PM recalls private Pope meeting with awe

Helen Clark says many people admired the Pope's work for peace and democracy. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

An audience with Pope John Paul II in his private library was an awesome experience, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

She reflected on her May 2004 meeting with the Pope after expressing her deep sadness on learning of his death.

"As a person, I think what impressed me is his courage in performing his duties when clearly his health was frail," she said.

Helen Clark and husband Peter Davis had a 15-minute audience with the Pope last May during a tour to commemorate 50 years since the battle of Monte Cassino.

The Pope was suffering severely from Parkinson's disease but still receiving diplomatic visitors.

Helen Clark said the Pope was frail, but his mind was sharp. They spoke about peace and disarmament, with a particular emphasis on the Pope's concerns about the situation in the Middle East.

After the audience, Helen Clark said the Pope gave a speech to the media during which he praised the political actions of New Zealand.

"I recognise and acknowledge him as one of the towering figures of the 20th century.

"[The Pope's death] is the end of an era. A chapter closes and a new chapter opens, people will look at his life and see what a remarkable life it was."

Helen Clark offered condolences to the Holy See and to Catholics here and around the world.

"The Pope's death is a time of great sorrow for all those worldwide who have admired and respected his work for global peace, democracy and equality. These great causes and challenges of our times have all been the beneficiary of his powerful advocacy.

"Despite his ill-health in recent years his mind remained as vital and strong as it had ever been," she said.

Flags flying on public buildings were lowered to half-mast yesterday and will be lowered today and on the day of the Pope's funeral.

Formal messages from the Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, and the Prime Minister were being sent to the Holy See and to the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

A decision on who would represent this country at the Pope's funeral would be made in the next few days, Helen Clark said.

In Auckland, the Prime Minister told young pupils at a new Catholic primary school in Silverdale that they would remember yesterday for the rest of their lives as the day the world almost stopped still.

She said pupils should remember the Pope for his message of peace and democracy.

National Party Leader Don Brash said Pope John Paul II had left the world with a legacy which would always be remembered.

He was referring to the key role the Pope played in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989.

"John Paul's unwavering support for democracy in Poland is credited with starting a wave of freedom that saw the collapse of Marxist regimes right across Europe," Dr Brash said.

"His faith in the cause, and his strength in the face of strong criticism effectively brought an end to the repressive regimes that had trapped so many millions of people for so long.

"For that he will never be forgotten. And for that the entire world owes him their respect and thanks," Dr Brash said.

* Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger met the Pope four times, in Rome and New Zealand.

Besides the Pope's "piercing blue eyes" the main thing that struck Mr Bolger about him was his personality.

"He was one of the most impressive people I have ever met."

- STAFF REPORTERS, NZPA