Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to the “courage and true leadership” of Pope Francis in Melbourne, and suggested the governor general may represent Australia at the funeral of the man he calls “the people’s pope”.
The prime minister was due to campaign in marginal seats in the Victorian capital as pre-polling began on Tuesday, but he cancelled engagements out of respect for the late pontiff, who died overnight at the age of 88.
Albanese, who is Catholic, attended mass earlier in the morning at St Patrick’s Cathedral. He recently attended an Easter Sunday mass in Sydney at St Mary’s Cathedral, where he also went to school for eight years and was an altar boy.
After an emotional tribute on Monday night, Albanese was again visibly moved as he addressed the press on Tuesday morning about the pope’s legacy.
“His loss is being mourned, not by just over 1 billion Catholics around the world, but people from all walks of life.
“In the truest sense of the words, he practised what he preached. The holy father was one of the most consequential leaders of this century and of our lifetime. He was, indeed, the people’s pope.”
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, said earlier on Tuesday that Albanese had been “deeply affected” by the pope’s death.
While Albanese said he tried to “not talk about my faith in public”, he added: “[People] draw on who they are and certainly my Catholicism is just a part of me.”
He praised Francis for “his humility, for the way that he embraced the poor, the way that he embraced the social justice message that I see as the message of Jesus Christ”.
“He was someone who I personally admired.”
Albanese highlighted the pope’s “significant” advocacy for both people and the environment. “[He] advocated for reforms that weren’t universally supported … He had courage and he showed true leadership.”
Asked who would represent Australia at the pope’s funeral, the prime minister said he had spoken to the governor general, Sam Mostyn, who was travelling to Turkey for Anzac Day. “Her Excellency would be an appropriate representative,” he said.
Albanese said he had also spoken to Keith Pitt, nominated as the Ambassador to the Holy See, but noted that Pitt had not yet been able to “present his credentials” due to the pope’s illness.
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“Mr Pitt is assisting with the logistics and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are finalising details.”
Though his election campaign engagements were cancelled on Tuesday, Albanese said the public could separate the two events, and stressed the important of Australia’s secular democracy – adding that Catholics would “take time to reflect”.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, confirmed on the Today show that the leaders would go ahead with their third debate on Tuesday night, but told ABC News Breakfast: “I don’t think it’s a day for overt politicking at all.”
Dutton, who attended a Tuesday service at St Mary’s Cathedral, paid tribute to Pope Francis as “a compassionate man, someone who was full of mercy and who always took care of those he saw in need”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Catholic community today.”
Albanese was due to travel back to Sydney later on Tuesday for the debate.
