics in Australia, the thousands of Catholics across the Riverina are deep in mourning for their beloved Pope. Pope Francis has been somebody who has inspired so many, he has been a humble man, his funeral shows the humility that he had and that he lived all his life with. Even in death he is still taking the humble contrite way. He was a man of forgiveness, a man who brought compassion to the world. Catholics around the world will no doubt be tuned in to watch the service from St Peter’s Square. I will be privileged to have a front row seat into something that is quite momentous, it is part of world history. I am very privileged to be going along with the Governor General Sam Moyston, Senior Government Minister Senator Don Farral and Ambassador Designate for the Holy Sea Keith Pitt. With whom I have obviously spent a lot of time with in Canberra, in Cabinet together and being Parliamentary colleagues and Mr Pitt has taken up that role for the next three years. It will be a big opportunity for him, a lot of the people he will be meeting in that role as we deal with a successor for Pope Francis. Keith will obviously play a part in that whole process from Australis point of view and he will be representing us on the world stage in that regard.
GEORGIA ROBINSON:
It must feel like quite an honour to go and represent Australia and the Riverina.
MICHAEL McCORMACK:
It is an honour; I am very humbled by it. I have reached out to Bishop Mark Edwards at the Wagga Wagga Diocese, and he has given me some religious artefacts to take with me on my journey to Rome. He has given me a couple crosses which I will then return to the Diocese headquarters McLeroy House, which will then be on display for Catholics who go in there for whatever reason to see into the future as part of the Riverina’s representation in Rome. And I am representing the Parliament, the Australian people and I am representing Catholics.