Pope Francis receives book — ‘hoping and praying’ for an Indigenous voice to parliament — from Father Frank Brennan

Pope Francis has received a book advocating for an Indigenous voice to parliament from long time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocate, Father Frank Brennan. The book’s dedication reads: “... hoping and praying for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament”

Pope Francis receives a book from long serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander advocate Father Frank Brennan, with a personal inscription about the Voice to Parliament at Vatican City this week.

Pope Francis has received a book advocating for an Indigenous voice to parliament from Australia’s long time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocate, Father Frank Brennan.

Father Brennan dedicated the book to the Pope “hoping and praying for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament” when he met Francis at the Vatican earlier this week.

The dedication also thanks Francis for his declaration in Laudato Si’ where the Pope said:

“It is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions. They are not merely one minority among others, but should be the principal dialogue partners”.

Father Brennan was accompanying respected Aboriginal elder and artist Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann, 73, from Daly River, who was thrilled to speak with the Pope about the connections of God and nature.

Dr Ungunmerr Baumann has been in Rome for a series of events with the Australian Embassy to the Holy See marking National Reconciliation week, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See and the 50th anniversary of the first Aboriginal Liturgy.

Dr Ungunmerr Baumann had earlier called for more information about the Indigenous voice to parliament to be provided to remote indigenous communities noting that she was still “trying to get my head around it”.

Father Brennan, a law professor, has advocated changing the wording of the Voice from ‘executive government’ to ‘ministers of state’ so that support for the upcoming referendum could be broadened. He is to present a main lecture at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome on Saturday about the recognition of Aboriginal rights and the impact of the voice to parliament.