Anthony Albanese will fly to Rome within days to attend the confirmation Mass for Pope Leo XIV and speak to other world leaders at a global event for the Vatican.
While Pope Leo has been elected by the college of cardinals, he will be formally confirmed as head of the Catholic Church at the Mass this Sunday, May 18.
Pope Leo.Credit: Getty Images
The prime minister confirmed the trip after announcing his new ministry in Parliament House on Monday, and he outlined his hope to meet Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during the visit.
The plan steps up Albanese’s international agenda and might lead to a meeting with US President Donald Trump, depending on whether he also attends the formal events at the Vatican.
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“The invitation only came in recently,” Albanese said at the press conference to announce the ministry.
“It will be an opportunity to have bilateral discussions with a range of world leaders who will be there, people I haven’t met before face to face. Leaders are reaching out and organising meetings on the side … given people will be in Rome.”
Many leaders are yet to confirm their attendance at the mass, but French president Emmanuel Macron is expected to be there.
The meetings will come at a critical point in European security: Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently visited Ukraine with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.
The prime minister will first fly to Jakarta on Wednesday to meet Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, and expects to fly to Rome from there.
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