Campaign pause: Good Friday marked by Australian leaders in Easter messages
Religious and political leaders have expressed Easter hopes and wishes as Australians marked the Christian holy day in church services and, for many, simply as a day of peace.
Australian religious and political leaders have shared their Easter wishes – and their concerns about conflicts abroad and cost-of-living pressures at home – as the nation marked Good Friday.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, considered global conflict in his Easter address focused on the ability to maintain hope in the face of “cost of living, recession [and] political instability”.
“Easter is about that kind of ‘hope against hope’,” Archbishop Fisher said.
“God so loved the world, He gave His only Son. Humanity killed Him. He would rise again, but first there are the dark days in the tomb,” he said of the commemoration of Christ’s death.
An address from Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel centred on forgiveness and reconciliation in times of political and personal stress.
“As we look at the world around us, we can tell there is a deep, even overwhelming, need for God’s forgiveness,” he said.
“Global conflicts remain as intractable as ever, and while I trust we can pause from political debates to rest this Easter, it’s clear that there are stresses and strains even in our own country.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spent the morning on Sydney’s lower north shore with partner Jodie Haydon and local member Jerome Laxale, alongside his dog Toto and Mr Laxale’s terrier, Toby.
“Happy Easter weekend from Toto and Toby,” Mr Albanese posted on X.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attended Good Friday Mass in Punchbowl, alongside former prime minister Scott Morrison, in the Sydney electorate of Watson.
“Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful, and blessed Easter weekend,” Mr Dutton posted on X.
“It was an honour to join Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay and the Maronite community for their Good Friday service at the Monastery of Saint Charbel Lebanese Maronite Order.”
In England, King Charles spent Holy Thursday at Durham Cathedral distributing commemorative coins to churchgoers in recognition of their service to the community.
He spoke on the “puzzle” of humanity’s kindness and cruelty.
“This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes,” he said.
“At one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others.”
National Council of Churches in Australia president John Gilmore’s message to the country affirmed that throughout global disasters and war, “God’s love is stronger than death”.
“Hope does not take away the source of the struggle or pain, however it does point to the good news of Jesus who is with us and is close,” he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns shared an image of a cross, wishing Australians “a blessed Good Friday”.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas wished his constituents “a safe long weekend”, encouraging safe driving and thanking those who continued to work over the break.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook reminded drivers of double demerits, wishing them “a fantastic Easter break”.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff spent his Thursday afternoon at Launceston General Hospital’s children’s ward, “lending a hand to the Easter bunny” handing out chocolate eggs.
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