My dear young friends, welcome to all of you who have come to the Asian Youth Day that began with the motto "Rise, young people of Asia. The glory of the martyrs shines on you. "They Lazzaro You Heung Sik, bishop of the Diocese of Daejeon and responsible use of this day. As Confucius said: "It is a real joy to welcome a friend who had come from afar?". Behold, I thank you and I rejoice because of you, so many friends, you have come from afar. In addition, here with us is a very special friend who came from the farthest place. Our great friend is the beloved Pope Francis. (Applause). With all my heart I thank the Holy Father of His coming to Korea to meet you, young people of Asia. This place, Solmoe, where we gathered for this day is a very special place. It is a special place because it was here that 'St. Andrew Kim Dae-Geon', the first priest of the Korean Church, who was born without accepting the faith missionaries, a unique example in the world. Even many martyrs have suffered persecution and were martyred here, some at your age, having lived a life of faith. I believe that the martyrs of this land will be with you in prayer and in the breath. Today, our society and our Church are exposed to various temptations. The wealth and material success we entice more of ethics, and the theistic view of the world is influencing our values. In addition, we are getting sick because of the destruction of life and the environment. We are at a crucial moment, where we require a faithful martyr. The martyrdom today means choosing the truth, following her and putting it into practice thus winning the temptations around me. As our martyrs have freed the slaves with the decision and welcomed them as brothers and sisters, we must also turn on the light of faith, with our way of life and our testimony. Like the martyrs who built the Church on this earth with blood, we ought to oppose it again, firmly, the cornerstone of faith in the great wave of atheism, of contempt for life, and the idolatry of materialism. Holy Father, bless and encourage these young people who are facing these challenges, because they are faithful. We too, in imitation of the glorious martyrs, wherever we go we try to live as missionaries and builders of peace. Holy Father, go ahead for the evangelization of the world and the Church counting on us. We are united with you, Your Holiness. Thank you so much and we want The good, the Holy Father.
In this month of June, the Holy Father invites us to pray that the world might grow in compassion, that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
Gianpaolo gives us a behind the scenes look at his upcoming Behold segment on the York University Catholic Chaplaincy.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Movements, Associations, and New Communities and spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps the apostles overcome "their fear, shatters their inner chains, heals their wounds, anoints them with strength and grants them the courage to go out to all and to proclaim God’s mighty works."
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly and referred to Pope Francis and mentioned spouses who have been beatified and canonized, like the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
Pope Leo XIV chose his name primarily to highlight his most recent namesake Leo XIII, whose "historic encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question" to the challenges of his time. What concerns does the encyclical address? How does it speak to its time? And what has been its legacy 134 years later?