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The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has welcomed the appointment by Pope Leo XIV this evening of a new Archbishop of Hobart.
Bishop Anthony Ireland currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, welcomed the appointment.
“The Archbishop-elect’s experience in the Archdiocese of Melbourne will stand him in good stead as he takes up the new challenge of pastoral leadership in the Archdiocese of Hobart,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“In addition to his recent experience as an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, the Archbishop-elect has also been involved in both academic and spiritual formation as a lecturer and seminary rector and has considerable experience also in parish ministry and in the ministry of health care.
“His many gifts will be warmly welcomed by the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Hobart as their new bishop seeks to live out his episcopal motto, ‘Confirm, strengthen and support’ (1 Peter 5.10).”
Bishop Ireland, 68, grew up in Melbourne’s inner south and studied at the Corpus Christi Seminary College.
He was ordained priest in Melbourne in September 1987 and served in the parishes of Grovedale and Torquay, Mentone, Sandringham, Langwarrin, Frankston and Doncaster.
During his priesthood, he studied moral and spiritual theology and completed a doctorate in Rome.
He has lectured in moral theology at Catholic Theological College in East Melbourne and was head of the Department of Moral and Practical Theology for eight years.
He tutored at Corpus Christi Seminary College and served as its Dean of Studies and Rector.
Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in May 2021 and he was ordained bishop in July of that year.
“With a heart full of quiet joy, I have received the news of this appointment, humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me to shepherd a diocese,” Bishop Ireland said.
“As a parish priest, I found deep fulfillment in the pastoral relationships formed through shared faith and mission. I now look forward with great hope to walking that same path of grace with the people of Tasmania.”
Archbishop Julian Porteus is retiring after almost 12 years in the role.