Pope Leo XIV catches a cloth doll thrown by a visitor as he rides in the popemobile following his second weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 28 May 2025. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. By Cindy Wooden Being religious does not automatically mean someone is compassionate, and yet for a Christian, compassion is a clear sign of following Christ, Pope Leo XIV said. "Befo...

In his 2025 message for Lent, Pope Francis emphasised the continuous call to conversion—turning back to God and embracing a life that reflects our faith’s ideals.

Christian hope “is not an obstinacy we want to convince ourselves of, but it is a gift that comes directly from God,” Pope Francis has said.

It is a belief in the future “because Christ died and rose again and gave us his spirit.”

The cardinal virtues were espoused and promoted by ancient philosophers well before the development of Christianity, the Holy Father said.

Once deployed into orbit, the microsatellite is set to transmit papal messages of hope and peace in English, Italian and Spanish that any amateur radio receiver should be able to pick up.

St Benedict’s Church celebrated its 70 years of rich history through a week of festivities and was encouraged by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB to look forward with hope of carrying out the Lord’s mission.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo has visited the Archdiocese of Perth for the first time, reminding Catholics to be committed and not look back at what was, but look forward with confidence to what can be.

Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the Hall of Blessings at the Vatican on 25 December 2020, highlighting his hope that Christmas would be an opportunity for all to rediscover the family as a cradle of life and faith, a place of acceptance and love, dialogue, forgiveness, fraternal solidarity and shared joy, a source of peace for all humanity.

There are many aspects of the Christmas story that we will reflect upon as we approach this joyous festival, writes Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton.
“One is how Mary and Joseph looked desperately for a place to stay in Bethlehem. A kindness was shown to them when they were allowed to use a shelter that would have been used by shepherds, possibly not much more than a small cavern in the ground, where men and animals would find protection through the night.”

Along the way, we are thrown a few curve balls and we may find ourselves in places not on our personal itinerary.