Peter Comensoli
{{Short description|Catholic archbishop of Melbourne}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Archbishop
| honorific-prefix = The Most Reverend
| name = Peter Comensoli
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Metropolitan Archbishop of Melbourne
| image = Archbishop Peter Comensoli (2).jpg
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| church = Catholic Church
| archdiocese = Melbourne
| province =
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| diocese =
| see = Melbourne
| elected =
| appointed = 29 June 2018
| term_start = 1 August 2018
| quashed =
| term_end =
| predecessor = Denis Hart
| opposed =
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| other_post =
| ordination = 22 May 1992
| ordained_by = William Edward Murray
| consecration = 8 June 2011
| consecrated_by = George Pell
| cardinal =
| rank =
| birth_name = Peter Andrew Comensoli
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|03|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Illawarra, Australia{{cite web | title = Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli | publisher = Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney | url = http://www.sydneycatholic.org/people/bishop_peter_comensoli/ | access-date =12 November 2013 }}
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| nationality = Australian
| religion = Roman Catholic
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| previous_post = {{unbulleted list|Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (2011–2014)|Titular Bishop of Tigisis in Numidia (2011–2014)|Apostolic Administrator of Sydney (2014)|Bishop of Broken Bay (2014–2018)}}
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|University of Wollongong|Alphonsian Academy|University of St Andrews|University of Edinburgh}}
| motto = Praedicamus Christum crucifixum ("We proclaim a crucified Christ")
| signature =
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| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Peter Andrew Comensoli (archbishop).svg
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{{Ordination
| ordained deacon by =
| date of diaconal ordination =
| place of diaconal ordination =
| ordained priest by = William Edward Murray
| date of priestly ordination = 22 May 1992
| place of priestly ordination = St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow
| consecrated by = George Pell (Sydney)
| co-consecrators = Philip Wilson (Adelaide)
Peter Ingham (Wollongong)
| date of consecration = 8 June 2011
| place of consecration = St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| bishop 1 = Shane Mackinlay
| consecration date 1 = 16 October 2019
| sources =
}}
{{Infobox bishopstyles
|name = Peter Comensoli
|dipstyle = The Most Reverend
|offstyle = Your Grace
|relstyle = Bishop
|deathstyle =
}}
Peter Andrew Comensoli (born 25 March 1964) is an Australian Catholic prelate who was named the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne on 29 June 2018.
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.{{cite news | last = Hasham | first = Nicole | title = Father Peter Comensoli answers higher call | newspaper = Illawarra Mercury | location = Wollongong, NSW | date =20 April 2011 | url = http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/635534/father-peter-comensoli-answers-higher-call/ | access-date = 29 June 2018}}{{cite news | title = Bishop expects 30 years of hard work | newspaper =The Australian | location = Surry Hills, NSW | date =9 June 2011 | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/bishop-expects-30-years-of-hard-work/story-e6frg6nf-1226072011345 | access-date =12 November 2013 }}
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 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. His doctoral thesis was titled "Recognising persons: the profoundly impaired and Christian anthropology" and was submitted in 2012.{{cite web |last1=Comensoli |first1=Peter Andrew |title=Recognising persons: the profoundly impaired and Christian anthropology |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.563779 |website=E-Thesis Online Service |publisher=The British Library Board |access-date=11 May 2021 |date=2012}}
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.{{cite news | title = Moral Theologian Named Auxiliary Bishop for Sydney | newspaper = Zenit | date =20 April 2011
| url = http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/moral-theologian-named-auxiliary-bishop-for-sydney | access-date =12 November 2013 }} 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.{{cite web |url = http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2014/2014227_469.shtml |title = Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of Sydney |publisher = Archdiocese of Sydney |date=27 February 2014 }}
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.{{cite press release |url = http://mediablog.catholic.org.au/?p=2584 | publisher = Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference | date = 27 February 2014 | access-date = 29 June 2018 | title = ACBC congratulates Bishop Peter Comensoli on Sydney Appointment }} 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.{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/catholic-church-names-bishop-anthony-fisher-as-cardinal-george-pells-successor-20140918-10j15o.html | title = Catholic Church names Bishop Anthony Fisher as Cardinal George Pell's successor | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | date=18 September 2014 | agency = Fairfax Media | access-date=19 September 2014 | last=Blackburn |first = Richard }}
