Tensions between Canberra and Beijing rising

During the Angelus, Pope Francis noted that "The Lord never abandons us" and this can help overcome "fear and discouragement" along with "pessimism, closure, and apathy" at this time of pandemic. The pontiff urged the faithful to pray for the new cardinals.

Commentary (in Italian) on the Gospel of the Sunday before Advent B (Mark 13:33-37).

At the Altar of the Chair in St Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with the new cardinals created in yesterday’s consistory. “[W]hy should we be caught up with earthly concerns?” “Why should we look for ‘patrons’ to help advance our career?” “Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for losers. Yet these are the only things that win us the victory”. “When the Church worships God and serves our neighbour, she does not live in the night. However weak and weary, she journeys towards the Lord.”

During the consistory held at the Altar of the chair, Pope Francis placed the biretta on 13 new cardinals. Those from the Philippines and Brunei were absent due to problems related to the pandemic. All the cardinals wore masks and stood at a distance from each other. One of the new cardinals, Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, delivered the opening greetings.

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is launching a campaign to invite young people to spread the "virtual hugs" exchanged with the elderly online with the initiative "The elderly are your grandparents".

At the general audience, Francis recalls that the Church it consists of listening to the teaching of the apostles, custody of shared communion, the breaking of bread and prayer. If these "coordinates" are missing, there is no ecclesiality.

The Central Office of Church Statistics looked at the evolution of the number of priests in the world between 2013 and 2018. Over this period, the number dropped by 0.3 per cent to around 414,000. The number of diocesan priests rose by + 0.5 per cent, whilst the number of religious priests dropped by around 2 per cent.

 Francis asks young economists and entrepreneurs for a "pact" for a new economic model, because "we can't go on like this".  Three days of discussion in Assisi.

"The art of choosing well, especially today, means not seeking approval, not  plunging into a consumerist mentality that discourages originality, and not giving into the cult of appearances."  The young people of Panama “passed” the WYD cross to the young Portuguese.  The diocesan celebration of WYD will take place on the Sunday of Christ the King.

At the Angelus, Francis warns that "the Lord, at the end of the world, will judge His flock, and he will do so not only as shepherd, but also as oneof the sheep, with whom He identified himself.  And He will ask us: 'Have you been a bit of a shepherd like me?' ".

A message on the occasion of World Fisheries Day, which is celebrated tomorrow 21 November, recalls that the sector employs about 59.5 million people. “Strikingly one out of two workers is a woman. Asia has the highest number of workers, in this sector, and contributes some 85 percent of the world total labor force."

The meeting of economists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers under 35 began with live streaming today. It includes 27 webinars in 12 areas: work and care, management and giving, finance and humanity, agriculture and justice, energy and poverty, profit and vocation, policies and happiness, CO2 inequality, business and peace, women and the economy, businesses in transition, life and lifestyles.

“If in prayer we understand that every day given by God is a call, then we open our hearts and welcome everything. We learn to say: 'What You want, Lord. Just promise me that you will be present at every step of my journey. ' This is important: ask the Lord for His presence, so that He does not abandon us”.

This will mark the beginning of the next World Youth Day (WYD). The 34th edition was held in Panama from 22 to 27 January 2019 (pictured); the next will held in Lisbon in 2023.