Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience at the Vatican this week, part of an official visit to Rome during the 2025 Jubilee Year. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
Archbishop Comensoli was accompanied by Melbourne Archdiocese’s chancellor, Annie Carrett.
The meeting provided the archbishop with the opportunity to share insights from the life of the Church in Australia and to reaffirm the spiritual unity of the Archdiocese of Melbourne with the universal Church.
“On Monday this week, I was humbled to have met with the Holy Father in these early days of his Petrine ministry,” Archbishop Comensoli wrote on Facebook after the meeting.
“The private audience of around 20 minutes was an opportunity to share news about the Church in Australia, and particularly of our local Church in Melbourne.”
The Pope, who has visited Australia a number of times, was especially interested in hearing about recent and upcoming initiatives in the local Church.
“Pope Leo knows Australia quite well, and was interested to hear further about: the Australian Catholic Youth Festival; the Plenary Council; and the joy of the ordination of our Deacon, John Vespa, this coming Friday,” Archbishop Comensoli said.
The meeting also included early discussions about a possible papal visit to Australia in 2028.
“At the conclusion of our meeting, I offered my personal prayers and loyalty, and gave the assurance of the prayers of God’s people of Melbourne that I have carried in my own heart to the tomb of St Peter during this special Jubilee visit,” Archbishop Comensoli said.
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Archbishop Comensoli meets Pope, attends Santa Sofia liturgy for Cardinal Bychok (Melbourne Catholic)
