Frank Carbone, Mayor of Fairfield, told Sky he believed the Bishop would be okay after being taken to hospital.

He said: “Bishops and priests, they’re very very important in our community. They only preach love and peace and to have this happen to one of them is horrific.

“However, I understand a lot of members in our community are really distraught but what is important is, I believe, that the bishop has been taken to hospital and should be okay.”

Sky News Australia reports that riots broke out on the streets of Fairfield – a western suburb of Sydney – in the wake of the alleged attack, with the mayor calling for calm.

Mr Carbone said: “I do call for calm. Police will do their job and please let’s not make the police’s job any harder.

“We live in difficult times right now… so I can understand frustration and the anger from the communities but I ask them, as the mayor, just to please be calm.”