Anthony Albanese takes Akubra off to meet Pope Leo IXV ahead of Zelensky talks
Pope Leo XIV is due to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky after his inauguration, which was watched by millions around the world. SEE VIDEO AND PHOTOS
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with president of the European Commision Ursula von der Leyen in Rome after Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in Rome and the pair have agreed they want to bolster their international relationship.
Ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Sunday, Mr Albanese spoke with Ms von der Leyen and said: “Australia and Europe have common support for market based systems but also common views about human rights.
“We stand together with the people of Ukraine in the struggle against Russian aggression and we stand together on so many issues including on the potential for us to further extrench our or extend our relationship through trade”.
Ms von der Leyen told Mr Albanese she is “looking forward to a new era between Europe and Australia” and said since they last met in Brazil in 2023 the “geopolitical tensions have massively increased”.
“The good thing is Australia and Europe and reliable partners, we’re predictable, we share the same values,” she said.
“We can offer to each other stability and we’re very grateful for that and this is the reason that we do not only see you as a trading partner but we also see you as a strategic partner”.
Free trade means more jobs and a stronger economy.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025
That’s why we’re working towards a free trade agreement with the European Union.
Today I met with EU Commission President @vonderleyen to discuss trade, and our work to support global peace and security. pic.twitter.com/KB4AdV4HAk
Ms van der Leyen said she is hopeful after signing security and defence agreements with South Korea, Japan and soon the UK, she would like the same with Australia.
“We would be very pleased if we could develop such a security and defence partnership too, just to broaden the strategic partnership in many topics that we have in common”.
It comes as the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will meet with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the conclusion of the inauguration mass on Sunday.
Many of the world leaders entered St Peter’s Basilica to shake hands and speak briefly with the pontiff following the official proceedings including Mr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Honoured to attend the inaugural Mass and meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who is in the prayers of Australia’s five million Catholics today. pic.twitter.com/HsMuIrMbHw
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025
Just last week the Vatican’s spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo and Mr Zelensky had spoken by phone shortly after he was elected as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The call came after Leo made a plea for lasting peace in Ukraine when he gave his Regina Caeli address last weekend at the Basilica.
Pope Leo XIV has also called for peace, saying there were “too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, and prejudice” in his inauguration mass in Rome.
Mr Albanese, wearing an iconic Akubra, attended the Chicago-born pontiff’s first official service on Sunday ahead of having talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
US Vice President J.D. Vance also attended and was seen shaking hands with Mr Zelensky – their first encounter since the disastrous talks they held at the White House in February.
“Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” Leo said in his homily.
“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.”
The 69-year-old pontiff received cheers and applause as he was driven in the popemobile through the crowd of 150,000 worshippers who packed into St Peter’s Square.
The enthusiastic congregation waved and shouted “Viva il Papa” – “Long live the Pope” as they celebrated the Catholic church’s 267th pontiff on a sunny Sunday morning in Rome.
John Shanahger, 70, from New Jersey, said it was such a special event to attend and especially because he’s an American pope.
“I’m here because I’ve got an American pope installed behind me,” he said.
“I don’t think he will be any different towards us but it’s always been, ‘oh Americans, no pope’, this is amazing to me”.
Leo was appointed pope on May 8 following a 24-hour conclave process and he is the successor of the late Pope Francis, 88, who died on Easter Monday. Key moments at the inauguration included Leo receiving the Fisherman’s Ring, a gold signet ring, named in honour of the first pope Saint Peter who was a fisherman.
Mr Albanese arrived in Rome on Friday night (Saturday AEST) and on the weekend he visited Domus Australia, a pilgrim’s guesthouse for Australians in the Italian capital, and he met with church leaders including the Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli and Australian ambassador to the Holy See Keith Pitt.
He said on social media that he is “honoured to be attending the Holy Father’s inaugural mass on Sunday”.
Also at the inauguration mass was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh, representing King Charles, Israeli President Issac Herzog and
Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Mr Albanese said he will be inviting the pontiff to visit Australia in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney which is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of Catholics from around the world.
“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 said.
As the sun shone down on St Peter’s Square hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered in and around the Basilica to watch the service, many standing in silence to listen to the historic mass which was given in Italian.
Originally published as Anthony Albanese takes Akubra off to meet Pope Leo IXV ahead of Zelensky talks
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