Image: Provided by Bishop Hall; Picture: of Pope Leo XIV and Bishop Stuart Hall at the conclusion of the course held in Rome.
VATICAN CITY—A total of 147 newly appointed bishops from five continents gathered in Rome from 2 to 10 September 2026 to take part in the Vatican's annual formation course for new episcopal ministry.
The intensive eight-day program, co-organized by the Dicastery for Bishops and the Dicastery for Evangelisation, focused on critical aspects of diocesan leadership, including mission, pastoral ministry, safeguarding protocols, liturgy, and Church governance. Representing the Australian hierarchy at this year's session were Bishop Stuart Hall (Military Ordinariate of Australia), Bishop Mark Freeman (Bishop of Ballarat), and Bishop Nelson Po (Auxiliary Bishop of Perth), all appointed within the past 12 months. The formation course concluded with a private papal audience in the Synod Hall, where Pope Leo XIV met with the prelates to emphasize the vital importance of fraternal communion and synodal governance.
For a complete breakdown of the daily schedule and guest speakers, read the full report on Vatican News.