Indonesia's booth at the cultural exhibition part of the 7th Asian Youth Day festivities in Yogyakarta. (ucanews.com photo)
Protecting the world's environment featured at festivities during the 7th Asian Youth Day in Indonesian city of Yogyakarta.
The five-day gathering of more than 2,000 young Asian Catholics from 21 countries, which ended Aug. 6, was encouraged to seek the meaning of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' (On Care for Our Common Home).
In Laudato si' issued in 2015, the pope called for swift action on climate change, among other issues. In Indonesia, activists say issues linked to the environment and climate change are particularly pressing.
Participants at the Yogyakarta gathering exhibited environmentally friendly products, as well as information on their environmental protection activities, at the Jogya Expo Center.
Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi of Ketapang in Indonesia's West Kalimantan, chairman of the Indonesian bishops' Commission for Youth, called on young people to serve as a bridge to the future.
"In the context of nature, we are brothers and sisters," the bishop said. "That is why, in his encyclical, Pope Francis calls the earth his brother. And today this earth cries out for attention."
Shefali Xavier Chaudary, 20, from India learned more about environmental protection from the Asian Youth Day's program.
"Obviously, it is very important to know about the encyclical," she said. "You use everything for yourself, but what about the next generation?"
Religious extremism
Part of the Asian Youth Day celebrations centered on religious leaders — including cardinals, bishops and priests — holding discussions on a broad range of issues.
Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario of Dhaka, chairman of the Office of Laity and Family of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference, noted that Asia had its own values.
Religious extremism and intolerance were not just problems for targeted groups, but for Asia as a whole, the Bangladeshi cardinal said. "We must fight it," he added.
The Asian Youth Day festivities — with the theme "Joyful Asian Youth! Living the Gospel in Multicultural Asia" — concluded on Aug. 6.