Australian PM Honors Pope Francis with Mass Attendance

By Alasdair Pal and Lucy Craymer

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cancelled some of his election campaigning events on Tuesday to mark the death of Pope Francis, while people across the Pacific region mourned his passing.

Albanese, educated in Catholic schools, attended a mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.

"The holy father was one of the most consequential leaders of this century and of our lifetime. He was, indeed, the people's Pope," Albanese, in a black suit and tie, told a news conference, adding he had paused election campaigning on Tuesday morning.

The prime minister said government flags would fly at half mast as a sign of respect for Pope Francis.

"He was tireless in advocating for the powerless, campaigning against poverty, for the rights of working people and for protecting our natural environment," Albanese said.

Early voting opens on Tuesday for the Australian elections scheduled for May 3. Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he believed that campaigning could happen but it would be a respectful day.

The leaders debate scheduled for Tuesday evening is expected to go ahead.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, said in a statement that the pope’s death did not come as a surprise given his age and declining health, but the news was received with great sadness.

With Christianity widespread across the Pacific and large Catholic populations in a number of Pacific islands, including Tonga and Papua New Guinea, the pontiff's death is expected to be felt widely.

Masses are planned in Australia, New Zealand and across the Pacific to pray for Pope Francis ahead of his funeral.

Solomon Islands Archbishop Christopher Cardone said a big mass would be held on Friday at the Holy Cross Cathedral to mark his death with politicians and diplomats expected to attend.

"(Pope Francis') ecumenical spirit and commitment to social and ecological justice and in particular, leadership grounded in compassion for the vulnerable ... were an inspiration,” the Pacific Conference of Churches, which includes Catholic and Protestant churches, added in a statement.

Four cardinals from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea are expected to head to Rome to participate in the conclave to select the next pope.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal; Editing by Sonali Paul)