Cardinal John presents Pope Francis with the first copy of ‘There’s a Time For…" a new book of family prayers being launched in Wellington in December.

‘I am praying for all the people of New Zealand at this time of the earthquakes,’ Pope Francis said to Cardinal John Dew when he greeted him in Rome at the closing of the Holy Door.

On Sunday 20 November Cardinal John wrote on his Facebook page: ‘This morning St Peter’s Square was filled with thousands and thousands of people celebrating the end of the Year of Mercy in which Pope Francis closed the Holy Doors of the Basilica. At the end of the Mass he stood and greeted all the Cardinals who were present, about 160 in total. I was the third to last and I was astounded as soon as he saw me he took both my hands and said, “I am praying for all the people of New Zealand at this time of the earthquakes.”