Prime Minister Anthony Albanese states that Governor-general may likely represent Australia at Pope Francis’s funeral, who was often regarded by the public as the ‘people’s pope’.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the “courage and true leadership” of Pope Francis in Melbourne and suggested the Governor-General may attend the Pope’s funeral. Albanese, a Catholic, canceled campaign engagements to show respect for the late pontiff, who died at the age of 88. Attending mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Albanese reflected on the Pope’s humility, commitment to social justice, and environmental advocacy. He emphasized that Francis was not just a significant global leader but also a spiritual figure admired by people of all backgrounds. The Prime Minister also discussed the possibility of Australia’s Governor-General representing the nation at the funeral.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/22/pope-francis-funeral-australia-governor-general-sam-mostyn