Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese , Primatial See of Australia

Name: Sydney / Sydneyen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore, Maitland–Newcastle, Parramatta, Wagga Wagga, Wilcannia–Forbes, Wollongong

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: September 2 (1928)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1816: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of New Holland (from Apostolic Vicariate of London District)
1819.04.04: Suppressed (to Apostolic Vicariate of Cape of Good Hope and adjacent territories)
1834.06.03: Restored as Apostolic Vicariate of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land (English) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Cape of Good Hope and adjacent territories)
1842.04.05: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Sydney / Sydneyen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Adelaide and Apostolic Vicariate of Hobart)
1842.04.22: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney / Sydneyen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Adelaide and Hobart)
1845.05.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Perth, Apostolic Vicariate of Essington and Apostolic Vicariate of King George Sounde - The Sound and gained suffragan sees Perth, Essington and King George Sounde - The Sound
1847: Lost suffragan see King George Sounde - The Sound
1847.06.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Maitland and Diocese of Melbourne and gained suffragan sees Maitland and Melbourne
1859.04.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Brisbane and gained suffragan see Brisbane
1862.11.17: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Goulburn and gained suffragan see Goulburn
1865.06.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bathurst and gained suffragan see Bathurst
1866.11.01: Lost territory to Diocese of Maitland
1867.03.12: Gained suffragan see New Norcia
1869.11.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Armidale and gained suffragan see Armidale
1874.03.30: Lost suffragan sees Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth
1877.01.30: Gained suffragan see Queensland
1882.12.29: Gained suffragan see Rockhampton
1887.05.05: Gained suffragan see Grafton
1887.05.10: Lost suffragan sees Brisbane, Rockhampton, Victoria and Queensland and gained suffragan see Wilcannia
1888.08.03: Lost suffragan see Hobart
1898.01.30: Gained suffragan see Geraldton
1913.08.28: Lost suffragan see Geraldton
1917.07.28: Gained suffragan see Wagga Wagga
1917: Gained territory from Diocese of Goulburn
1948.02.05: Lost suffragan see Goulburn
1951.11.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Wollongong and gained suffragan see Wollongong
1966: Lost territory to Diocese of Maitland
1982.03.12: Lost suffragan see New Norcia
1986.04.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Broken Bay and Diocese of Parramatta and gained suffragan sees Broken Bay and Parramatta

Contact Info

Address: Level 16 Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9390 5100

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2014.09.18 – ...):	Archbishop Anthony Colin Fisher, O.P. (65)
Auxiliary Bishop (2016.06.24 – ...):	Bishop Richard James Umbers, Opus Dei (54) Titular Bishop of Thala
Auxiliary Bishop (2021.11.18 – ...):	Bishop Daniel Joseph Meagher (63) Titular Bishop of Pocofeltus
Auxiliary Bishop (2025.02.11 – ...):	Bishop-elect Anthony Gerard Percy (61) Titular Bishop of Appiaria

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Sydney (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Anthony Colin Fisher, O.P. (65)
(2014.09.18 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia)

Veritatem facientes in caritate

Born:	1960.03.10 (Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1991.09.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.09.03

Titular Bishop of Buruni (2003.07.16 – 2010.01.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (Australia) (2003.07.16 – 2010.01.08)

Bishop of Parramatta (Australia) (2010.01.08 – 2014.09.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (2014.09.18 – ...)

Vice-President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2018.05.04 – 2024.05.01)

Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli (60) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2014.02.26 – 2014.09.18)

Cardinal George Pell
(2001.03.26 – 2014.02.24)

Be not afraid

Born:	1941.06.08 (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1966.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.05.21
Created Cardinal:	2003.10.21
Died:	2023.01.10 (Roma, Italy † 81)

Priest of Ballarat (Australia) (1966.12.16 – 1987.03.30)

Titular Bishop of Scala (1987.03.30 – 1996.07.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne (Australia) (1987.03.30 – 1996.07.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Melbourne (Australia) (1996.07.16 – 2001.03.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (2001.03.26 – 2014.02.24)

President of “Vox Clara” Committee (2002.04 – 2017)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello (2003.10.21 [2004.03.20] – 2023.01.10)

Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Apostolic See (2007.02.03 – 2014.02.24)

Member of Council of Cardinals to assist in the governance of the Universal Church and to reform the Roman Curia (2013.04.13 – 2018.10)

Prefect of Secretariat for the Economy (2014.02.24 – 2019.02.24)

Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy
(1983.02.12 – 2001.03.26)

Fides mundum vincit

Born:	1923.12.13 (Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1949.04.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.01.19
Created Cardinal:	1988.06.28
Died:	2014.08.03 (Randwick, New South Wales, Australia † 90)

Priest of Sydney (Australia) (1949.04.24 – 1973.10.25)

Titular Bishop of Ardcarne (1973.10.25 – 1978.11.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (Australia) (1973.10.25 – 1978.11.24)

Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn (Australia) (1978.11.24 – 1983.02.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1983.02.12 – 2001.03.26)

President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (1986 – 2000)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Vallicella (1988.06.28 – 2014.08.03)

Cardinal James Darcy Freeman
(1971.07.09 – 1983.02.12)

Per ipsum ipsa duce

Born:	1907.11.09 (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1940.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.01.24
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	1991.03.16 (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia † 83)

