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World Youth Day 2016 will be in Krakow, Poland

We thank the Lord for His grace and kindness, in blessing the World Youth Day 2013 (28th World Youth Day) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that it was a huge success and indeed was a unique experience to the multitudes who attended the event directly and those who followed the events from home and through the social media.

As it had been announced by Pope Francis in the Closing Mass at Copacabana Beach, the next World Youth Day, due in 2016 will be held in Krakow, Poland, the birthplace of Blessed Pope John Paul II (soon to be Pope St. John Paul II) and the year 2016 also marked the 1050th anniversary since the conversion of Poland to Christianity. This will be the 29th World Youth Day since it’s beginning in 1980 by Blessed Pope John Paul II himself.

We pray that the Lord will bless the next World Youth Day in Krakow just as He had blessed the one which had just finished in Rio de Janeiro. We thank all those who had worked hard to make sure that the event is a great success. God bless all! God bless our Church!

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Archbishop William Goh, the new Archbishop of Singapore

http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8794%3Aholy-see-announces-new-archbishop-of-singapore-accepts-retirement-of-his-grace-most-rev-msgr-nicholas-chia&catid=265%3Aannouncements

As of today, Saturday, 18 May 2013, on the eve of the Pentecost Sunday, the Holy See and the Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Archbishop Nicholas Chia, who will immediately become the Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore. This is in fulfillment of the Code of the Canon Law Can. 401§1, that all bishops upon reaching the age of 75 must tender their resignation to the Holy See, and the See will be empty once the resignation is accepted.

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(Above : The now Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia of Singapore)

Archbishop William Goh, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore, therefore, being the coadjutor archbishop, has an immediate right of succession, and thus immediately become the new Archbishop of Singapore, and the proper Ordinary of the Archdiocese, according to the Code of the Canon Law, Can. 404§1, as of today, Saturday, 18 May 2013.

Although today’s (18 May 2013) Vatican bollettino has yet to include this announcement of appointment, but as this news comes from the Apostolic Nunciature to Singapore, it is expected that by Monday, the bollettino will reflect this new change in the Church.

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(Above : The new Archbishop of Singapore, Archbishop William Goh)

The installation Mass of the new Archbishop of Singapore is expected to be soon, to be held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, which will also be soon closed for major renovation.

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Fourth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals : Some news and summary

http://www.news.va/en/news/general-congregations-profile-of-future-pope-emerg

After the end of the Fourth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals this morning, Wednesday, 6 March 2013, the dates of the Conclave had yet to be finalised. It is most likely that the decision on the date of the Conclave awaits the remaining Cardinal-electors who has yet arrived in Rome.

113 of the 115 Cardinal-electors slated to vote in the Conclave have arrived and taken part in the Fourth General Congregation this morning, and therefore, there are only two remaining Cardinal-electors still on their way to Rome.

Some Cardinals expresses the wish to have more time for discernment and the need to have more time to wait until the Conclave begins for careful considerations, but many others also express the wish to have the Conclave completed with the election of a new Pope before the Holy Week commences on Sunday, 24 March 2013. The College of Cardinals had signalled that they will give a few days notice prior to the beginning of the Conclave on the date.

51 Cardinals have so far used their right to give speech in front of the College of Cardinals, and through the meetings so far, qualities necessary for the next Pope has been emerging. The need for an intellectual and deeply rooted Pope like Pope Benedict XVI, but with a broader reach and willingness to approach others for discussions such as in the matter of interreligious dialogue.

Also the need for a more pastoral pope with experience as pastor and not just as theologian or curialist, that is to have significant work experience as bishop/archbishop of diocese/archdiocese (My personal opinion here shows that, just as many others have pointed out that these qualities can be found in the person of Cardinal Scola of Milan, but let God decide on that).

Fr. Federico Lombardi, head of the Holy See Press Office, in the following press conference has also confirmed that Cardinal Angelo Comastri as the Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Peter, will be the presider of the prayer for the Universal Church service at 5 pm Rome time (CET) today (Wednesday, 5 March 2013), live from Vatican Player at http://www.vatican.va/video/ at St. Peter’s Basilica.