Prime Minister of Australia

10/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2024 21:53

Visit to Australia by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia in October 2024.

This year marks 100 years since the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

His All-Holiness will spend two weeks in Australia, meeting with Greek Australian and diaspora communities, Orthodox parishioners, political and interfaith leaders, and community groups.

Prime Minister Albanese will host His All-Holiness as a Guest of Government on 5 and 13 October.

They will attend events together in Sydney and Melbourne that celebrate the milestone.

Australia is home to a significant Greek Orthodox community, with a population of over 400,000 people across the nation.

This will be His All-Holiness' second visit to Australia as Ecumenical Patriarch- it has been 28 years since his last visit in 1996.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was looking forward to welcoming His All-Holiness to Australia.

"Australian society is enriched by our diversity-it is one of our greatest attributes," the Prime Minister said.

"The Greek Australian community is a vibrant part of Australia's identity, involved in business, public service, politics, the arts and sport."

"It is a joy to celebrate the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the contributions of the Greek community to our nation."