Canberra – June 2024. The Hon Consul General visited the Apostolic Nunciature to meet Monsignor Alfred d’Souza, Charge d’Affaires of the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Australia. Discussions were held about the highly successful visit of 104 pilgrims from Tonga to World Youth Day which was held in Portugal in 2023 in the presence of Pope Francis and Portuguese President Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Discussions were held about promoting further spiritual ties between the Christian communities of Tonga and Portugal. The Consul-General also met with His Grace Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Canberra & Goulburn in 2013.
The Hon Consul-General of Tonga Anthony Bailey had previously accompanied His late Majesty King George V of Tonga on his Official Visit to the Holy See during which the King was received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho later officially visited Vatican City and were received in private audience by His Holiness Pope Francis in 2015.
Hon Consul-General Anthony Bailey called on His Excellency Tim Mawe, Ambassador of Ireland to Australia at the Irish Ambassador’s Residence. Ireland established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Tonga on 27 July 2021 and it is expected that Ireland’s will accredit its first Ambassador to Tonga shortly. Ireland maintains strong ties with Tonga in areas such as climate change and rugby.
Whilst in the Australian capital the Hon Consul General also visited the Australian Federal Parliament and remained for lunch with Professor Matthew Neuhaus, former Australian Ambassador and former Political Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Later they both visited the oldest place of worship in Canberra, the Anglican Church of St John the Baptist, built in 1841 and other historic sites in Canberra.
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