Father Bob Maguire will be honoured with a state funeral in Victoria, the Premier has confirmed.
The social justice campaigner and "people's priest" died, aged 88, earlier this month at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne.
The media personality and Roman Catholic priest dedicated his life to standing up for the poor and marginalised and clashed with church hierarchy at times.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed Victorians will be invited to celebrate his "generosity, kindness, humour and service to the state".
Since his death, Fr Bob has been remembered as a "great man" with a wicked sense of humour who dedicated his life to society's least fortunate.
Robert John Maguire was born in Thornbury, in Melbourne's inner-north in 1934 and experienced the fragility of life at a young age, losing two sisters and both parents by the time he was 16.
He entered the seminary at Werribee in 1953 and was ordained as a priest in 1960 at the age of 25.
Helping others amid declining health
Fr Bob's family said his health began to decline earlier this year in the lead up to his death on April 19.
"His physical and mental health had been deteriorating for some time but his preference was always to help others rather than consider his own situation," the statement said.
"Father Bob was not just a much loved family member but was loved by all Australians for what he stood for."
The family said his passion had always been helping those in the community who often went ignored.
"Despite his high profile in the media, he was always on the job, especially for the disadvantaged families and individuals for whom he had great love and compassion," the statement said.
"He wanted nobody to be left behind and always saw and believed in the good in people, but he knew that there were many whom he referred to as the unloved and unlovely. These were his real passion."
The state government has been working with Fr Bob's family and the Father Bob Maguire Foundation to organise the service.
Further details, including a date, will be revealed soon.
