FOR PRESS 15 AUGUST 1978
Mr Speaker, i move that the House notes the death on 6 August
1978 of His Holiness Pope Paul VI, and expresses its profound
regret at his passing.
With the death of Pope Paul the spiritual leader of the
world's 700 million Romnan Catholics for the last 15 yearsthe
world lost a great religious leader and a messenger of
peace. In many ways his papacy came in an unique age.
It coincided with an upsurge of the ecumenical movement and
far-reaching and fundamental changes in society throughout
the world. It was an age, too, of challenge to the traditional
spiritual authority of the Church.
Pope Paul sought to maintain the essential body of doctrine
of his Church, and to uphold its institutional character.
He saw his duty as being to steer a middle course within
the Church, between those elements calling for change and
those who defended continuity.
Pope Paul handled these challenges calmly and wisely, with
moderation, tenacity and courage.
Pope Paul made strenuous efforts to encourage the ecumenical
movement for Christian unity. He actively encouraged contact
and fraternity within Christianity and between the major world
religions.
He sponsored ecumenical meetings for Christian unity, held
numerous meetings with leaders of other Churches, and looked
forward to the eventual resolution of disunity.
Pope Paul also will be remembered for his important reforms
to the organisation and structure of the Church.
The implementation of the Vatican Council's decision to allow
celebration of the mass in the Vernacular was an historic
event of his reign.
There were important changes initiated by Pope Pual in the
field of international affairs. He strove tirelessly for
world peace and for higher ideals in the conduct of world
affairs.
Under him, the Vatican enhanced its already high stature in
international diplomacy. It became a notable contributor
to conferences such as those on world food problems, population,
humanitarian law in armed conflict, and security and co-operation
in Europe.
Foreign policy concerns of the Holy See under Pope Paul included:
disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons;
improvement of social welfare; assisting the development of
the poorer countries; evolution of relations with Marxist
regimes; and a desire to expand official communications with
the Communist, Islamic and Asian world to ensure maintenance
of freedom of Christian observance.
He emphasised peace as the most essential need of our time,
and this was reflected in his innovation of the observance
of 1 January as the world day of peace.
I recall with warmth and appreciation my private audience
with Pope Paul only last year, during which he gave expression
to his concern for and promotion of peace amongst all the
world's citizens.
Pope Paul travelled widely, disregarding risks to his person,
and became the first reigning Pontiff to visit all continents.
We remember the affection generated by his visit to Australia
in 1970. It was during his reign that Australia opened
diplomatic relations with the Holy See. These have proved of
great value in the conduct of Austrlaia's foreign affairs.
Mr Speaker, Pope Paul was a man whose great strengths and
personality became clearer the longer he remained Pope.
His death saddened this country. It is a supreme loss for
his Church and a real loss for all men.
I commend the motion to the House. 000---