Dear Friends,
A Season of Change
As autumn settles across the diverse landscapes where our community works and lives – from Darwin to Hobart, from Brisbane to Broome – we find ourselves in a season of profound change.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary Federal Election outcome. On behalf of Catholic Social Services Australia, I extend our sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese and his Government on their historic achievement. We look forward to working alongside the new government in pursuit of the common good – a foundational principle that guides our mission and service.
This season of transition extends beyond our national political landscape. It is with profound sadness that we also acknowledge the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. His leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the marginalised have shaped not only our organisation but the global community. As the Cardinals gather in conclave (more details on this process are provided below), we are filled with hope that the Holy Spirit will guide their deliberations and provide us with the Pope the Church needs for our times.
So much has been written and spoken since the Holy Father’s passing and funeral – beautiful, insightful reflections from voices far more eloquent than my own. Rather than add to these tributes, I simply offer my heartfelt gratitude for his extraordinary witness and inspiration.
Pope Francis’ vision called us to carry forward the mission he so passionately championed. Later this month, we will mark the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking encyclical, Laudato Si’. This prophetic document, which called us to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, continues to inspire and challenge us.
While Laudato Si’ has undoubtedly transformed our approach to environmental and social justice, it is Fratelli Tutti that has most deeply resonated in my reflections on the work of our Catholic social services community. In the work of our member organisations across the country, I see the embodiment of Pope Francis’ profound meditation on the Good Samaritan – that powerful reminder that the question is not “who is my neighbour?” but rather “can I be a neighbour to others?”
Each day across our network, our wonderful staff and volunteers encounter the “wounded traveller” on the roadside that Pope Francis describes. Sometimes this appears as a family facing collapse or homelessness, sometimes as an elder experiencing isolation, sometimes as a young person battling mental health challenges, or as a person who has come in contact with the justice system.
The encyclical challenges our entire community to move beyond what Pope Francis called the “shadow of abandonment” – those tendencies to walk past, to look away, to create distance between “us” and “them.” Instead, it calls us to the difficult but transformative practice of proximity, reminding us that genuine social friendship requires encountering the other not as a category or statistic, but as a fellow human being with inherent dignity. This is not always comfortable work, but it is at the heart of what our Catholic social services community provides.
In the complex landscape of social services, where policies and statistics can sometimes overshadow the human stories at their centre, Fratelli Tutti calls us back to the fundamental truth of our interconnectedness. As our member organisations advocate for systemic change and accompany those experiencing vulnerability, we do so not merely as service providers but as fellow travellers on a shared journey toward dignity and wholeness.
Pope Francis’ call for a better politics – one that places human dignity at its centre – remains particularly relevant as we enter this new parliamentary term. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis reminded us that “Politics is a noble vocation” when directed toward the common good.
As I have often said, Australia deserves a politics that transcends partisan or sectional interests to address our most pressing social challenges with wisdom, compassion, and moral courage.
This will be our expectation for the second term of the Albanese Government – that policy decisions reflect a genuine commitment to the common good, particularly for those who are most vulnerable in our society. CSSA will have more to say about specific policy priorities in the coming weeks and months, but our fundamental position remains steadfast: politics must serve human dignity and the flourishing of all people, where the good of each person is integrally connected to the wellbeing of the entire community. | 
