My dear young friends, today, as registration opens for next year’s #WorldYouthDay, I warmly invite each of you to #Seoul. This is a call to set out on a pilgrimage of faith, friendship and hope. The Lord is waiting for you in this place of encounter and communion. He calls each of you by name, and He desires to reawaken your hope and to give you the fullness of life and joy. I look forward to seeing you in Seoul! wydseoul.org/en

Today we celebrate the 100th World Mission Day. Let us think of how much missionary history has unfolded over these one hundred years! Let us #PrayTogether that the Church may always remain faithful to the mandate of the Risen Lord. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.

I am following with deep concern the situation in Tigray and in the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara, where hostilities have once again broken out. I extend my heartfelt plea to all parties to choose the path of dialogue. Armed conflict never solves problems, but only worsens them leaving in its wake a trail of death, destruction and resentment. Only honest engagement can lay the foundations for lasting peace. It is my fervent hope that the international community will offer its generous and timely contribution to ensuring that all humanitarian aid be provided to those in need.