"I hope the faith of our young people and the young people from all over the world will come out the stronger from this WYD, and they may recognise Christ as the centre of their life". This is the wish expressed by card. George Pell, archbishop of Sydney, interviewed by Fides. Asked about the face of the Australian church, which over these days is receiving young people from all over the world, the cardinal admits that "nowadays the practice of religion is certainly more widespread in the older people, even if there are some offbeat trends, and more and more young people seem to be involved in every diocese". To respond to the challenges of secularisation, as widespread in Australia as in the other Western countries, "we rely he explains on our educational system: 20% of young Australians attend Catholic schools. The World Youth Day, which is hosted by Sydney, is a great opportunity and an answer to the questions of the young". As to the Aboriginals, 26% of whom are Catholics, "the Church says the cardinal has defended them on several occasions from the attacks of society and sometimes of the State. Nowadays the situation is still difficult, but we still try to work for them".
