Pope Francis is back in the Vatican after his 10th apostolic journey abroad which took him to Cuba, to the United States and to the United Nations in New York.

During the flight that brought him back to Rome he spoke to journalists aboard the Papal plane, touching on many issues including his just concluded visit, the sex abuse scandal in the Church, the right to be a conscientious objector, a peace accord in Colombia, migration and the upcoming Synod on the Family…

Pope Francis’ message for the 31st World Youth Day was released on Monday and is focused on the theme from the Beatitudes ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’. The next meeting of young people from across the globe will take place in the Polish city of Krakow in July 2016.

In the message Pope Francis notes that the forthcoming World Youth Day takes place within the context of the Jubilee Year of Mercy…

Pope Francis has addressed the United Nations General Assembly in a highly anticipated speech, in which he talked about the protection of the environment and, as he put it, ” today’s widespread and quietly growing “culture of waste”. The Holy Father also referred to the effects of economic and social exclusion with, “its baneful consequences: human trafficking, the marketing of human organs and tissues, the sexual exploitation of boys and girls, slave labour, including prostitution, the drug and weapons trade, terrorism and international organized crime…

Pope Francis held a private meeting with sex abuse victims in Philadelphia on Sunday (27th September) and told bishops afterwards that such crimes “must not be kept secret for any longer” and promised on behalf of the Church “the accountability of all.” The Pope said he remained “overwhelmed with shame that men entrusted with the tender care of children violated these little ones and caused grievous harm…