World Youth Day 2023 is coming! Catholic Youth Ministry Perth has now commenced planning for the August 2023 international event. World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people with the Pope from all over the world. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelisation for youth around the world. ...

Prefect for the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini has this week said the paradox of today is that “we are hyperconnected and also alone”. The problem arises, he highlighted, “when there is no longer communication, but only connection.”

“The conceit of stopping time — of wanting eternal youth, unlimited well-being, absolute power — is not only impossible, it is delusional,” he said. The Holy Father continued his series of talks on old age and reflected on Jesus’ farewell to his disciples during the Last Supper, in which he promised to “prepare a place” for them.

In his first general audience following a month long summer break, Pope Francis has
reflected on his recent visit to Canada, which he said was “unlike the other journeys” he has made.

“If we want to be reconciled with one another and with ourselves, to be reconciled with the past, our eyes must be lifted to the crucified Jesus,” Pope Francis said.

Speaking ahead of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated Sunday 24 July, the Holy Father said elderly men and women often have “a special sensitivity for care, for reflection and affection” that is sorely needed in today’s war-torn world

In a statement issued this week, the Vatican has issued new rules that will ensure that Vatican owned investments will contribute “to a more just and sustainable world” and protect “the real value of the Holy See’s net worth and generate a sufficient return to sustainably contribute to the financing of its activities”.

Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb delivered a public lecture entitled The Outsider Pope: Where is Francis leading our Church, hosted by the Diocese of Parramatta on Tuesday 5 July.

In a message to participants at a European youth conference, Pope Francis encouraged young people to not “be drawn into shortsighted ideologies that want to show others, those who are different from ourselves, as enemies.”

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service Pope Francis greets Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the US-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, at the Vatican on 3 December 2015. The Holy Father named Sister Petrini to be Secretary-General of the office governing the Vatican City State. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media. Pope Francis said he plans to name two women to the committee t...