Flags to Fly at Half-Mast in Australia for Pope Francis

More than 5 million Australian Catholics are mourning the spiritual leader.

Pope Francis greets the crowd from the popemobile at the end of the Palm Sunday mass at St Peter's square in the Vatican on March 24, 2024. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Flags across Australia will be lowered on April 22 as a mark of respect following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.

Soon after the news broke, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had directed the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to ensure all flags outside of Commonwealth government building were at half-mast a day after Easter Monday.