Georgia

Employees of the Taronga zoo brought the pope some small species present only in Australia. The catechesis for young people centred on the "Call to life in the Holy Spirit". During the afternoon and evening, the 150 performances of the Youth Festival.

With Saint Paul as role model, the proclamation of Christ is made urgent by God’s love for the world and the search for hope in today’s society. The ‘ad gentes’ mission is a task for all bishops, priests, religious and lay people. Here is the entire text of the Message.

At least 150,000 young people have taken part in the opening Mass presided over by Cardinal Pell. They come from 160 nations, and are united in friendship with the task of transforming the world through faith in Christ. Tensions feared with radical and atheist groups. The greeting of prime minister Kevin Rudd.

In a video message broadcast on Australian television, Benedict XVI asks the young people of WYD to communicate faith in Jesus Christ to their peers. Gratitude to the Australian people for their generosity in hosting WYD. The pontiff arrived in Sydney at 3 p.m., and was welcomed by Kevin Rudd and Cardinal Pell.

After three days of rest, events with the young culminating with the vigil and Eucharistic celebration. Tens of thousands of young people from 160 countries are arriving in Australia. Cardinal Pell: Australia's problem is indifference. Controversy over special regulations against those who disrupt WYD.

The president of the Indian Bishops Conference tells AsiaNews that the Pauline Year which has just begun serves to encourage Christians in India and Asia to clearly announce their faith in Christ, stand strong in the midst of persecution and enrich and purify the culture of their times.

The communities of Asia feel themselves to be "descendants" of the work of Saint Paul, who presented the Christian faith to the pagans. Activities and pilgrimages are planned in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, for the rediscovery of faith in Christ and of the mission to non-believers.

By midday stock markets in the far east were down percentage points, feeling the knock on effects of Wall Street’s worst performance in two years. Automotive companies hit.

In his address to the participants of the ROACO assembly, Benedict XVI speaks of his closeness to and solidarity with Eastern Catholic Churches and of the “signs of hope” that are visible in the Holy Land.

The situation remains difficult for Catholics who live in contact with believers of other religions and who have the problem of seeing the erosion by "insidious forms of pressure" of their identity, which communism was not able to eliminate.

Is the Jesus of the Qur‘an that of the Gospels? Should Christians consider Muhammad a prophet? Some Saudi experts seem to think so and want to build dialogue on blackmail (a church in Saudi Arabia in exchange of a profession of faith about the prophet Muhammad). Christianity and Islam are however different and sometimes opposed to one another. Instead of syncretism or blackmail, the only path is that of mutual respect.

The Catholic baptism of the well known journalist, Magdi Allam, Egyptian and non practising Muslim, has been criticised and despised by the Islamic world. Added to this, is the embarrassment in Christian quarters, of those fearful of seeing a new crusade being launched by Benedict XVI and the Church. Instead, just as with the Regensburg address, this baptism is a message in defence of religious freedom, of evangelisation and of co-existence between religions.