New Brisbane Archbishop appointed, breaking 50-year habit

Most Reverend Mark Coleridge has been named Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane. Photo: Supplied

A recognised theologian and scriptures scholar has been appointed to the head of Brisbane’s Roman Catholic Church by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Most Reverend Mark Coleridge was last night named Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane.

The announcement was made in Rome where he served for five years before his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 2002.

He will officially replace Archbishop John Bathersby, who at 75 years old retired to Stanthorpe last year, with an Installation Mass held at the Cathedral of St Stephen in May.

The Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, has welcomed the appointment of a man described as a distinguished leader of the Church in Australia.

Born in 1948, the third of five children served as a priest for 38 years, developing special qualifications in the fields of Sacred Scripture and the Church’s liturgical worship, both of which he has taught extensively in Australia and overseas.

During his time at the Vatican in the late 1990s, Archbishop Coleridge was an official in the Secretariat of State, the Holy See’s political and diplomatic department. He was appointed Chaplain to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 2001.

Chief among his scholarly contributions was his chairing of the international editorial committee responsible for the new English translation of the Roman Missal, the text used to celebrate Catholic Mass.

The first non-Queensland born Archbishop appointed in almost 50 years comes to serve the city after serving in Canberra and country New South Wales.

He made headlines earlier this year while serving as Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn by proposing to cancel Masses if they are not attended by at least 15 adults and making claims that Canberra had twice the number of Catholic schools, parishes and churches as the city needed.

The Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Jarrett of Lismore, continues in office as arrangements are made to welcome the Archbishop-elect and the plans are completed for Archbishop Coleridge’s installation in St Stephen’s Cathedral.

An Installation Mass will be held in the Cathedral of St Stephen on Friday May 11.