Latest news with #ArchbishopCostelloe
SBS Australia
09-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 9 May 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with . Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope. He will be known as Pope Leo the fourteenth and is the first American to become Pontiff. The 69 year-old was born in Chicago, but spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being appointed Archbishop there. Pope Leo has addressed thousands of faithful who gathered after white smoke signalled the election of a new leader. "Peace be with all you. Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth, peace be with you." The Australian Catholic community has welcomed the election of the new Pope. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe says the new pontiff is known for being approachable and willing to listen. Catholic Social Services Australia executive director Jerry Nockles has also offered congratulations. Ms Nockles says Pope Leo's appointment has come at a critical time when the world is yearning for compassionate leadership. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has slammed the demotion of Ed Husic from Labor's new Cabinet. Mr Keating says Mr Husic's expulsion as the Cabinet's sole Muslim member is an appalling denial of the former Industry Minister's diligence. He says it also represents a contempt for what he has described as the measured and centrist support provided by the broader Islamic community at the general election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to address the issue this afternoon at Labor's first Caucus meeting in Canberra. "The government brings with it responsibility, and no individual is greater than the collective, and that includes myself. And we need to approach this term with humility to make sure that we deliver on the commitments that we made to the Australian people." Liberals M-P Sussan Ley has confirmed she is nominating to be the new leader of the Opposition party. Ms Ley has told Channel 7 she is running because the Liberals need a new approach. "It's about making sure that I am listening to my colleagues and that I demonstrate to them that we want a strong approach that includes everyone. I want to harness all of the talent in my team, take it forward under my leadership and meet the Australian people where they are." Sussan Ley will be competing for the job against Angus Taylor and Jacinta Price - who has defected from the Nationals to the Liberals in order to bid for the top job. Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie has told Sky News she is disappointed by the Senator's defection. "Yeah absolutely. I think it's a devastating loss to our party room, particularly our senate party room. We're a tight team. We're a close knit team. We fought many battles together, and whilst we're strong coalitionists, we are very, very separate parties, and so it's very disappointing news that Jacinta has decided to head over to the Liberals." Oil and gas producer Woodside's annual general meeting has been disrupted by noisy protesters. The interruption forced chief executive and managing director Meg O'Neill to play promotional and sponsorship videos as protesters repeatedly blew high-pitched sport whistles during her opening remarks. Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter says the protest was designed to convince shareholders to reject Woodside's plans to drill in Scott Reef off West Australia's coast. He has argued that Woodside's planned gas field would entail drilling up to 50 wells as close as two kilometres from the Reef, which is home to nesting sea turtles, endangered pygmy blue whales, and dusky sea snakes. A team of Australian researchers are back home after a trip to Antarctica to study a rapidly melting glacier. The Denman Glacier has retreated five kilometres in the last 20 years. There are concerns that if it melts entirely that would raise global sea levels by 1.5 metres. The trip's science coordinator Dr Damien Stringer says the team's newly acquired data will help refine existing models to understand warm water flows around the glacier.
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian Catholics welcome ‘approachable' new pope in hope he will pursue peace
Australian Catholics and politicians have embraced the appointment of the new pope, Leo XIV, with many hoping he will continue his predecessor's emphasis on peace and social justice. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, offered Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost – now known as Pope Leo XIV – heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Roman Catholic church in Australia. 'The Catholic Church in Australia assures Pope Leo XIV of our prayers, loyalty, and joyful anticipation of his spiritual leadership,' he said. 'May his pontificate be marked by peace, unity, and a deepening of the Gospel message throughout the world.' Costelloe said the new pope had demonstrated his 'approachability and willingness to listen' in his previous roles as the prefect of the dicastery for bishops and as an Augustinian missionary in Peru. Catholic Social Services Australia, which represents the church's social services providers, said the pope's choice of name had 'profound significance' for Catholic social services. It evoked the legacy of Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903) who articulated the church's commitment to human dignity and social justice in his encyclical Rerum Novrum. The organisation's executive director, Dr Jerry Nockles, said the pope's election came at a time when the world 'yearns for compassionate leadership grounded in the Gospel values of justice, dignity and solidarity with the vulnerable'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'At a time when Australia and indeed the world faces unprecedented social challenges – from growing inequality to escalating violence and social division – Pope Leo's election offers a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that the Church stands firmly for peace and with those on the margins,' he said. 'His voice will undoubtedly challenge us all to build a more just and peaceful society where every person's dignity is honoured, and peace is actively pursued.' Brother Mark O'Connor, head of communications for the Catholic archdiocese of Parramatta, told Radio National he had met the new pope, describing him as a 'humble, gentle leader'. 'He's not different from Pope Francis in terms of vision, but maybe in style,' he said. 'He's more low key.' He said the Leo XIV had been to Australia and was not a fan of Vegemite but did like Tim Tams. O'Connor said expected the new pope would be 'very effective' in continuing the reform of the church in the vision of Pope Francis. It was significant that the pope's first words were about peace as well as his choice of name, he said. 'You've got to remember that Pope Leo XIII was the first pope in the modern era who actually stood on the side of the workers and social justice,' he said, 'which was really the beginnings of the church taking a much stronger stance on social justice.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Anthony Albanese offered his heartfelt congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. 'This is a moment of joy and hope for Catholics all over the world,' the prime minister said. 'May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity.' The health minister, Mark Butler, described the appointment as 'terrific news', saying: 'The billion or so Catholics around the world, the one in four Australians who identify as Catholics, will be overjoyed today after a period of grieving and mourning for the much-loved Pope Francis.' The Australian Catholic University said it was a time of renewed hope and guidance. Its chancellor, Martin Daubney, said: 'We share his commitment to strengthening dialogue and the defence of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity. 'We rejoice that His Holiness will continue to build on the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, encouraging unity in the pursuit of a more compassionate world. We join with people around the world in offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins the task of leading the Catholic Church.' In a post to social media, the Australian embassy to the Holy See – which has a clear view of the Sistine Chapel chimney – wrote 'Habemus Papam!' – the Latin for 'We have a new pope'. The embassy hosted a 'conclave watch' event waiting for the white smoke to emerge.
