18-05-2025
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ambassador to the Holy See Keith Pitt invite Pope Leo XIV to visit Australia in 2028
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, have begun lobbying for Pope Leo XIV to visit Australia in 2028.
Mr Pitt, a former cabinet minister, told Sky News Sunday Agenda he has been making the case for the Pope to attend the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 in Sydney.
The 2028 International Eucharistic Congress is expected to be one of the largest Catholic gatherings in Australia in recent history.
If the invitation is accepted, the trip would mark the first papal visit to Australia in more than a decade.
Mr Albanese and Mr Pitt will attend Pope Leo's inaugural Mass at St Peter's Basilica, where tens of thousands of people are expected to gather.
The mass is expected to start at 10am local time—6pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Sunday.
'One of my jobs will be to be out there and lobbying hard to try and get the Pope to come to Australia in 2028 for the Eucharist Congress,' Mr Pitt said.
'There'll be a lot of people there. It's an incredible opportunity. It's been a long time since a Pope has been in Australia.
'In fact that the PM will meet him today in the line up on the way out of the inauguration is our understanding.
'All of the world leaders will have that brief opportunity on the way through and I'm sure he will extend the invitation again.'
Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—was elected on 8 May following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy.
While born in Chicago, the new Pope spent many years in Peru and has travelled extensively, including multiple visits to Australia.
Mr Pitt described the new Pope as 'a very charismatic individual' and said he was similar to many Australians.
'I'm told he's been to Australia a number of times. To me, he's like many Australians,' Mr Pitt said.
'I was reminded again this morning by an archbishop that (Pope Leo) apparently loves Tim Tams.'
Mr Albanese and Mr Pitt are among a host of world leaders attending the inaugural mass, including political leaders and royal families from across Europe.
