Peter Comensoli

Peter Andrew Comensoli (born 25 March 1964) is an Australian Catholic prelate who was named the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne on 29 June 2018.

The Most Reverend

Peter Comensoli
Archbishop of Melbourne
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseMelbourne
SeeMelbourne
Appointed29 June 2018
Installed1 August 2018
PredecessorDenis Hart
Orders
Ordination22 May 1992
by William Edward Murray
Consecration8 June 2011
by George Pell
Personal details
Born
Peter Andrew Comensoli

(1964-03-25) 25 March 1964
Illawarra, Australia[1]
NationalityAustralian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
Alma mater
MottoPraedicamus Christum crucifixum ("We proclaim a crucified Christ")
Coat of armsPeter Comensoli's coat of arms
Ordination history of
Peter Comensoli
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byWilliam Edward Murray
Date22 May 1992
PlaceSt John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorGeorge Pell (Sydney)
Co-consecratorsPhilip Wilson (Adelaide)
Peter Ingham (Wollongong)
Date8 June 2011
PlaceSt Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Peter Comensoli as principal consecrator
Shane Mackinlay16 October 2019
Styles of
Peter Comensoli
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

He had been serving as the third Bishop of Broken Bay in New South Wales since December 2014. From 2011 to 2014 he was an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney.

Early life

Comensoli studied at St Paul's (now Holy Spirit) College, Bellambi, New South Wales, and studied commerce at the University of Wollongong while working for four years in the banking sector before switching to theology.[2][3]

Priesthood

Comensoli entered St Patrick's Seminary in 1986 and obtained a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in 1989 and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) degree in 1991 from the Catholic Institute of Sydney. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Wollongong in 1992[3] by William Edward Murray. Comensoli obtained a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2000, a Master of Letters (MLitt) degree in moral philosophy from the University of St Andrews in 2007 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in theological ethics from the University of Edinburgh.[3][4] His doctoral thesis was titled "Recognising persons: the profoundly impaired and Christian anthropology" and was submitted in 2012.[5]

Episcopacy

Comensoli was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney and titular bishop of Tigisis in Numidia by Pope Benedict XVI on 20 April 2011.[6] He was consecrated as a bishop by Cardinal George Pell at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney on 8 June 2011, becoming Australia's youngest Catholic bishop.[3][7]

On 27 February 2014, Comensoli was appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney following Cardinal Pell's appointment as prefect of the newly formed Secretariat for the Economy.[8] On 18 September 2014, Pope Francis appointed Anthony Fisher the new Archbishop of Sydney, and Comensoli remained the apostolic administrator until Fisher's installation on 12 November.[9]

On 20 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed Comensoli as the Bishop of Broken Bay.[4] His installation took place on 12 December.[10]

On 29 June 2018, Comensoli was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne.[11][12] He was installed on 1 August.[13]

Comensoli personally vouched for Cardinal Pell by signing a letter of support in 2015 ahead of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, describing him as a "man of integrity",[14] and considered him a personal friend.[15]

Comensoli has stated that he would not break the seal of confession for confessions which include admissions of sexual abuse.[16]

References
  1. "Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. Hasham, Nicole (20 April 2011). "Father Peter Comensoli answers higher call". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong, NSW. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  3. "Bishop expects 30 years of hard work". The Australian. Surry Hills, NSW. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  4. "Rinunce e nomine". Vatican Press Office. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. Comensoli, Peter Andrew (2012). "Recognising persons: the profoundly impaired and Christian anthropology". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  6. "Moral Theologian Named Auxiliary Bishop for Sydney". Zenit. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  7. "Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of Sydney". Archdiocese of Sydney. 27 February 2014.
  8. "ACBC congratulates Bishop Peter Comensoli on Sydney Appointment" (Press release). Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  9. Blackburn, Richard (18 September 2014). "Catholic Church names Bishop Anthony Fisher as Cardinal George Pell's successor". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  10. "Australian bishop entrusts diocese to Mary, Star of the Sea at Installation". Catholic News Agency. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  11. Fox Koob, Simone. "Bishop Peter Comensoli to be the next Archbishop of Melbourne". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  12. Brolly, Mark (29 June 2018). "Bishop Peter Comensoli appointed Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne". The Tablet. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  13. "Melbourne's new Archbishop installed". Special Broadcasting Service. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  14. Deery, Shannon (3 June 2015). "Pell 'a man of integrity with a big hear'". Herald Sun. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. "Archbishop of Melbourne says George Pell remains a friend, apologises to abuse victims". The Age. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. "Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli would choose jail over breaking confessional seal". ABC News. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
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