About 600 people attended the formal national memorial mass for Pope Francis in Palmerston North on Sunday night. Photo: Supplied / Gavin Abraham
The late Pope Francis has been remembered in New Zealand as a man who wanted to be with his people, even in his final hours.
The image of the 88-year-old making his final public appearance on Easter Sunday was at the forefront of the late pontiff's national memorial mass in Palmerston North on Sunday night.
About 600 people, including representatives from other faiths, attended the service at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, which has just marked its centenary.
Stephen Lowe, the president of the New Zealand Bishops Conference and Bishop of Auckland, spoke about the pope's last appearance - the day before his death on Easter Monday - leaving its mark.
"He was called first of all to be a simple man, just like the simple fisherman that Jesus chose to lead his church.
"Didn't we see that on that night on the balcony when he came out and he said, 'Brothers and sisters, good evening'," Bishop Lowe said.
Bishop Stephen Lowe spoke about the late pope's final public appearance. Photo: Supplied / Gavin Abraham
"He bowed down before the crowds and asked them to pray for him, a man of humility, a man who taught us to look for God in the peripheries - not just in faraway lands, but in people with different realities to our own."
Those who RNZ spoke with at the service remembered Pope Francis for his sense of justice and his compassion.
"I admire the guy. He was man for the poor," one man said.
"Pope Francis was an absolute inspiration for our young people, for the world... He was real," one woman said.
Another man spoke about the pope's humble beginnings and said he turned out on Sunday night to honour his work.
Bishop of Palmerston North John Adams was proud to host the mass.
"It was a happy coincidence that all the bishops are meeting here this week, so after Pope Francis' care for the environment, us flying around somewhere else [wouldn't work].
"We thought we'd make use of the fact we were all here."
Bishop John Adams briefly met Pope Francis last year and said he was struck by his charisma. Photo: Supplied / Gavin Abraham
Bishop Adams was appointed to the role last year, and as part of that briefly met Pope Francis.
"I was struck by the power of his charisma. He had eyes that seemed to flash, if you know what I mean," he said.
"I mentioned to him I was from New Zealand and he gave a whistling noise, knowing that I'd come halfway around the world to see him, so he was very gracious. He was a beautiful man."
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