PM Anthony Albanese to attend Pope’s inauguration as part of three-country tour

Anthony Albanese will attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV as part of his first international tour of his second term.

The Prime Minister will first visit Indonesia on Thursday and Friday before flying to Rome for Sunday’s mass with other world leaders. He will then visit Singapore on the way back to Australia during the six day trip.

While in Vatican City, Mr Albanese will invite Pope Leo to Australia for the 54th International Eucharistic Congress in 2028.

Mr Albanese said it was a “great honour to represent Australia” at the historic occasion for the Catholic Church.

“The event will connect Catholics around the world, and the millions of Australians of Catholic faith, as they celebrate and welcome the new Bishop of Rome and Pontiff to amplify his message of peace and social justice for all humanity,” he said.

“I look forward to reinforcing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.”

Prior to attending the Vatican City, Mr Albanese will head to Indonesia to “signal” the importance of the defence and security relationship with the region.

He is expected to land in Jakarta late on Wednesday before meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday and Friday.

Indonesia was also Prime Minister Albanese’s first bilateral visit following his election in 2022.

“My first overseas visit after my government’s re-election reflects our enduring commitment to some of our closest partners in the region,” Mr Albanese said.

“I am honoured to be a guest of President Prabowo Subianto. There is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia.

“We have a long history of co-operation and friendship, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations last year.

“Together we are setting an ambitious agenda to deepen our ties.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke are accompanying Mr Albanese to Indonesia,

“Obviously, the first trip being to Indonesia sends a signal, just as his first trip last term was to Indonesia too,” Senator Wong told the Today show on Wednesday.

“(The) region matters to Australia and we’re very focused on what we can continue to do to keep strengthening that relationship.”

The Indonesian-Russian relationship was a focal point during the election campaign because of security concerns.

A military intelligence firm reported that Russia was looking to base long-range aircraft at an air force base in Papua, the most eastern Indonesian province.

However, the Indonesian defence minister said that no such Russian base would be allowed.

Senator Wong said the relationship between Australia and Indonesia had been ongoing since the time of former prime minister Robert Menzies in the 1960s.

“What we have to focus on is what we do, and that’s what we’ve done,” she added.

“We’ve got, for the first time ever, a defence agreement with Indonesia. We have stronger economic ties, we work much more closely diplomatically, internationally.”

To conclude his trip, Mr Albanese will visit Singapore on Tuesday May 20 to meet with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Wong. The close partnership between Australia and Singapore is underpinned by our shared interest in an open, stable and prosperous region,” he said.

Mr Albanese is expected to attend the G7 leaders meeting in Alberta next month, opening up an opportunity to meet with Mr Trump in either Canada or the US.

When asked about relations with the US and President Trump, Senator Wong reiterated that the “usual rules don’t apply”.

“It’s a different approach and we will take that step by step,” she said.

“We recognise that President Trump and the United States envisage a very different role for America in the world.

“There’s obviously changes in policy and we’ll have to keep dealing with that, and I think it’s very important for us to stay clear and steady on what is our national interest, what is in Australia’s national interest,” Senator Wong said.

“We are a sovereign nation and we make decisions about what advances our

interests.”

She confirmed that Australia would continue to engage about ongoing trade issues.