The Catholic Weekly 18 April 2021

$2 Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney This Sydney-born cardinal left a remarka- ble legacy on our Church, especially in the field of ecumenism during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II ...” ARCHBISHOP ANTHONY Fisher OP has paid tribute to Australian Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, who spearhead- ed ecumenical and highly sen- sitive interfaith efforts for the Church under Pope John Paul II. The cardinal died, aged 96, in Newcastle on 10 April. “I was particularly sad- dened by the news today of the death of Cardinal Edward Cassidy at the age of 96,” Arch- bishop Fisher said on Satur- day after hearing the news. “This Sydney-born cardinal left a remarkable legacy on our Church, especially in the field of ecumenism during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II when he served as Presi- dent of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. “He led some wonderful initiatives in the 1990s which nurtured unprecedented di- alogue between our Church and fellow Christians and he also helped lead histor- ic progress in dialogue with non-Christian faiths.” Arch- bishop Fisher said Cardinal Cassidy was a talented canon lawyer and diplomat, serving as Apostolic nuncio in Ire- land, El Salvador, Argentina, Taiwan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Burma, Lesotho, the Netherlands and India. “Few other Australians have had such a profound im- pact on the Catholic Church on the international stage and I’m sure he will continue to in- spire church leaders for many years to come. “Cardinal Cassidy was a most charming man and put that mix of charm and faith to very good use in service of the Church’s diplomatic missions and ecumenical efforts. He was always most encouraging to me as a young bishop. May he rest in peace,” he said. Cardinal Cassidy was for many years the most senior Australian to have worked in the Vatican. CONTINUEDPG 3 Aussie shaped history The young man who almost didn’t become a priest became one of the Catholic Church’s most senior figures and a leading shaper of relations with other Christians – and other faiths ¾ Staff writers LOSING THE sight in his right eye in an unprovoked attack in a Sydney pub didn’t stop Paul Greguric from seeing the dark future that lay ahead ... or so he thought. While “living” at the Matthew Talbot Hostel for the homeless, he struck up an unlikely friendship and next week sees the release of his book on the founder of the Archiba- ld Prize. Bringing to life the story of the man responsible for Australia’s larg- est and most prestigious portrait award, turns out also saved his own. “People who have had a near death situation like me tend to think the fact that they survived means there must be some reason for them being on the planet,” he said. “I think my reason was to write the biography of J. F. Archibald.” WITH A LITTLE HELP FROMMY FRIENDS P12 ¾ Debbie Cramsie Archibald bio a portrait of a legend 18, April, 2021 PARENTS CHECK YOUR INBOX, THE NEXT ‘I AM TRANS’ LETTER MAY BE FOR YOU ... P18 Looking for a new job? www.catholicjobsonline.com.au Paul Greguric: the former teacher who became homeless following an unprovoked attack, has written a biography of the man who created Australia’s most prestigious art prize, the Archibald. PHOTOS:ALPHONSUS FOK