During the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Australia in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress, set to be hosted in Sydney.

Keith Pitt, Australia's new ambassador to the Holy See, gives Pope Leo XIV a piece of art made by students and staff at St Francis Catholic Primary School in Tannum Sands, Australia, during a meeting on 3 June 2025, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media. Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency Keith Pitt has last week Tuesday 3 June, met with Pope Le...

Pope Leo XIV gives his blessing at the conclusion of Mass and the recitation of the “Regina Coeli” marking the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 1 June 2025. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. Families are the cradle of the future of humanity, Pope Leo XIV said during a Mass concluding the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and ...

Pope Leo XIV catches a cloth doll thrown by a visitor as he rides in the popemobile following his second weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 28 May 2025. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. By Cindy Wooden Being religious does not automatically mean someone is compassionate, and yet for a Christian, compassion is a clear sign of following Christ, Pope Leo XIV said. "Befo...

In the second of a two-part series for The Record, Irish professor Dr Eamon Con-way from the University of Notre Dame Australia gives an insight into the up-coming pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.

Less than 48 hours after his election, Pope Leo XIV made a humble pilgrimage – riding in a minivan to a Marian shrine outside Rome and stopping at St Mary Major to pray at Pope Francis’s tomb and before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani.

Pope Leo XIV will maintain an active presence on X and Instagram via the official @Pontifex accounts, continuing the legacy of digital evangelisation. His first post: a message of peace from his Urbi et Orbi address.

In a festive St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Regina Coeli, urging prayers for vocations, peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and honoring Mother’s Day with warm wishes to all mothers. Entrusting it all to Mary, Queen of Peace, he renewed the plea: “Never again war.”

In his first address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV called the Catholic Church alive, beautiful, and strong, urging renewed commitment to Evangelii Gaudium and modern Catholic social teaching — especially in the face of AI and today’s evolving world.

In his first public homily, Pope Leo XIV called the Church to recognise God’s marvels, proclaim Christ boldly, and witness with humility. He reaffirmed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” urging believers to face today’s world with courage, faith, and love.