Who is the new Bishop of Cairns? Meet the Very Reverend Joe Caddy

Despite growing up in a Catholic household, Reverend Joe Caddy never thought he would become a priest. Now, he’s the Bishop of Cairns, but who is he?

Pope Francis has appointed the Very Reverend Joe Caddy as the new Bishop of Cairns. The role has been vacant for two years since former Bishop James Foley stepped down in 2022. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

Despite growing up in a Catholic household, Reverend Joe Caddy never thought he would become a priest.

Now, he’s the Bishop of Cairns.

Appointed by Pope Francis via the Vatican ambassador to Australia, Fr Caddy will begin his tenure in Cairns in August when he is officially appointed at an official ceremony at St Monica’s Catholic Church.

“The ambassador for the Vatican called me from Canberra and said Pope Francis had appointed me as the Bishop of Cairns,” Fr Caddy said.
“There’s a bit of openness to the role where you can refuse if you feel it’s not right for you and I took a day to let it wash over because it was such a shock.
“I called them back the next morning to accept it.”

Originally from Melbourne, Fr Caddy, who studied theology in Rome and has been a member of the clergy for more than thirty years, confessed he didn’t think of joining the clergy until his mid-20s.

“I didn’t go to seminary until I was 24, which sounds like a child now, but at the time it wasn’t considered going early,” he said.

“I had an uncle who was a priest, so for me, it was always something plausible and I was kind of open to it, but when I went to seminary, I still didn’t think I was going to be a priest.”

In his new role, Fr Caddy said he wanted to focus on social welfare and justice having previously worked as a prison chaplain.

“I’m not coming in with any preconceived agenda. I want to work with the clergy and the broader community to see how we can help, and be the Catholic Church in Far North Queensland,” he said.

“The aim is to spread the gospel and do what we’re asked to do (love your neighbour as yourself) in such a way that we’re of service to the whole community, not just Catholics.”

Fr Caddy will take over the role from the former Bishop of Cairns, Reverend James Foley, who stepped down in 2022.

The Catholic Diocese of Cairns includes Catholic church bases in The Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait Islands, Atherton Tablelands, Cape York, Douglas Shire and the Cassowary Coast (to Cardwell).

Originally published as Who is the new Bishop of Cairns? Meet the Very Reverend Joe Caddy