1.
GV Pope Paul in state at Castel gandolfo.
0.16

2.
SCU Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Hume speaking in English
1.35

3.
CU Portrait of Pope TILT DOWN TO plaque at Regina Mundi Cathedral in Soweto.
1.50

4.
SV Father Theophilus Malotsa talking.
2.06

5.
SCU Father Stanley Tebele talking.
2.40


REPORTER: "What do you feel were his achievements during his time in office?"



HUME: "Very difficult I think when a man has just died and under the pressures that kind of event to make an accurate assessment. There's a thing that stands out most clearly in my mind from my personal contact with him is the great holiness of the man. He really was a very holy person. And I think that kind of influence has a far greater effect than can ever be measured by historians or sociologists or others. or even the media. But I would say his great achievements were his work for unity and the way he worked for unity in the church in a period of great difficulty of course after the council and the great efforts he made for unity with the other Christian bodied and especially in respect of the Eastern Orthodox churches.
"


FATHER MALOTSA: "This stone was laid down by the late His Holiness Pope Paul when he was (INDISTINCT) passing this way going to Rome, I think."



FATHER TEBELE: "During his reign as a Pope he has really considered the point of Africanising our own church and localising it. The reason why nowadays people feel so much about the localisation of the church for he has really played a great and important role in implemented Africanisation of the liturgy. This is the reason why the Regina Mundi had been one of the famous places for this (INDISTINCT) with it it is a symbol of an African church, a black church at the same time a Catholic church."




Initials JS/0210


PART TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Messages of condolence poured into the Vatican as 700 million Catholics throughout the world mourned the death on Sunday (6 August) of Pope Paul. Official mourning was declared in many countries, including Egypt and Iran, which are mainly Muslim.

SYNOPSIS: As arrangements were being made for the Pepe's funeral, the Pontiff lay in state at Castel Gandolfo. In Britain the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Hume, broke short his holiday and returned to London after hearing the news of Pope Paul's death.

I think that was very important and considerable achievement on his part. Apart from that of course, his work for peace and his constant re-iteration of the importance of peace."
Among those mourning the death of Pope Paul, were the priests of the Regina Mundi Cathedral in the black township of Soweto. The Cathedral was blessed by the Pontiff while on a visit to South Africa.