Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cited his Catholic childhood as a key influence on his approach to government as he heads to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV amid heightened attention on his faith. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Albanese, whose mother was a devout Catholic, said that Church teachings on helping the vulnerable had shaped his politics – and he revealed that they triggered a key moment in the election campaign.
Speaking to the Inside Politics podcast, he said the separation of Church and state was one reason he was sworn into office with an affirmation rather than with a Bible.
But he added that his “no one left behind” mantra was underpinned by a moral imperative to use the tools of government to lift people up.
The comments come as Mr Albanese prepares to meet world leaders on the sidelines of the mass in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican this Sunday, when Pope Leo will mark the start of his papacy.
“It’s a part of who I am, my upbringing,” he said when asked about the Catholic faith.
“During the campaign, one of the statements I made that resonated – indeed, during the Channel 9 debate – was that kindness isn’t weakness.
“And that really is something that’s a part of how I was raised in the Catholic faith about having compassion and kindness for people, particularly vulnerable people.”
The Prime Minister’s visit to Rome has heightened attention on his faith after Mr Albanese attended Church several times at Easter to mark the death of the previous pontiff, Pope Francis.
He was criticised by Sky News host Paul Murray for being sworn into office with an affirmation rather than the Bible.
Mr Albanese said he did not make his Catholic background part of his position as Prime Minister.
“I believe in a separation of Church and state,” he said in the video and podcast interview with this masthead, recorded on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’ve always chosen to do an affirmation, because I think that, as the Australian Prime Minister, I represent people of every faith and no faith. That’s a personal decision.”
Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass will take place in St Peter’s Square on Sunday at 10am local time (6pm AEST). Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Vice President Bishop Greg Bennet will represent the Church in Australia at Pope Leo’s inauguration.
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‘It’s part of who I am’: PM heads for Rome as questions raised about his faith (By David Crowe and Paul Sakkal, The Age)
