In a festive St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Regina Coeli, urging prayers for vocations, peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and honoring Mother’s Day with warm wishes to all mothers. Entrusting it all to Mary, Queen of Peace, he renewed the plea: “Never again war.”
In his first address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV called the Catholic Church alive, beautiful, and strong, urging renewed commitment to Evangelii Gaudium and modern Catholic social teaching — especially in the face of AI and today’s evolving world.
In his first public homily, Pope Leo XIV called the Church to recognise God’s marvels, proclaim Christ boldly, and witness with humility. He reaffirmed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” urging believers to face today’s world with courage, faith, and love.
Pope Leo XIV has urged journalists to be peacemakers, rejecting prejudice and anger in their reporting. On 12 May, he also called for the release of imprisoned journalists, reminding the world: “The suffering of these journalists challenges the conscience of nations… we must safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.
The 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival is being celebrated as a powerful moment to encounter Jesus and nurture future leaders of the Church. At the recent plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Festival Director Teresa Rhynehart shared exciting insights into the vision and mission of the event.
Moviegoers may want to take a break from their cell phones after seeing the intriguing thriller Drop (Universal). That’s because the technology involved in send-ing the titular type of message – as well as the ubiquity of the devices themselves – has the film’s protagonist in a quandary.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said he hopes Pope Leo XIV will “be a dear brother and collaborator … for the rapprochement of our churches, for the unity of the whole Christian family, and for the benefit of all of humankind.”
The ancient Order will this month celebrate 40 years since its establishment in Australia, with a national conference in Perth, Western Australia.
Over the Mother’s Day weekend, Catholic Mission hosted its second annual Mother’s Day Afternoon Concert at St Columba’s Church, South Perth. Titled Mother of Hope, the moving program featured sacred instrumental and choral works spanning five centuries, performed by violinist Paul Wright, soprano Em-ma Spadaccini, a string quartet, and a six-voice ensemble.
Bunbury local and ACU doctoral candidate Lachlan Green reflects on his recent experience in Rome, where he joined a SACRU workshop exploring vulnerability and trust in healthcare. Held during the Jubilee of the Sick, the event offered powerful insights into compassionate care and human dignity.