International

Pope Leo XIV: 'The wounds of war extend beyond the battlefield'

In his Message for the 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo warns that war has consequences that destroy far beyond the battlefield and says that we are to imitate the Lord's offering of peace to work toward peace in the world.

Pope Leo XIV meets Lebanese President: seeking a just and lasting peace

Pope Leo met with the President of the Republic of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, this morning, August 20, at the Vatican. The President subsequently held talks at the Secretariat of State focused on the agreement signed by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. The Holy See expressed concern over the difficulties in implementing the agreement and assured its support for efforts to that end.

Pope at Audience: Sacred music is to glorify God and sanctify the faithful

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflects on sacred music in the liturgy, praising it for giving voice to prayer and expressing the faith, always with the main objective of glorifying God and helping the faithful grow in holiness.

Meet Poland’s first martyr of Communism

Addressing the Polish people gathered at the General Audience, Pope Leo recalls the figure of Blessed Father Władysław Findysz, the first beatified martyr of the communist persecution in Poland. Here is the story of the priest whom the Pope said “reminds us that a civilization of love is built by forgiving and overcoming evil with good.”

The Pope’s garden in the Vatican Gardens becomes 100% organic

The Pope's garden next to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican Gardens, commissioned in the Middle Ages by Pope Nicholas III Orsini, becomes 100% organic as it is managed according to the principle of caring for Creation, as set out in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si.’

Cardinal Parolin prays for persecuted Christians worldwide

During his homily at the Pontifical Mass marking the ninth centenary of the translation of the relics of Saint Agatha in Catania, Sicily, Cardinal Pietro Parolin invited the faithful to pray for the many Christians persecuted around the world.

Zimbabwe: Historic old Mission on Victoria Falls Road offers travellers a place of prayer

Catholic Diocese of Hwange Bishop Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube has consecrated and reopened a historic Mission on the Victoria Falls – Bulawayo highway. It is a significant revival of a once-abandoned sacred site, which has been out of use for decades.

Two peoples, two States: The unwavering position of the Popes and the Holy See

Pope Leo XIV’s appeal on the Middle East at the Angelus in Castel Gandolfo on 16 August is the latest expression of the Holy See’s longstanding support for a two-State solution as the only path to a “just and lasting” peace for Israel and Palestine.

Zambia: Diocesan Catholic clergy in Livingstone Diocese welcome workshop on Safeguarding

The local Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy in Zambia’s Diocese of Livingstone recently met at Luxe Country Convention Centre for a safeguarding workshop.

Pope at Angelus tells Christians to respond to hatred with love

Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to root their mission in personal encounter and contemplation, drawing strength from an intimate relationship with Christ to witness to the Gospel with hope, love, and perseverance in every circumstance.

US Catholic journalists gather in Atlantic City for annual conference

Catholic media professionals are participating in the Catholic Media Conference in the United States, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of evangelization in today9;s media landscape.

Pope welcomes US-Iran agreement, calls for mutual trust in Middle East

Pope Leo XIV expresses his hopes for peace in the Middle East as the US and Iran prepare to sign an agreement, and appeals for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Pope at Audience: 'I was comforted by the faith and joy of the Spanish people'

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflects on his Apostolic Journey to Spain, which saw him visit Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Caritas in the Canary Islands: ‘The Church is present where the state is not'

Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in the Canary Islands—the landing place for thousands of migrants coming from one of the deadliest migratory routes in the world. The local Caritas works with volunteers to “be by the side of the most vulnerable” and help offer a new life to those who make it to shore.

Pope to Benedictines in Montserrat: Thank you for the gift of silence

After praying the Rosary and pronouncing an address in the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, Pope Leo spends some time with the Benedictine monks that run the monastery.

Pope in Montserrat: Nurture love so that hatred may give way to peace

At the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in Spain, Pope Leo XIV prayed the rosary and called the faithful to accept the Virgin Mary’s invitation to always look to Christ that shows us mercy, reconciliation, truth and gentleness and “exposes the violence that can lurk in our words and attitudes.”

