Have Your Say

TRANSCRIPT: MEDIA CONFERENCE JOINING SENIOR GOVERNMENT MINISTER SENATOR THE HON DON FARRELL, WITH CHRIS REASON POST REQUIEM MASS FOR POPE FRANCIS, 27 APRIL 2025

27 April 2025

PIAZZALE DEL BRASILE, DEL MUNRO TORTO AND VIA DI PORTA PINCIANA.

E&OE

STARTS: 10:45pm AEST (2.44pm Rome)

ENDS: 11:00pm AEST (3.00pm Rome)

CHRIS REASON:
You have just come from one of the most important events we have seen in recent years, what was the effect on you and how was it?

DON FARRELL:

It was moving, it was solemn, it was inspiring, and we joined more than 200,000 people at Saint Peter’s Basilica to farewell the people’s Pope. There was the Governor General (Sam Moyston), myself and Mr McCormack and our Ambassadors. Just before we went out on the podium, we had an opportunity to say a final farewell to Pope Francis. We were able to touch his clothes and the coffin. On the coffin were written the words lonely but chosen and I think that reflects the humility of Pope Francis but also the beauty of the man we farewelled. I think I speak on behalf of all Australians but particularly the 5 million Australians who are of the Catholic faith that this humble and holy man rest in peace.

CHRIS REASON:

You talk of inspiration, where did that come from?

DON FARRELL:

I think it is the fact that we were at Saint Peter’s Basilica, you have the honour to represent our country on what is on one hand a sad occasion – the passing of the Pope but on the other hand the opportunity to witness this very humble and holy man, to join our god in heaven.

CHRIS REASON:

As you know now those sideline meetings with Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, what were your reflections on that? To know despite the somberness of the funeral there were potential talks for peace. What did you make of that and what would Pope Francis make of that?

DON FARRELL:

I think he would have been delighted that his funeral was an opportunity to bring parties together, our new Cardinal – Cardinal Bychok, yesterday talked about the fact that he had many conversations with Pope Francis about bringing peace to the Ukraine. There is nothing more than we would want to see as a country as a coming together of peace in the Ukraine and the quick withdrawal of Russian resources in that fighting.

CHRIS REASON:

Your personal reflections on what you witnessed this morning.

MICHAEL McCORMACK:
It was a humble service as he was brought back home, and the fact that so many world leaders came together and were talking about peace, Pope Francis had some influence. And the rapturous applause that reverberated from the Saint Peter’s Square right up to where Cardinal Giovanni Re was delivering the homily was something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. The spontaneous applause — it was something to behold.

CHRIS REASON:

And this was a funeral!

MICHAEL McCORMACK:

At a funeral, I’ve been to many, many funerals. I’ve not heard applause like that, a rapturous applause, a loving applause, but a well-deserved applause.

CHRIS REASON:

Where were you both sitting, give us some colour here on who you could see and where abouts in that VIP section were you?

MICHAEL McCORMACK:

I was sitting next to the New Zealand Prime Minister (Christopher Luxon) and on the other side Palestine’s representative – I think that brings home the fact that there are countries in the world that do not necessarily get along and they were there. Like Ukraine it is great that they were able to be there, to have discussions with world leaders to hopefully bring back peaceful resolution.

I was three rows from the front I was so close I could smell the incense wafting through and it was very, very special, very humbling and it is a great privilege and honour to represent the people and the Parliament at this momentous occasion.

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