Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the opposition to pay tribute to Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936. Pope Francis created several firsts when he was chosen to lead the Catholic Church in 2013. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th century Syrian Pope Gregory III.

Pope Francis was born in Flores, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, in Argentina. He was the eldest of five children of Mario Jose Bergoglio and Regina Maria Sevori. His father was an Italian immigrant and an accountant from Piedmont. His mother was born in Buenos Aires to a family of northern Italian origin. Pope Francis was schooled in Buenos Aires, eventually attending a technical secondary college and graduating with a chemical technician's diploma. In the 1950s, after completing the diploma, he spent several years in the Argentinian capital working in a laboratory run by a company specialising in food hygiene analysis. He also spent time working as a bouncer and a janitor. At the age of 21, he contracted pneumonia and three cysts and had to have part of a lung excised. The illness prompted him to reflect on his life and vocation, but his decision to enter the Jesuit order in 1958 was a culmination of a longer spiritual journey and a growing attraction to the priesthood.

Throughout his early ministry, Jorge Mario Bergoglio embraced the Jesuit tradition of humility, intellectual rigour, service and devotion to the marginalised. These values became the hallmarks of his future leadership. His experiences were shaped by Argentina's social and political upheavals, and his pastoral work during this time instilled in him a profound empathy for those living in poverty and on the edges of society.

Ordained a priest in 1969, he rose to prominence within the Jesuit community, serving as provincial superior for Argentina and later as archbishop for Buenos Aires. His leadership style was marked by an unwavering focus on simplicity, humility and service to the poor. He eschewed the trappings of office, choosing instead to live in modest accommodation, ride public transport and personally tend to his parishioners' needs. These qualities defined his papacy from its very beginning.

On the evening of 13 March 2013, when he stepped onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, following the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, it was not as a figure of worldly authority but as the humble servant of God's people. His first words were simple: 'Fratelli e sorelle, buonasera'—'Brothers and sisters, good evening.' In that one sentence, he set the tone for a papacy that would be characterised not by grandeur but by pastoral care, humility and approachability.

Pope Francis's ministry was marked by an unwavering commitment to mercy, compassion and justice. His choice of papal name—which, as a Catholic, I fundamentally appreciated—'Francis', was itself significant: a clear tribute to St Francis of Assisi, renowned for his devotion to the poor and his humility. It was a name that reflected the priorities of his pontificate.

Throughout his tenure as the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis consistently championed the rights of the most vulnerable. He called on people of all nations and of all faiths to uphold human dignity, to care for the elderly, the poor, refugees and migrants and to reach out to those on the peripheries of society spiritually, socially and economically. His emphasis on inclusion, mercy and understanding shaped his engagements not only within the church but with leaders of other faiths and with the broader international community.

One of the most significant contributions of Pope Francis was his focus on pastoral care. He encouraged the church to look outward, to meet people where they were and to bring Christ's compassion to bear on the struggles of ordinary life. His words were clear: the church must be a 'field hospital after battle', tending to wounds rather than lecturing on rules. His actions reflected these principles. Pope Francis visited prisoners, the sick, the disabled and the poor. He washed the feet of refugees and prisoners, embraced those suffering from disfigurement and stood alongside those enduring hardship. These were not mere gestures; they were a powerful affirmation of the gospel's call to love without condition.

Pope Francis also worked to bring healing to the church itself. He recognised the deep wounds caused by the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse. Though much work remains, he took significant steps to improve accountability, transparency and the processes for safeguarding the vulnerable. He acknowledged the failures of the church openly and insisted upon the need for repentance, reform and renewal. He repeatedly warned against clericalism, calling on bishops and priests to embrace service over status. In the realm of interfaith relations, Pope Francis built bridges. He sought friendship with the Jewish community, with the Orthodox churches and with leaders across the religious spectrum, recognising the shared responsibility to work for peace and human dignity. Throughout his papacy, he retained his deep pastoral instincts—those of a parish priest concerned above all with the wellbeing of his people. Even as he bore the title of Pope, he continued to live simply, in the Casa di Santa Marta guesthouse rather than in the opulent papal apartments. He travelled light, spoke plainly and retained a humility that had marked his life in Buenos Aires.

Pope Francis's influence was also strongly felt here in Australia. He inspired Australian Catholics, many of whom served faithfully in parishes, schools, hospitals and charities across this nation. His emphasis on compassion and inclusion resonated deeply within the Australian church and has long been at the forefront of social services, education and health care. Here in Australia, his messages found particular relevance in the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society, CatholicCare, Caritas Australia and the many religious orders and lay groups who daily put faith into action. He encouraged the church to be out on the streets rather than locked away in self-preservation. His support for Australia's Catholic institutions, from Catholic schools educating nearly 800,000 students across the country to the hospitals and aged-care facilities serving Australians of all backgrounds, has been a source of strength and encouragement to those communities. His call for leaders to listen more and judge less offered comfort to many Australians who felt estranged from the church, reminding them that the doors of faith remain open. Pope Francis also offered encouragement during moments of hardship for the Australian Catholic community, not least during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. His words of support, his prayers for victims and his emphasis on the need for truth and justice were deeply felt by survivors and the clergy.

His later years, unfortunately, were marked by declining health. Despite these challenges, he continued his duties with unwavering resolve. He faced criticism from some quarters and misunderstanding from others, but he never wavered in his mission to bring the love of God to all people. He reminded the church that faith is not about exclusion but about welcome, not about isolation but about engagement. His emphasis on tenderness, understanding and accompaniment reflected the heart of the gospel and brought comfort to many.

Pope Francis's death marks the end of an era, an era defined not by power but by humility and service. Today the opposition honours not only the former head of the Catholic Church but a global leader whose influence extended beyond religious boundaries. He leaves a profound legacy, one of compassion in an age of division, mercy in an age of judgement and faith in an age of doubt. We offer our deepest condolences to the Catholic community in Australia and around the world, who mourn the loss of their Holy Father. We recognise the grief felt by millions who found in him a leader of hope, warmth and humanity. May his soul rest in peace, may his example continue to inspire future generations and may we all, regardless of faith or creed, strive to build a world where kindness triumphs over cruelty, mercy over condemnation and love over indifference. Vale, Pope Francis.