Joshua Bennett
Australia's Catholic bishops have been elected to national roles in areas such as education, safeguarding, social justice, liturgy, and inter-faith relations. They are represented by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), which has appointed bishops to various positions, including executive secretaries and welcomed the elections of Popes. The ACBC also organises events like the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and celebrates Masses in memory of late Popes Francis. While an exact number is not readily available, there is a long list of Catholic bishops in Australia, including those in Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, and Perth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Bishops in Australia | Over 50 |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC)
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) is the peak body of the Catholic Church in Australia. It is made up of all the Bishops of the Latin Church in Australia and the Catholic Bishop of the Military Ordinariate, and its members meet regularly to discuss issues pertaining to the Catholic Church in the country. The ACBC also releases statements and media releases on behalf of the Catholic Church in Australia, providing guidance and direction to the Catholic community and its leaders.
The ACBC is led by a President, currently Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who is the Archbishop of Brisbane. He is assisted by a Vice President, currently Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, the Archbishop of Perth, and together they provide leadership and direction to the Conference. The ACBC also has a number of committees and working groups that focus on specific areas, such as education, welfare, and social justice, ensuring that the Catholic Church in Australia has a coordinated and consistent approach to these issues.
One of the key roles of the ACBC is to provide a unified voice for the Catholic Church in Australia, ensuring that the Church speaks with one voice on important social, moral, and theological issues. The ACBC also engages with government and community leaders, representing the Catholic perspective in national discussions and consultations. This includes making submissions to parliamentary inquiries, participating in interfaith dialogues, and collaborating with other Christian denominations and religious organizations.
In addition to its external role, the ACBC also provides support and resources to Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools, and agencies across Australia. This includes the development of national policies and guidelines, as well as the provision of training and professional development for clergy, religious educators, and pastoral workers. The ACBC also facilitates collaboration and networking among Catholic organizations, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
The ACBC is committed to transparency and accountability, providing regular updates and reports on its activities to the Catholic community and the general public. It also engages with the media, offering interviews and press conferences to ensure that the Catholic perspective is accurately represented in the public sphere. Through these efforts, the ACBC seeks to strengthen the Catholic Church in Australia and promote its values and teachings in a modern and evolving society.
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Catholic bishops' roles
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders. They are responsible for teaching Catholic doctrine, governing the Catholics within their jurisdiction, sanctifying the world, and representing the Church. Bishops are collectively known as the College of Bishops, and they are considered to be the successors of the College of Apostles. This is because Catholics trace the origins of the office of bishop back to the apostles, who they believe were endowed with a special charism and office by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The appointment of bishops is a complex process that requires the participation of several officials. In the Latin Church, the local synod, the papal nuncio (or apostolic delegate), various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, and the Pope all play a role. Since the 1970s, it has become common for the nuncio to seek input from the clergy and laity within the vacant diocese. In patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Eastern Churches, the permanent synod, the holy synod, and the patriarch or major archbishop are also involved in the selection of bishops.
Once appointed, a bishop's primary role is to govern and teach the Catholics within their jurisdiction, which is typically a diocese in the Latin Church or an eparchy in the Eastern Catholic Churches. Bishops may also fill additional roles within the Catholic Church. For example, a priest may be appointed as a bishop, or a diocesan bishop may be appointed as an archbishop. A titular bishop is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese and is instead assigned to a titular see, usually the name of a city or area that used to be the seat of a diocese.
The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome and successor of Saint Peter, has a unique role among the bishops. He has the authority to appoint other bishops and manage the Church's central administration, the Roman Curia.
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Catholic bishops in memory of Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, passed away on 21 April 2025, at the age of 88. He had served as pope since his election on 13 March 2013. Pope Francis was known for his progressive stances and efforts to address corruption and sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
During his papacy, Pope Francis took a conciliatory approach towards the People's Republic of China, normalising the situation for China's approximately 10 million Catholics. He also made strides towards including women in the Catholic Synod of Bishops, allowing 35 women to vote at the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly, a first in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis acknowledged the sexual abuse of religious sisters by priests and bishops, and he admitted to mishandling a case involving a priest convicted of child sexual abuse. He expressed shame and sorrow for the Catholic Church's role in abuses against Indigenous peoples in Canada and made an apostolic journey to the country to express his remorse.
In terms of his health, Pope Francis had been facing health issues since 2021, which sparked rumours of his potential resignation. However, he dismissed these rumours and continued his papal duties. Unfortunately, his health continued to deteriorate, and he passed away in 2025, leaving behind a legacy of reform and a commitment to addressing the wrongdoings of the Catholic Church.
The death of Pope Francis prompted a Requiem Mass, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, with approximately 250,000 people in attendance. The Mass also marked the beginning of a nine-day mourning period, during which cardinals concelebrated Mass in his memory. Pope Francis's successor, Pope Leo XIV, was elected by the conclave that convened after his death.
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Catholic bishops in Australia's provinces
Australia's Catholic Church administrative divisions cover the entire geographical area of the country and are not part of any province. The Eastern Catholic Churches with eparchies or exarchates in Australia are not grouped into provinces, although they may be associated with them. These churches are directly under the Holy See and have limited oversight from the head of their respective sui iuris churches.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is made up of Archbishops, Bishops, Auxiliary Bishops, and the heads of Dioceses, Ordinariates, and Eparchies. Each Diocese is under the jurisdiction of a Bishop, with Archdioceses led by Archbishops. To assist Archbishops and Bishops, Auxiliary Bishops of either episcopal or archiepiscopal rank may be appointed.
The Archdiocese of Hobart and the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn do not have Suffragan Dioceses. Instead, they work at the provincial level with the Province of Melbourne and the Province of Sydney, respectively.
The Eparchy of Ss Peter and Paul of Melbourne serves Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite.
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Catholic bishops in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has declared itself a Christian country, with 95.6% of Papua New Guineans identifying as Christian according to a 2011 census. Catholics form the largest Christian grouping, accounting for 27% of the population, or 2.5 million people according to Vatican estimates.
The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea plays a significant role in providing public services, particularly in remote communities where government presence is often lacking. During times of conflict or in the absence of police and state agencies, Catholic priests and bishops step in to resolve disputes and rebuild peace.
The Catholic community in Papua New Guinea includes 1 cardinal, 27 bishops, and 600 priests. The bishops are organized under a bishops' conference, previously led by Fr. Giorgio Licini, who now works for Caritas Papua New Guinea.
The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea has expressed skepticism about a recent constitutional amendment affirming the country's dedication to Christianity and the Holy Trinity. The Church believes that the amendment will not improve the country's situation and is an attempt to address a national identity crisis arising from the country's ancestral heritage, Western colonial rule, and 21st-century technology.
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