Inserts:

00:03 Report / Christine Mhundwa
00:17 Carol Pereira / Indian Pilgrim
01:19 Cheppy Putra / Indonesian Pilgrim
01:39 Jacinta Thupae, South African Pilgrim

Script:

There are thousands of Catholic pilgrims in Rome, 
Many have come from far to pay their last respects to Pope Francis. 
Carol Pereira is one of them: 
 
+++SOT (ENGLISH) Carol Pereira, Catholic Pilgrim+++ 
“I'm from Bombay, India. I'm a flight attendant with an international airline. I'm feeling really blessed and fortunate over here, because there are so many people back home who will envy me because I'm right here and I'm so blessed to be here. Like giving me this chance to come here and pay the final respects.” 
 
Carol stood in line twice to get into St Peter’s Basilica where Pope Francis is lying in state,  
She got in the second time. 
 
+++SOT (ENGLISH) Carol Pereira, Catholic Pilgrim+++ 
“It was a magical moment. I didn’t have words. I didn’t have anything. Tears were just rolling when I saw him over there. People over there also were so sweet with me that they didn't even ask me to move on or anything. They were like, okay. They were giving me sympathy over there” 
 
All roads were already leading to Rome for the Catholic faithful in 2025  – it's a year they are celebrating ‘Jubilee’. 
But while the Roman Catholic Church has its roots here in Europe, 
It is in Africa, and other parts of the developing world 
where the church is really growing. 
 
+++SOT (English) Cheppy Putra, Indonesian Catholic+++ 
“Well I think the reason is because the people in the developing countries are more dependent on God but maybe in Europe because of development, because of science and everything, maybe they think that they don’t need God anymore” 
+++SOT (English) Jacinta Thupae, South African Catholic+++ 
“I'm a staunch catholic I believe strongly and I’m taking children for the lessons what we call the call Sunday School in our church. I’m a catechist so I believe in passing on the faith to the younger ones” 
 
I asked Carol what the Vatican can do to support her Parish back home in India 

+++SOT (ENGLISH) Carol Pereira, Catholic Pilgrim+++ 
“There are many things actually, which the Vatican can do. I'm a very small person to comment on that. But, yes, there are many things and many issues which can be looked into.” 
 
Many Catholics saw 
Pope Francis as one of the world's most powerful voices for those with little power.Carol says she would like his successor to carry on that legacy. +++ENDS+++