Pope to Barcelona charity workers: Life Is a path we walk together

At a meeting with Diocesan Charity and Welfare organisations in Barcelona, Pope Leo XIV answers a young boy9;s questions about suffering, forgiveness and the meaning of life, reminding Christians that authentic charity begins with recognising Christ in every person.

Pope Leo at the Sagrada Família underscores need to work for peace

Describing the Basilica as a catechesis made of stone, color, and light, the Pope emphasized that those who believe cannot kill innocent people nor abandon those who suffer, who weep, who flee from poverty.

Pope Leo XIV: 'The elderly can be life teachers'

Pope Leo XIV reaffirms the precious value of the elderly and their role as 9;life teachers9; and reiterates that old age is a time of grace in a letter sent to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life on the occasion of the Dicastery9;s Meeting dedicated to Pastoral Care of the Elderly.

Migration and Canary Islands: From a port of shame to a port of hope

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Pope Leo XIV will visit the Port of Arguineguín—dubbed in 2020 the Port of Shame after thousands of migrants arrived and were met with inadequate facilities. Now, the General Secretariat of Pastoral Care hopes the papal visit will transform this pier into a place of hope and allow migrants “to feel accompanied by the Holy Father.”

Pope Leo: 'No situation could make God turn His gaze from us'

During his visit to the 'Penitential Center Brians 1,' Pope Leo XIV reminds prisoners that life9;s mistakes do not define a person9;s identity, stressing that the Lord will never cease to show them His love which outweighs any good or bad we have done.

Day four in Spain: From Madrid to Barcelona

On the fourth day of his Apostolic Journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV closed his time in Madrid meeting volunteers before taking a short flight to the northeast part of the country: Barcelona.

Pope in Barcelona: “We are made for the infinite”

At a prayer vigil in Barcelona, Pope Leo encourages young people to embrace their spiritual restlessness, trust in God’s presence amid suffering and mental illness, and view forgiveness not as a single act but as a gradual journey of healing and reconciliation.

Pope in Barcelona: May Christians be builders of unity in a divided world

Upon his arrival in Barcelona, Pope Leo XIV presides over midday prayer at the city9;s Cathedral, and encourages the Catholic community to be 'witnesses and prophets of unity'.

Kenyan religious sister in Barcelona prays for renewal through papal visit

A Kenyan religious sister of the Congregation of Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and working in Barcelona, has expressed her prayer that the Pope9;s visit to Barcelona and Spain will be a time of renewal for all. She reflected on how Spain has historically sent missionaries around the world, and her life and ministry in the city were rooted in that gift of faith.

Pope Leo arrives in Barcelona for second leg of Spain visit

As Pope Leo XIV arrives in Barcelona for the second leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain, our correspondent shares how the local Church has prepared to welcome the Holy Father.

Pope in Spain: Christians must offer world ‘leaven of selflessness’

Pope Leo XIV meets with volunteers who helped prepared his Apostolic Journey to Spain, and encourages Christians to bring the “leaven of selflessness” to the world.

Cardinal Cobo: ‘Madrid showed Pope is a moral authority for everyone’

As Pope Leo XIV concludes the first leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain, Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid, offers Vatican News his reflections on the warm response of young people and politicians to the Pope’s four days in Madrid.

Day three in Spain: Today the Church in Madrid scored an unforgettable goal

On his last full day in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV completes a busy schedule as he makes a historic visit to Spain’s Parliament, meets with victims of abuse, prays at the Cathedral of Almudena, and spends an evening with about 80,000 people from the Archdiocese of Madrid.

Pope: Bear witness to the joy of the Gospel in unity and diversity

At a meeting with the Archdiocesan community of Madrid in the city’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the Pope reflects on Baptism, synodality and evangelisation, drawing on testimonies from across the diocesan community.