Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I join with the Prime Minister and other members, including the member for Wannon, with his fine words, in offering condolences to the family and friends of the late Holy Father Pope Francis, the bishop of Rome, and to Catholics right around the world.

I was truly sad to hear of the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday earlier this year. Pope Francis was the leader of over one billion Catholics around the world. From Argentina, he was the first non-European pontiff for more than a thousand years and the first Pope from the Americas. He was, as has been noted by many before me, the first Jesuit Pope and the first to take the name of the Saint of the Poor, Francis. Pope Francis was born on the exact same day as my mother, Diana Morris. They were at opposite ends of the earth but had a shared faith; they were both from the Southern Hemisphere, though! It was a link that meant a great deal to my mum, as a convert to the Catholic faith later in life before she married my dad.

Pope Francis drove important reforms in the church over 12 years, promoting openness and inclusion. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he was ordained a priest in 1969 and rose to become the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was well loved in Argentina, where he had a well-deserved reputation for humility and compassion. He lived in a simple apartment, cooked his own meals and was known to travel on public transport. His official Vatican biography features his famous quote: 'My people are poor, and I am one of them.' Those words sum up his character and approach to his role as a spiritual and pastoral leader.

It was Pope John Paul II who appointed Pope Francis as a cardinal in 2001. In 2005, Pope Francis took part in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Following Benedict XVI's resignation due to ill health, Francis was elected Pope on 13 March 2013. As I mentioned before, significantly for Australians, he was the first Jesuit Pope. Many in this place would be very well aware of the role Jesuits have played in shaping our nation through their commitment to education. Indeed, my father, John Morris, was educated by the Jesuits at Stonyhurst College, near Clitheroe in Lancashire, in the United Kingdom, a college established by the Jesuits in 1593, demonstrating their commitment to a Catholic education in Britain—which was a place of not so many Catholics at that time. Teachings of social justice are the basis of Jesuit beliefs but, importantly, with an emphasis on turning those beliefs into action. Jesuits such as Pope Francis view the world through the eyes of the poor and the marginalised. He chose the name Francis, as he said, inspired by the words of his friend Cardinal Claudio Hummes, who said to him, 'Do not forget the poor.' Of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis said:

…he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation.

It is well acknowledged that Pope Francis adopted a more progressive approach on a number of issues. Pope Francis famously said, when asked about homosexuality:

Who am I to judge?

It was an important step in a less judgemental and more merciful, forgiving and inclusive Catholic Church.

He was renowned for his compassion and humanity. Catholics, like me, around the world will miss Pope Francis, and, of course, we pray for him and his successor, Pope Leo XIV. The passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo was a sad but hopeful time for the many Catholics right across the country and, of course, in my electorate of Brand. I was deeply honoured to attend mass for Pope Francis at St Mary's Cathedral in Perth—as it happens, where my parents were married in 1959—and also a mass at the church where I bid my mother farewell over two years ago, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish in Rockingham. Pope Francis's passing and the election of Pope Leo XIV was a significant event for all Catholics across the electorate—those at St Vincent's Catholic Church in Kwinana, St Teresa of Calcutta parish in Baldivis and Saint Bernadette's Catholic Church in Port Kennedy. I joined with parishioners of my local churches in praying for Pope Francis for his eternal rest and for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Catholic Church into the future.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the former member for Hinkler and former minister for resources, Keith Pitt, who is now serving the Australian community again in his role as Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Pitt joined Governor-General Sam Mostyn, trade minister Don Farrell and the member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, in Rome for the mass to mourn and celebrate the life of Pope Francis. Ambassador Pitt, of course, also hosted and accompanied Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in May earlier this year. I do wish the former minister for resources and member for Hinkler all the very best in a very important ambassadorship at a very important time for Catholics right around the world but particularly here, of course, in Australia.

Pope Francis lived a life of service, faith and vocation. He taught us to fill our lives with love and love for others. His life was a reminder—and a reminder, always, of my mum—that we should look beyond our material things to seek to improve our community and our world. Pope Francis will be missed. Vale.

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