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Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Australian Catholics Welcome First American Pope in Historic Appointment
Australians across religious and political spheres have welcomed the appointment of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who died aged 88 on April 21, becoming the first American and first native English speaker to ascend to the papacy. His election comes as significant news for over five million Catholics in Australia, representing roughly 20 percent of the population. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated the new pope on X, describing the event as a moment of 'joy and hope' for Catholics worldwide. 'May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity,' he added. Clergy Reflect on New Leadership Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli shared a statement offering blessings on behalf of the local Catholic community. 'With profound joy, I extend heartfelt congratulations to our newly elected Holy Father, and Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV,' he wrote. Related Stories 5/8/2025 5/8/2025 'I offer heartfelt prayers for His Holiness as he assumes the great responsibility of Successor to Saint Peter.' He concluded with a traditional benediction, 'Ad multos annos [may you have many years], Holy Father!' Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, also welcomed the new pontiff, calling it a pivotal moment for the global Church and beyond. 'This represents a momentous event in the life of the Catholic Church, the wider community of Christian believers, and, in many respects, the whole world,' he stated. 'He will be warmly welcomed by the whole Church as a man of God steeped in the rich spirituality of his Augustinian Religious Order.' The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony in Vatican City, on May 8, 2025.A Pope of Peace, Simplicity and Connection Australian Catholic leaders have described Pope Leo XIV as empathetic, open-minded, and down-to-earth. 'He is a great listener,' said Archbishop Comensoli, who has met the new pope several times. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher echoed the sentiment, saying Leo's religious background would shape a compassionate papacy. 'Like the late Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV will bring to the Church the experience of being part of a religious order with an emphasis on simplicity and community,' Archbishop Fisher said. He added that Leo's first public words as pope struck a meaningful tone. 'It was very moving that the Holy Father opened his first address to a watching world with a greeting of peace, and repeated the central truth of the gospel, that God loves all of us 'without any limits or conditions.'' Pope Leo XIV previously served for decades in Peru and more recently led the Vatican's office responsible for appointing bishops, experience church leaders say will inform his papacy. Both Prime Minister Albanese and Archbishop Fisher have invited Pope Leo XIV to attend the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. AAP contributed to this article
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Time of my life': Aussie cardinal's conclave insight
The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. The nation's highest-ranking Catholic has provided a rare insight into the process of electing the new Pope, describing the secretive conclave as the highlight of his life. Cardinal Mykola Bychok - Australia's sole representative at the recently concluded conclave in Rome - joked that it was a relief to shut out the outside world for an extended period. "That was the best time of my life," he told reporters with a smile on Friday afternoon, local time. "Just try ... try to turn off your phone at least for 24 hours — my phone was turned off for two and a half days." But he added the process did not resemble the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Conclave, which details the political machinations behind the selection of a fictional pope. "I watched the movie, but actually it was controversial ... especially about prayer," Cardinal Bychok said. "Have you seen in this movie any of the cardinals pray? Not one time, which is Hollywood style." The closeted event, which concluded in Rome on Thursday, resulted in the election of US-born Robert Prevost as the first American pope. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and is also the first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the Catholic faith. Only cardinals participate in the closed-door election process. The Ukraine-born, Melbourne-based Cardinal Bychok was appointed to his senior post by Pope Francis in 2024 after other senior Australian Catholic church leaders were controversially overlooked. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Pope Leo made several previous visits to Australia as leader of the order of St Augustine and had already developed a fondness for the country, one Sydney-based church official said. "He loved being in the country," the Pope's long-time friend Father Tony Banks told Sky News. "He loved the beaches, among the things he actually liked was driving between Brisbane and Sydney and the distance." Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "If he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney ... but if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia," he said. The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues, but he described him as attentive and a deep listener. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker.
7NEWS
10-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Catholic leaders urge Pope Leo to visit Australia for first time in over a decade
The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. 'I would love Pope Leo to come here,' Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. 'He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. 'But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia.' The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. 'May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity,' the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's 'missionary heart' would make him a unifier and peacemaker. 'He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too,' Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia.
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Catholic leaders lobbying for Pope to visit Australia
The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "I would love Pope Leo to come here," Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. "He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. "But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia." The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. "May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. "He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too," Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia. The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "I would love Pope Leo to come here," Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. "He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. "But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia." The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. "May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. "He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too," Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia. The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "I would love Pope Leo to come here," Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. "He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. "But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia." The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. "May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. "He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too," Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia. The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "I would love Pope Leo to come here," Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. "He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. "But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia." The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. "May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. "He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too," Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia.
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Catholic leaders lobbying for Pope to visit Australia
The hopes of the nation's Catholics are high for a papal visit after American-born Robert Prevost was chosen as the church's global leader. Cardinal Prevost will be known by the name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American and first native English-speaker to be appointed to lead the faith. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited Pope Leo to visit Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress - an event set to attract tens of thousands of Catholics from all over the world. It would be the first sovereign pontiff visit since Pope Benedict XVI came to Sydney for World Youth Day in 2008. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he hoped the pontiff would also travel west. "I would love Pope Leo to come here," Archbishop Costelloe told reporters in Perth. "He's been invited both by the church and therefore also by the government for (the Eucharistic Congress) ... so if he comes, he'll certainly go to Sydney. "But if I get to speak to him between now and then, I'll certainly be inviting him to come to Western Australia." The archbishop said it was still unclear where the former missionary stood on various issues but described him as attentive and a deep listener. Earlier, Mr Albanese said the appointment brought joy and hope to Catholics. "May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity," the prime minister said. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said the Chicago native's "missionary heart" would make him a unifier and peacemaker. "He's in a very divided world and the divisions in culture, politics, diplomacy and the rest of the world have infected the church too," Archbishop Fisher said. Cardinal Mykola Bychok was the sole Australian representative at the conclave in Rome. Archbishop Costelloe and Sale Bishop Greg Bennet have indicated they will travel to Rome for the installation, representing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the church in Australia.
