The Second Vatican Council was the universal Catholic Church’s response to God’s love and to Jesus’ command to feed his sheep, Pope Francis said, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the council’s opening.

The Fifth Plenary Council of Australia and the global Synod on Synodality were key discussion points for Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Pope Francis when they meet this week.

Continuing his series of talks about discernment, Pope Francis has this week said it is an important process for trying to understand “what is happening inside of us, our feelings and ideas, and we have to discern where (these things) come from, where they are taking me and what decision” needs to be made.

“Jesus is the truth, in a sense that is not only universal but also communal and personal; and the challenge is to live the search for truth today in the daily life of the church, of Christian communities,” the Holy Father said, Saturday 17 September while meeting with pilgrims from two Italian dioceses.

“With a smile, Pope John Paul I managed to communicate the goodness of the Lord. How beautiful is a church with a happy, serene and smiling face, a church that never closes doors, never hardens hearts, never complains or harbors resentment, does not grow angry or impatient, does not look dour or suffer nostalgia for the past,” Pope Francis has said.

In his homily at the Mass with the College of Cardinals this week, Pope Francis reflected on the first reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, in which the apostle praises God for revealing “the mystery of his purpose” and his “hidden plan” for humanity.

To enter the plan God proposes for our life requires that we restrict the space of selfishness, reduce the presumption of self-sufficiency and lower the heights of pride and arrogance, Pope Francis has said in his weekly Sunday Angelus audience.

In celebrating the Eucharist, we are celebrating, and being drawn into, the great mystery of our salvation, said Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, in a Pastoral Letter published Tuesday 16 August.

The Pastoral Letter addressed the whole Perth Catholic community, focusing on what it means for us to be a Christ-centred Church which is prayerful and Eucharistic.

“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.