Catholics around Australia have been asked to pray that the continuing journey of the faithful together in the synod be a time of grace and that active listening, dialogue and discernment strengthen the dynamic relationships between the People of God and the Risen Lord.

In an unprecedented and inspiring event, three students from Notre Dame’s Sydney campus had the extraordinary opportunity to meet and engage with His Holiness Pope Francis via a Zoom call. This special occasion was part of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America’s “Building Bridges” initiative, which fosters dialogue between young people and the Vatican.

“To give love, always, and to welcome with open arms the love we receive from the people we care about: this is the most beautiful and most important thing in our life, in any condition and for any person – even for the pope,” Pope Francis has said.

“You are the clear majority of the population of this land, and your presence fills it with life, hope and a future,” the Holy Father told about 1,000 young people, Wednesday 11 September during his visit to Timor Leste.

Since arriving in Papua New Guinea from Indonesia Friday 6 September, Pope Francis had been hearing about the work of the government and the local church to combat clan-based violence and to assist people accused of bringing evil to their communities.

If every baby brings joy, the Holy Father said, how much more should people marvel at the fact that in Christ, God himself became human “to draw close to us and save us.”

By Cindy Wooden Pope Francis offers comfort to an individual during a meeting with a group of the sick, people with disabilities, and the poor, supported by various charitable organizations, at the Indonesian bishops’ conference headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 5 September 2024. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. While members of every religion must be free to profess and practice their faith,...

Speaking at the Vatican on 25 August, Pope Francis said, “If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty of that, but he cannot have committed evil just because he prayed.”

The statement examines rising tensions around the world, the nature of truth, the spread of misinformation and disinformation, the arms race, domestic cohesion, the need for dialogue and education for peace.

As the Israel-Hamas war edges toward the one-year mark, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem is calling on the faithful to pray for peace while observing the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 15.