Latest news with #WorldYouthDay
Korea Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Late Pope Francis' Pyongyang visit fell through due to N. Korea's silence: Cardinal Lazarus You
Pope Leo XIV could play 'important role' in improving Washington-Pyongyang relations, advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik The reason the late Pope Francis was ultimately unable to travel to Pyongyang and meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- a possibility many had hoped for at the time -- was because the isolated regime never responded to the Vatican's efforts to arrange a papal visit there, according to Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik on Thursday. "Pope Francis had a great interest in North Korea. When then-President Moon Jae-in visited him in 2018 and asked if he would meet with Kim, the pope responded that he was willing to do so to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and help heal the pain of families that have been separated for over 70 years since the Korean War that broke out in 1950," the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican told reporters during a press conference held at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea. "Since the pope openly expressed his intention to visit the North, the cardinal secretary of state of the Vatican made efforts through various diplomatic channels to make the visit happen, but North Korea remained quiet," You explained. Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, continuously stressed the need to achieve peace through dialogue and South Korea's humanitarian assistance to North Korea, he added. When asked about Pope Leo XIV's interest regarding the North, the cardinal said he had "shared the late pope's views and thoughts on the matter with Pope Leo," declining to comment further. You added that the new pope "listened carefully," suggesting he may be open to continuing his immediate predecessor's efforts. "I hope that President Lee Jae Myung will be able to visit the Vatican this year to meet the pope (and discuss related matters). And on a personal note, since the pope is American, I believe he could play an important role in improving US-North Korea relations and in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. I think he has the potential to make a big impact on inter-Korean affairs," You said. He said that Lee's office has formally sent a letter expressing an intention to arrange a meeting with the pope soon. You also said he would make efforts to have North Korean participants invited to World Youth Day, scheduled to take place in Seoul in 2027, but he declined to elaborate. World Youth Day brings together young people from around the world to deepen their faith and experience the universality of the Catholic Church. Speaking on the deepening social division, You underscored the importance of "putting ourselves in each other's shoes." "In the Bible, John 17:19 reads, 'And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.' If we open our hearts and try to understand others, it will be reciprocated," he explained, saying that the spirit of mutual understanding is what the country needs right now. The cardinal also expressed hope that the Lee administration will bring unity to the nation following a period of unprecedented political turmoil caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law late last year. "Politicians, including the president, should pay closer attention to the concerns and voices of the citizens and act with more compassion and kindness toward the people they serve." junheee@
Herald Malaysia
06-06-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
WYD organisers host gratitude night for volunteers with Marian ceremony
A symbolic May Crowning and fellowship event celebrated the dedication of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 volunteers with prayer, gratitude, and joyful community gathering. Jun 06, 2025 Bishop Paul Kyeong-sang Lee poses with over 150 volunteers of the WYD Seoul 2027 Local Organising Committee after the May Crowning and Fellowship Night held on May 24, 2025, at the LOC office courtyard in Seoul. SEOUL: A symbolic May Crowning and fellowship event celebrated the dedication of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 volunteers with prayer, gratitude, and joyful community gathering. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 hosted around 150 volunteers on May 24 for an evening of Marian devotion and fellowship at its headquarters in Seoul. The event opened with the May Crowning, presided over by Bishop Paul Kyeong-sang Lee, general coordinator of the WYD Seoul 2027 LOC. Participants offered roses to the Virgin Mary — each flower representing a spiritual intention: communications, humbleness, enthusiasm, trustful surrender, and devout faith. 'This symbolic act allowed them to express what they hoped to cultivate spiritually through their work in preparation for WYD,' the LOC said in a statement. In his brief address, Bishop Lee praised the volunteers' contributions. 'Your dedication is the living spirit of WYD. Every prayer, every effort you've offered is a seed of grace,' he said. 'May you never forget that the work you do here is building not just an event, but a generation rooted in Christ,' he added. At 6.00pm, the celebration transitioned to Fellowship Night, where ten priests traded their clerical wear for aprons and served food and drinks to volunteers. Bishop Lee joined the gathering, engaging with volunteers at every table. The night ended with a lucky draw, capping off an evening marked by faith, appreciation, and strengthened bonds among those working toward WYD Seoul 2027. --LiCAS News
7NEWS
20-05-2025
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Inside Anthony Albanese's historic meeting with Pope Leo
Pope Leo XIV has met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace inside Vatican City, with Albanese using the opportunity to invite the pontiff to Sydney in 2028. It is 16 years since an Australian PM had a private audience with a pope, the pair discussing shared concerns around global conflicts and the resulting humanitarian impacts. The prime minister reflected on the Holy See's important role in promoting dialogue as part of international efforts to achieve just and lasting peace and to alleviate suffering. Albanese formally invited the Pope to Australia for the 54th International Eucharistic Congress, which Sydney is hosting in 2028, presenting His Holiness with a formal letter of invitation. Pope Benedict XVI was the last pontiff to visit Australia back in 2008 for World Youth Day. There was a gift exchange as part of the occasion. Albanese presented His Holiness with Australian red wine and artwork by indigenous artist Amanda Westley, who is part of the Ngarrindjeri tribe in South Australia. The artwork is called Raukkan, meaning meeting place, and is named after a Ngarrindjeri community located 80km southeast of Adelaide. Albanese also had his mum Maryanne's rosary beads blessed by the Pope. The Prime Minister congratulated Leo on his election and thanked him for the invitation to attend the mass, which marks the start of his pontificate. Albanese is now flying home from Rome and will stop over in Singapore, where will meet re-elected Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The Vatican detailed the Pope's meeting with Albanese in a statement, stating that 'warm appreciation was expressed' for the relations between the pontiff and Australia, specifically the Catholic Church's contribution to society and education. 'An exchange of views then took place on the socio-political situation of the country, focusing in particular on themes of mutual interest, including environmental protection, integral human development and the freedom of religion,' the statement concluded.
