Young people in Papua New Guinea celebrated the journey of the Cross and Icon with their local customs and performances, as did many other countries in Oceania

Credits: Caritas Australia

Caritas believes World Youth Day is not only a title for a youth festival but a call to solidarity. With young people from around the world, it is an opportunity to think globally about social justice and the demands of human dignity.

Further, it is a call to each of us to take action for justice.

Sydney is hosting World Youth Day, 15-20, July. It will be the largest youth event in the world celebrating the universal Catholic Church.

Caritas believes that World Youth Day festival is a unique opportunity for young people from around the globe to come together and learn more about the plight of those living with poverty and injustice - and reflect on how their faith calls them to action.

Caritas WYD began with a breathtaking display by 150 dancers from Caritas Tonga and a speech by Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga at Sydney’s Circular Quay which has transformed into Caritas House for the week (Learn more...)

Links to Caritas Australia
Press Coverage

Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga is in Australia for World Youth Day events. The Cardinal said young people can play a vital role in achieving greater social justice and equality in the world.

“We are expecting a lot of good from the youth,” said the Cardinal. “They have trust in the Church and they have hope in the Church and our challenge is to fulfil their hopes.” (Listen)

Cardinal Rodríguez spoke earlier in the week at a seminar organised by Caritas Australia in Melbourne 12 July on how to be a global citizen.He spoke about the important role Catholic charities had in shaping the political life in any country and the challenges of globalization and migration. (Learn more... )

One sixth of the world’s population lives on less than $1 per day. More than 820 million people go to bed hungry every night. Nearly 10 million children die each year before their fifth birthday.

Caritas is urging young Catholics to take action on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

These eight goals – which range from halving the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 to improving infant and maternal health – provide a global blueprint for breaking the chains of poverty.

Caritas Australia is playing a leading role in World Youth Day. Please visit its website: http://www.caritas.org.au to find out more.

Caritas Internationalis hopes young people from around the world will join Caritas Australia in pushing for social justice by taking part in the Be More Challenge.