Anthony Albanese, himself a Catholic, said the Argentinian pope had been ‘close to the people of Australia’
The Australian prime minister has paid an emotional tribute to Pope Francis as a “devoted champion and a loving father” of Catholics in his country, following the death of the pontiff, aged 88.
Anthony Albanese, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, and church leaders issued statements after news of the pontiff’s death was announced on Monday night.
