Australian PM brings iconic Akubra to pope's inauguration
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, attended the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, bringing a distinctive Australian touch: the Akubra hat. This event captured the attention of millions of people worldwide.
Albanese shared a video of the meeting with the new pope on Instagram.
Honoured to attend the inaugural Mass and meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who is in the prayers of Australia's five million Catholics today, he wrote.
Akubra hats are one of the most recognizable items associated with Australia. They are manufactured by a company of the same name. The hats are made from felt derived from rabbit underfur.
The name "Akubra" likely originates from an Aboriginal word meaning "head covering." Initially, this term was used for any hat of this style—durable, waterproof, and with a wide brim. However, in 1912, the term "Akubra" was successfully registered as a trademark by the Akubra Hat Factory.
Church leaders at the new pope's inauguration
Before the ceremony, the Australian Prime Minister met with the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, and the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, at Domus Australia. The Mass, attended by tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, began at 4:00 AM Eastern Time.
During the ceremony, church leaders presented the pope with a pallium, symbolizing his assumption of the papal office, and the Fisherman’s Ring, symbolizing the first apostles as "fishers of men."
Another meeting with (another) pope
Albanese, who is a Catholic himself, recalled how his mother took him to meet Pope Paul VI, which was one of the most significant moments in her life.
I was just a young child then, the Prime Minister added.
During his visit to Rome, Prime Minister Albanese also plans to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss issues related to the war in Ukraine and trade.