Priest of Sydney (Australia) (1940.07.13 – 1956.12.09)

Titular Bishop of Hermopolis parva (1956.12.09 – 1968.10.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney (Australia) (1956.12.09 – 1968.10.18)

Bishop of Armidale (Australia) (1968.10.18 – 1971.07.09)

President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (1971 – 1983)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1971.07.09 – 1983.02.12)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria «Regina Pacis» in Ostia mare (1973.03.05 – 1991.03.16)

Cardinal Norman Thomas Gilroy
(1940.03.08 – 1971.07.09)

Christus lux mea

Born:	1896.01.22 (Glebe, New South Wales, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1923.12.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.03.17
Created Cardinal:	1946.02.18
Died:	1977.10.21 (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia † 81)

Bishop of Port Augusta (Australia) (1934.12.10 – 1937.07.01)

Titular Archbishop of Cypsela (1937.07.01 – 1940.03.08)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1937.07.01 – 1940.03.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1940.03.08 – 1971.07.09)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Quattro Coronati (1946.02.22 – 1977.10.21)

President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (1958 – 1971)

Archbishop Michael Kelly
(1911.08.17 – 1940.03.08)

Turris fortis mihi

Born:	1850.02.13 (Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1872.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1901.08.15
Died:	1940.03.08 († 90)

Titular Archbishop of Acrida (1901.07.16 – 1911.08.17)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1901.07.16 – 1911.08.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1911.08.17 – 1940.03.08)

Cardinal Francis Patrick Moran
(1884.03.14 – 1911.08.16)

Omnia omnibus

Born:	1830.12.16 (Leighlinbridge, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1853.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1872.03.05
Created Cardinal:	1885.07.27
Died:	1911.08.16 (Manly, New South Wales, Australia † 80)

Titular Bishop of Olba (1871.12.22 – 1872.08.11)

Coadjutor Bishop of Ossory (Ireland) (1871.12.22 – 1872.08.11)

Bishop of Ossory (Ireland) (1872.08.11 – 1884.03.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1884.03.14 – 1911.08.16)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Susanna (1885.07.30 – 1911.08.16)

Archbishop Roger William Bede Vaughan, O.S.B.
(1877.03.16 – 1883.08.17)

Simplices sicut pueri sagaces sicut serpentes

Born:	1834.01.09 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1859.04.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1873.03.19
Died:	1883.08.17 († 49)

Titular Archbishop of Nazianzus (1873.02.28 – 1877.03.16)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1873.02.28 – 1877.03.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1877.03.16 – 1883.08.17)

Archbishop John Bede Polding, O.S.B.
(1842.04.22 – 1877.03.16)

Adjutor Deus

Born:	1794.10.18 (England)
Ordained Priest:	1819.03.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1834.06.29
Died:	1877.03.16 († 82)

Titular Bishop of Hierocæsarea (1832.07.03 – 1842.04.05)

Vicar Apostolic of Madras (India) (1832.07.04 – 1833.06.03)

Vicar Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land (Australia) (1833.06.03 – 1842.04.05)

Vicar Apostolic of Sydney (Australia) (1842.04.05 – 1842.04.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney (Australia) (1842.04.22 – 1877.03.16)

Vicars Apostolic of Sydney (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Bede Polding, O.S.B. (later Archbishop)
(1842.04.05 – 1842.04.22)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Bede Polding, O.S.B. (later Archbishop)
(1833.06.03 – 1842.04.05)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Norman Thomas Gilroy (later Cardinal) (1937.07.01 – 1940.03.08)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Michael Sheehan (1922.02.22 – 1937.07.07)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Michael Kelly (1901.07.16 – 1911.08.17)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Roger William Bede Vaughan, O.S.B. (1873.02.28 – 1877.03.16)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Charles Henry Davis, O.S.B. (1846.09.24 – 1854.05.17)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Anthony Randazzo (58) (2016.06.24 – 2019.10.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli (60) (later Archbishop) (2011.04.20 – 2014.11.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Terence John Gerard Brady (77) (2007.10.04 – 2022.10.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Julian Charles Porteous (75) (later Archbishop) (2003.07.16 – 2013.07.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Anthony Colin Fisher, O.P. (65) (later Archbishop) (2003.07.16 – 2010.01.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Peter William Ingham (1993.05.24 – 2001.06.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Geoffrey James Robinson (1984.01.23 – 2004.07.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop John Edward Heaps (1981.09.04 – 1992.03.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bede Vincent Heather (1979.06.30 – 1986.04.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Patrick Laurence Murphy (1976.12.20 – 1986.04.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop David Cremin (95) (1973.10.25 – 2005.02.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Edward Bede Clancy (later Cardinal) (1973.10.25 – 1978.11.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Edward Francis Kelly, M.S.C. (1969.02.06 – 1975.12.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Thomas William Muldoon (1960.03.01 – 1982.09.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop James Darcy Freeman (later Cardinal) (1956.12.09 – 1968.10.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop James Patrick Carroll (1954.01.06 – 1984.07.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Patrick Francis Lyons (1950.04.05 – 1956.10.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Eris Norman Michael O’Brien (later Archbishop) (1948.02.05 – 1951.01.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Higgins (1888.09.18 – 1899.09.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Fr. Samuele Agostino Scheehy, O.S.B. (1866.11.23 – ?)