ROCCA DI PAPA, Italy (Zenit.org): Love, sexuality and the increasingly secularised society were some of the main topics addressed by participants in the 10th International Youth Forum, which ended on March 28.
The conference, organised by the youth office of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, was held in Rocca di Papa, outside Rome.
About 300 young people gathered on March 24 from various countries to reflect on the theme “Learn to Love.”
The event included conferences, liturgies, and cultural moments, with the aim of enabling young people to reflect further on the topic of true love, which has as its source and end God himself.
Two Australian young people – Devett O’Brien, of the Young Christian Students, and Bethany Lentern, who is a member the Australian YCW movement and a youth co-ordinator in Rockhampton diocese – attended the forum for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
“I think it is difficult to speak and share this experience in a country that is so secularised,” Mr O’Brien said. Mr O’Brien said the World Youth Day held in Sydney two years ago has borne much fruit.
