Pope Leo XIV has celebrated the first Mass for the Care of Creation at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo, urging Christians to embrace their mission to bring peace and reconciliation to the world and all creation, reports Vatican News.

A newly blessed icon inspired by St Francis of Assisi’s hymn, The Canticle of the Creatures has become a striking symbol of faith, artistry and environmental awareness in Western Sydney, following a special Mass and community celebration at the Franciscan Good Shepherd Parish in Plumpton. 

While the demographics of the Carmelite community members have changed over the years, their life of prayer in intimate friendship with Christ remains constant.

One of the newest religious congregations in the Parramatta Diocese, the Somascan Fathers, had originally not planned to minister in that Diocese at all, reports Catholic Outlook. 

In 1979, the ten-year-old boy became a refugee. Separated unexpectedly from his parents at night, he and a younger brother were among 67 people crammed into a fishing boat. They ran out of food and water and pirates came aboard twice. Two weeks later, after another lad his own age died of dehydration, the boy thought he and his brother might be next. After 19 days, the fishing boat arrived in Malaysia and the siblings were taken to a refugee camp.