An estimated 200,000 people filled St Peter’s Square and many more watched live for the inauguration of Pope Leo XVI as the 267th shepherd of the universal church.
Among them were a few well-known Australians including Prime Minister Albanese, spotted wearing a pair of sunnies and Akubra hat as he took his seat for the open-air Mass on 18 May.
Albanese met with Pope Leo in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace the following day, giving him a framed artwork by South Australian Indigenous artist Amanda Westley and personally extending an invitation for him to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney in 2028.
In a short statement about the “cordial discussions” between the pair, the Vatican said “warm appreciation” was expressed for the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Australia, as well as for the contribution of the Catholic Church in service of society, especially in the area of education.
“An exchange of views then took place on the sociopolitical situation of the country, focusing in particular on themes of mutual interest, including environmental protection, integral human development and the freedom of religion,” the statement said.
The pope blessed rosary beads belonging to Mr Albanese’s mother, and our country’s incoming ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, said the last time an Australian prime minister had a papal audience – when Kevin Rudd met Pope Benedict XVI – was almost 16 years ago.
“Today’s audience between His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Albanese is an important moment in Australia’s history and our enduring relationship with the Holy See,” he said.
Representing the church in this country for the historic occasion were Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costello SDB and vice president Bishop Greg Bennet, who were joined by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo (who is also president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania) and Cardinal Mykola Bychok.
Archbishop Costelloe said the Mass had underlined Pope Leo’s messages regarding the need for peace and his role as a focal point of unity.
“There’s an instinct in Catholics that we need that something that holds us together. And then for us as bishops, we have this tradition of thinking about the bishops as the successors of the apostles and the pope as the successor of St Peter, as head of the apostles.
“That sense of unity with the pope is important … I think it’s all about unity, communion, belonging together, supporting each other.”
Archbishop Costelloe said the Mass also symbolised the shifting demography within the church, with numbers of Catholics shifting from Europe to Africa and Asia.
“There’s a new face of the church emerging, and having a pope who is from America, spent a lot of time in South America, but understands the European scene well…he’ll be well placed to face the challenges of a truly global church.
“I think it’s an exciting time. We’re looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do next.”
Bishop Bennet said there was a great sense of joy in Australia about the new pope.
“Pope Leo has spoken about peace. And I think the world needs that voice, the voice of hope, the voice of truth, the voice of beauty. And I think he can bring that to us.
“It’s an exciting time for the world to have somebody who can speak into that … to breathe hope and joy to others.
“And I expect Pope Leo will continue to speak into the missionary aspect of the church, and particularly issues of poverty where people are marginalised, to be able to really encourage the world to see as themselves as brothers and sisters.”
In his homily, Pope Leo spoke of first desire for a “united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”
“In this our time we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.
“For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world.
“We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ. Come closer to him. Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles. Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one.
“This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns.”
Earlier, Archbishops Fisher and Comensoli gave Prime Minister Albanese a tour of Domus Australia, a guesthouse for locals in Rome.
The prime minister told reporters it was a “great honour” to be in Rome representing the country at the inauguration of Pope Leo, and thanked the bishops for their warm welcome at Domus.
“In 2028 Australia will host the International Eucharistic Congress and as part of this visit, we will be inviting His Holiness, Pope Leo, to visit Australia at that time and give us that honour,” he confirmed.
Saying he tries to keep “separate” his faith from his professional role, his Catholicism is “part of who I am.”