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ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Anthony Albanese formally invites Pope Leo XIV to Australia in Vatican meeting
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met privately with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, formally inviting the new pontiff to Australia for a major Catholic conference that Sydney will host in 2028. Mr Albanese met Leo XIV the day after the new pope's inaugural mass in Rome, hours after the pontiff met US Vice-President JD Vance. He is the first prime minister to have a private audience with the pope since Kevin Rudd, who met Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. The ABC has been told that Mr Albanese and the pope discussed their shared concerns about conflicts around the world and the humanitarian catastrophes they have wrought. The pope also blessed rosary beads that had been owned by the prime minister's mother Maryanne, a staunch Catholic who passed away in 2002. On Sunday Pope Leo XIV called for peace in Gaza, Myanmar and Ukraine during a Sunday blessing at the end of his inaugural mass in St Peter's Square. Leo said he hoped negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv would bring a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza who were "reduced to hunger" by conflict. During their meeting on Monday local time, Mr Albanese gifted the new pope a framed Indigenous artwork by artist Amanda Westley, who is part of the Ngarrindjeri clan in South Australia. The prime minister also issued a formal letter of invitation to Pope Leo XIV to attend the International Eucharistic Congress, which Sydney will host in 2028. The congress is typically held every four years, and is expected to draw thousands of Catholics from around the world to Australia. Benedict XVI was the last pope to visit Australia, for World Youth Day in 2008. The prime minister had earlier met briefly with Pope Leo XIV on Sunday after the mass and had a "very warm" discussion before their longer meeting on Monday afternoon. Mr Albanese said that during that brief discussion, the pope had "expressed his affection for Australia". He said he had told Leo that Australia's 5 million Catholics "would be watching and wishing him well". The prime minister also reflected briefly on his own personal Catholic faith and history, saying his late mother would have been delighted to see him attend the Papal Inauguration mass as prime minister. "I spoke to him about my mother [who] would be I'm sure looking down from heaven with the biggest smile she's ever had, the fact that her son was at the inaugural mass of a pope in the Vatican, was really quite extraordinary" he said. "So, for me, it was a very personal moment as well, and it was a personal discussion." The prime minister has now left Rome and will stop off in Singapore for a lightning-quick meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before returning home.
Boston Globe
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Eastern Mass boys' volleyball: Globe Players of the Week for March 27-April 3
Sebastian Eugene , Norwood — A clutch kill off the ceiling divider to break a fifth-set tie was part of an 18-kill, 4-block, 5-ace performance by the senior in a Tri-Valley victory over Dighton-Rehoboth. Finn Bell , Wayland — The junior is already up to 100 kills this season, with all four of Wayland's matches going five sets (the team is 2-2). He led with 34 kills, 12 digs, 4 blocks, and 3 aces in Wednesday's nonleague thriller over BC High. Advertisement Wayland's Finn Bell (10) showed off his hitting game with 34 kills against BC High. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Alec Smagula , Brookline — Two of the junior's three kills came in the last 3 points of a dominant Bay State sweep at Natick. Smagula dished 20 assists and added three blocks and two aces. Ani Vasudevan , St. John's (Shrewsbury) — A late fill-in at setter because of an injury, the senior racked up 44 assists, 7 blocks, 6 digs, and an ace as the Pioneers won the battle of St. John's in the Catholic Conference, 3-1. AJ Traub can be reached at