On 20 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed Comensoli as the Bishop of Broken Bay.{{cite web | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/11/20/0865/01864.html | title=Rinunce e nomine | publisher=Vatican Press Office | date=20 November 2014 | access-date=26 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906173836/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/11/20/0865/01864.html | archive-date=6 September 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} His installation took place on 12 December.{{cite news | access-date = 29 June 2018 | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/31121/australian-bishop-entrusts-diocese-to-mary-star-of-the-sea-at-installation | date = 13 December 2014 | title = Australian bishop entrusts diocese to Mary, Star of the Sea at Installation | agency = Catholic News Agency }}
On 29 June 2018, Comensoli was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne.{{cite news |url = https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/bishop-peter-comensoli-to-be-the-next-archbishop-of-melbourne-20180629-p4zonx.html | access-date = 29 June 2018 | title= Bishop Peter Comensoli to be the next Archbishop of Melbourne |first=Simone | last = Fox Koob | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald }}{{cite news | access-date=29 June 2018 |url = http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/9329/bishop-peter-comensoli-appointed-catholic-archbishop-of-melbourne | newspaper = The Tablet | date= 29 June 2018 | title = Bishop Peter Comensoli appointed Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne |first=Mark |last=Brolly}} He was installed on 1 August.{{cite news | access-date = 6 August 2018 | url = https://www.sbs.com.au/news/melbourne-s-new-archbishop-installed | date = 1 August 2018 |title = Melbourne's new Archbishop installed | publisher = Special Broadcasting Service }}
Comensoli is the Grand Prior of the Victoria Australia Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/oessh/luogotenenze_en.html|title=The Lieutenancies of the World Lieutenants and Grand Priors|access-date=2025-05-26}}
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",{{cite web |last = Deery |first = Shannon |title = Pell 'a man of integrity with a big hear' |url = https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/australian-archbishops-write-open-letter-to-support-cardinal-george-pell-a-man-of-integrity/news-story/c257890a6a47f21812c203d5c659b9c2 |website = Herald Sun |access-date=15 August 2019 |language=en-AU |date=3 June 2015 }} and considered him a personal friend.{{cite web |title = Archbishop of Melbourne says George Pell remains a friend, apologises to abuse victims |url = https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/archbishop-of-melbourne-says-george-pell-remains-a-friend-apologises-to-abuse-victims-20190227-p510hu.html |website=The Age |access-date=15 August 2019 |language=en-AU |date=26 February 2019 }}
Comensoli has stated that he would not break the seal of confession for confessions which include admissions of sexual abuse.{{cite web |title = Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli would choose jail over breaking confessional seal |url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-14/melbourne-catholic-archbishop-petrer-comensoli-on-confessional/11409944 |website = ABC News |access-date = 1 September 2019 |language=en-AU |date = 14 August 2019 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
- {{cite web |url = http://www.sydneycatholic.org/people/bishop_peter_comensoli/ |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171104235638/http://www.sydneycatholic.org/people/bishop_peter_comensoli/ |title = Most Rev Peter A Comensoli |website = Archdiocese of Sydney |archive-date = 4 November 2017 }}
- {{cite web |url = https://www.cam.org.au/Archbishop/Biography |title = Biography of Archbishop Peter Andrew Comensoli |access-date=11 October 2018 }}
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{{s-bef|before=Aldo Maria Lazzarín Stella}}
{{s-tul|title=Titular Bishop of Tigisis in Numidia|years=2011–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Denis Jean-Marie Jachiet}}
{{s-bef|before=David Walker}}
{{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Broken Bay |years=2014–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Anthony Randazzo}}
{{s-bef|before=Denis James Hart}}
{{s-ttl|title=Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne|years=2018–present}}
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{{Roman Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne}}
{{Australian Catholic Archbishops and Bishops}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Australia|New South Wales}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Comensoli, Peter Andrew}}
Category:University of Wollongong alumni
Category:Alumni of the University of St Andrews
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Category:Alphonsian Academy alumni
Category:Australian people of Italian descent
Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Broken Bay
Category:Roman Catholic moral theologians
Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Melbourne
Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Sydney
Category:Australian Roman Catholic archbishops