Anthony Albanese has invited his half-brother to Pope Leo’s inauguration in Rome
Anthony Albanese’s Italian-based half-brother has revealed how the Prime Minister has personally invited him to go to Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in Rome.
Exclusive: Anthony Albanese has invited his Italian-based half-brother to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in Rome, while his ancestral hometown has encouraged the PM to visit.
In an exclusive chat with News Corp, Ruggiero Albanese, an electrician who lives in the coastal town of Barletta located in southeastern Italy, said he was hopeful the pair could reunite again soon.
While he isn’t sure he can make Sunday’s inauguration, which will be attended by world leaders, he said he would “do my best to be there”.
“He (Anthony) invited us to attend the inauguration in Rome.
“My sister (Francesca) cannot attend as she has previous commitments. I do as well but I will do my best to be there”.
“Anthony is too busy during this trip to be able to visit us in Barletta but he might visit us soon, maybe in summer,” Ruggiero said.
“Nothing has been planned yet”.
Barletta Mayor Cosimo Cannito has nonetheless made a personal plea to the Prime Minister to visit after the Pope’s inauguration.
“We spoke to Rome, the ambassador there, a few days ago, we are essentially waiting for confirmation from Australia via Rome for the prime minister to come visit the city where his father was born,” a secretary for the mayor, Ruggiero Del Re, said, noting Mr Cannito had discussed the invitation with the Australian Ambassador to Italy Julianne Cowley and embassy staff in Rome.
“We’ve suggested the 18th of May but of course if it’s not possible for the 18th, another date would also be fine for us, because it would be a pleasure for us to receive and welcome the Prime Minister of Australia here in Barletta, and therefore here in Italy.”
Mr Cannito previously offered Mr Albanese honorary citizenship, which his secretary said was rejected over concerns it could clash with Australia’s constitutional rules on foreign allegiance.
“We’re getting ready while we await a response from (Mr Albanese). We know he hasn’t accepted citizenship but we hope this time he can find the time to come (visit)” Mr Del Re said.
The PM will attend Leo’s inauguration on Sunday at St Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City and it is his first international trip since he was re-elected for a second term in office.
The PM has been in Indonesia on official business and was due to fly to Rome on Friday for the Chicago-born pontiff’s inauguration, which begins at 10am Sunday (6pm Sunday AEST) and will be attended by global leaders and royalty.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to attend, as are members of the Spanish royal family, Israel’s president Isaac Herzog and Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney.
After the inauguration Mr Albanese is expected to head home, visiting Singapore on the way.
Ruggiero Albanese said that he had reached out to his brother after his May 3 election victory.
“We are happy that Anthony got re-elected and we congratulated him by message,” Ruggiero told News Corp.
Ruggerio said while the pair’s contact is sporadic, and there is a language barrier between them, he leans on family members to help.
“That (WhatsApp) is the way we communicate as I don’t speak English and he doesn’t speak Italian,” Ruggerio said.
“My two daughters speak English and they help with the translation”.
In 2009 the brothers met after Mr Albanese’s mother, Maryanne, died.
The PM was then reunited with his father and he has visited his half brother and half sister and other relatives several times since.
He learned at age 14 that his father had not died in a car accident, as he had been led to believe by his mother.
Due to it being frowned upon about having a child out of wedlock, Mr Albanese’s mother made up the story to protect herself from criticism during the 1960s.
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Originally published as Anthony Albanese has invited his half-brother to Pope Leo’s inauguration in Rome
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