The Age
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Australia steps up bid for Pope Leo visit as PM visits Rome for inauguration
He said Australia also wanted to work with Pope Leo and the Vatican on helping Pacific Island nations, a region with large numbers of Catholics. 'Part of the role of the embassy is to elevate, in the minds of those decision makers in the Vatican, why it's so important that Pope Leo comes to Australia,' Pitt said. 'I think that this is a unique opportunity. 'So we'll take every opportunity to continue to put forward that invitation and highlight why it's important for the more than 5 million Catholics in Australia.' Australia will host a global Catholic event, the International Eucharistic Congress, in Sydney in 2028, and church leaders hope Pope Leo will attend. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on May 9, hours after Pope Leo was elected by a conclave of the College of Cardinals, that he would invite the Pope to visit Australia for the congress. Pitt is expected to have an audience with the Pope when he presents his diplomatic credentials to the Vatican, the formal step in being recognised as an ambassador to the small but highly influential state. Pitt resigned as a Nationals MP after 12 years in federal parliament when Albanese named him to the diplomatic post in February. He takes up a position role previously held by Tim Fischer, the former Nationals leader. Pitt said his priority was to act on the prime minister's invitation and make the case for the papal visit. Pope Benedict XVI visited Australia for World Youth Day in 2008 and Pope Paul VI made the first papal visit to Australia in 1970 as part of a pilgrimage across Asia and the Pacific. Pitt noted that Pope Leo's first statement as pontiff was ' peace be with you ' and said this was aligned with Australia's interest in ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Pope Leo will mark the beginning of his pontificate in Rome on Sunday with a Mass that is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square. Albanese arrived in Rome on Friday night, local time, and was due to attend the Mass with leaders including US Vice President J.D. Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Albanese said he may be able to meet Zelensky while in Rome. Albanese will also see some of his extended family in Rome, although his office denied a news report saying he had invited his half-brother to join Australians at the Mass. Loading The Mass begins at 10am local time (6pm on Sunday AEST) and is expected to follow a visit by the Pope to St Peter's tomb in the basilica, named after the first pope. After the visit to the basilica, church leaders present the Pope with the pallium, a vestment that signifies his assumption of the papacy, and a fisherman's ring, the symbol of the first apostles being 'fishers of men' in the gospels. While Pitt was a critic of Labor policy on energy during his time in parliament, he said his task as an ambassador was to represent Australian policy on climate change to the Vatican. Pope Leo raised concerns about artificial intelligence in an address last Saturday about the threat to 'human dignity, justice and labour' from technology that could undermine humanity. Pitt said Australia and the Vatican could find some common interest in the global debate about technology given the federal government's plan to restrict social media for people under 16 and set guidelines around artificial intelligence.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia steps up bid for Pope Leo visit as PM visits Rome for inauguration
He said Australia also wanted to work with Pope Leo and the Vatican on helping Pacific Island nations, a region with large numbers of Catholics. 'Part of the role of the embassy is to elevate, in the minds of those decision makers in the Vatican, why it's so important that Pope Leo comes to Australia,' Pitt said. 'I think that this is a unique opportunity. 'So we'll take every opportunity to continue to put forward that invitation and highlight why it's important for the more than 5 million Catholics in Australia.' Australia will host a global Catholic event, the International Eucharistic Congress, in Sydney in 2028, and church leaders hope Pope Leo will attend. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on May 9, hours after Pope Leo was elected by a conclave of the College of Cardinals, that he would invite the Pope to visit Australia for the congress. Pitt is expected to have an audience with the Pope when he presents his diplomatic credentials to the Vatican, the formal step in being recognised as an ambassador to the small but highly influential state. Pitt resigned as a Nationals MP after 12 years in federal parliament when Albanese named him to the diplomatic post in February. He takes up a position role previously held by Tim Fischer, the former Nationals leader. Pitt said his priority was to act on the prime minister's invitation and make the case for the papal visit. Pope Benedict XVI visited Australia for World Youth Day in 2008 and Pope Paul VI made the first papal visit to Australia in 1970 as part of a pilgrimage across Asia and the Pacific. Pitt noted that Pope Leo's first statement as pontiff was ' peace be with you ' and said this was aligned with Australia's interest in ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Pope Leo will mark the beginning of his pontificate in Rome on Sunday with a Mass that is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square. Albanese arrived in Rome on Friday night, local time, and was due to attend the Mass with leaders including US Vice President J.D. Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Albanese said he may be able to meet Zelensky while in Rome. Albanese will also see some of his extended family in Rome, although his office denied a news report saying he had invited his half-brother to join Australians at the Mass. Loading The Mass begins at 10am local time (6pm on Sunday AEST) and is expected to follow a visit by the Pope to St Peter's tomb in the basilica, named after the first pope. After the visit to the basilica, church leaders present the Pope with the pallium, a vestment that signifies his assumption of the papacy, and a fisherman's ring, the symbol of the first apostles being 'fishers of men' in the gospels. While Pitt was a critic of Labor policy on energy during his time in parliament, he said his task as an ambassador was to represent Australian policy on climate change to the Vatican. Pope Leo raised concerns about artificial intelligence in an address last Saturday about the threat to 'human dignity, justice and labour' from technology that could undermine humanity. Pitt said Australia and the Vatican could find some common interest in the global debate about technology given the federal government's plan to restrict social media for people under 16 and set guidelines around artificial intelligence.
