PM congratulates incoming Pope Leo XIV, invites him to Australia

Anthony Albanese has already asked the new pope to keep a date open in 2028, only hours after the pontiff’s election.

Anthony Albanese has congratulated Pope Leo XIV and invited the new pontiff to Australia in three years’ time.

Robert Prevost, 69, was announced as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday (local time) after the Conclave deliberated for two days — one of the shortest papal elections in history.

The first American pope, he was introduced as Leo XIV to the tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square.

The Prime Minister said on Friday the new pope’s “leadership comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and for the world”.

Robert Prevost has been elected to become Pope Leo XIV. Picture: Paul / ANDINA / AFP

“I will invite His Holiness Pope Leo to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress which is being proudly hosted in 2028,” Mr Albanese told reporters at Parliament House.

“And I’ve had discussions with Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, who of course I know very well, about the importance of Australia hosting that very significant event in just a few years’ time.

“And I know that the Church here in Australia is very excited to have this privilege and honour.”

He said his “government looks forward to continuing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate”.

Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese says Pope Leo’s election ‘is a moment which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Seen as a moderate, Pope Leo was in 2023 promoted to cardinal by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

Before his arrival in the Vatican two years ago, he had spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru and holds dual US-Peruvian citizenship.

He has been praised for his work in the South American country, but often shunned the limelight, keeping a low profile even after arriving in the Catholic Church’s centre of power.

The late Pope Francis promoted his successor again earlier this year.

“This is a moment which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere,” Mr Albanese said.

“May the Papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity.”