Fr Frank Fletcher:

"The Pope came out in '95 for the beatification of Mary McKillop and at that time the organisers of that visit, they came to the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and asked for us to take part, which was wonderful. And the Kooris played quite a part in that. Aden Ridgeway made a welcome to the Pope, and Mum Shirl, who was already very sick and that, she was there with him and the others on the platform. And then there was a smoking ceremony. So the Pope of the Catholic Church was smoked, and all the bishops, and the visitors, and that was quite a part of the ceremony. And the Kooris felt really good. And they also had other Kooris who went out and smoked people in the crowd."