Earl's Visit to Seacliff November 1986

In memory of The Earl of Seacliff's visit to Seacliff November 1986.

The first and so far only visit to New Zealand by a Bishop of Rome was significant for both Catholics and the wider community. After a visit to Auckland and Wellington, the Polish-born Pontiff flew to Christchurch, where he held an ecumenical liturgy at the Catholic cathedral and celebrated Mass at another sacred New Zealand venue, Lancaster Park, before flying to Canberra.

At the same time as the Pope’s visit the Earl of Seacliff made a visit to the Earldom, taking time from his busy Auckland ‘Family’ business which is ‘taken care of’ in his absence by his ‘Minders of the Seacliff Mafia’.