News

Cardinal Ravasi joins jury for 2027 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity announces its five-member judging committee for 2027, recognizing individuals and organizations working to advance human fraternity and peaceful coexistence.

Gallagher: Amid severe test to world order, religions can contribute to peace

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and Cardinal Baldo Reina highlight religious communities’ contribution to peace at a conference in Rome, emphasizing religious freedom and respect for human dignity while rejecting the use of faith to justify war.

Pope: Europe must embrace its roots to build peace and unity

Pope Leo XIV addresses a meeting on “The Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity,” saying Europe’s Christian roots “help us understand more clearly that openness to the transcendent is always a constitutive part of the human person and a living source of civilization.”

Europe and the challenge of remaining human

Our editorial director reflects on Pope Leo’s upcoming four-day journey to France.

UNESCO Deputy Director: Pope’s visit is timely for our world

UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General, Åsa Regnér, speaks to Vatican News about the importance of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the UN agency on September 25, during his Apostolic Journey to France, and emphasizes how multilateral institutions can continue to help build peace.

Beyond divisions: Renovabis’ challenge to rebuild society

At the 30th Congress of the German Catholic aid organization “Renovabis,” over 200 experts discuss polarization, digital echo chambers, and the role of the Churches in building social cohesion.

New Holy See Permanent Observer to UN: Hate speech is not freedom of expression

Archbishop Christophe Z. El Kassis delivers his first speech as the new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York on the importance of eliminating hate speech as it “poisons public discourse, inflames division, and too often prepares the ground for violence and persecution.”

Jordan's Crown Prince visits baptism site ahead of 2,000 years since Jesus' Baptism

Jordan's Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II visits the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan) and emphasizes the need to carefully plan for the 2030 millennium celebrations, commemorating two thousand years since the baptism of Jesus Christ.

Venice Film Festival: Koreeda’s ‘Look Back’ wins SIGNIS Award

The World Catholic Association for Communication awards the SIGNIS Film Prize at the Venice Film Festival to a Japanese film about friendship and talent that shows how art can transform pain into hope.

Within Your Gates, Jerusalem

“Within Your Gates: The Forum for the Universal Vocation of Jerusalem” is born, a new interdisciplinary forum promoted by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and developed in collaboration with the academic center of the University of Notre Dame.

Scholas Chairs Congress: AI must liberate, not enslave

The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue participated in the meeting in Indonesia organized by Scholas Occurrentes and United in Diversity. In addition to commemorating the second anniversary of Pope Francis’s apostolic journey to Southeast Asia and the signing of the Istiqlal Interreligious Declaration, the event reflected on themes from the encyclical “Magnifica humanitas” and the “sensible” use of technology.

The Polish harvest tradition mentioned by Pope Leo

A look at Poland’s traditional harvest thanksgiving celebrations, known as “dożynki', which Pope Leo reflected on at the General Audience.

‘Within Your Gates’ forum explores Jerusalem’s vocation to reconciliation and peace

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem launches “Within Your Gates,” an interdisciplinary initiative bringing together scholars and practitioners from different faith traditions and disciplines to reflect on the Holy City’s universal mission.

Catholics, Copts, Muslims: Latin Bishop of Alexandria on Christianity in Egypt

The Latin Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria speaks to Vatican News about the Catholic Church in Egypt, its relations with the Coptic Orthodox and Muslim communities, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Canadian Bishop: When does state neutrality threaten one’s religious freedom?

Following new instructions barring military chaplains from referencing God in certain contexts, Bishop Scott McCaig speaks to Vatican News about the dangerous precedence this policy can set, the road that led to these instructions, an inter-faith committee dedicated to confronting this policy, and the hope that Canadian Catholics have.

Bishop Daibes: International pressure needed to protect Palestinians in the Holy Land

Bishop Jamal Daibes, Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Somalia, shines the spotlight on the region and calls for international and diplomatic pressure to protect Palestinians in the Holy Land and enable them to remain in their homeland with dignity, freedom and security.

Archbishop Gallagher in Moscow: The war must end

During a bilateral meeting in Moscow, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, discuss areas of convergence on international issues and address matters concerning the Catholic community in Russia and humanitarian initiatives aimed at beginning a path toward peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Nominations open for 2027 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

Nominations for the 2027 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity remain open until October 1, 2026, to honour individuals and organizations working to promote peaceful coexistence among peoples.

Why Pope Leo's visit to Spain’s Parliament was historic

Two days ago, Pope Leo XIV made an important stop at the Spanish Parliament at the Congress of Deputies, during his time in Madrid. Prof. Emilio Sáenz Francés, historian and professor of International Relations at Comillas Pontifical University, spoke to Vatican News afterwards about the significance of his speech.

Holy See and Italy renewable energy agreement enters into force

After the initial signing in July 2025, the agreement between the Holy See and Italy to build an agrivoltaic plant in the Vatican’s Santa Maria di Galeria area enters into force. The project aims to provide the Vatican City State with renewable energy.

Holy See calls for moral commitment to protect civilians in conflict

The Holy See highlights the urgent need to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians, noting increased attacks on religious sites and healthcare workers. Addressing the UN Security Council, it also raises ethical concerns over emerging wartime technologies and calls for peace built on dialogue.

Nigeria: Wukari Diocese facing violence, devastation and humanitarian crisis calls for action

The Catholic Diocese of Wukari has expressed alarm amid a severe humanitarian crisis in southern Taraba State, Nigeria. Recent violence has claimed more than 100 lives, displaced over 98,000 residents, and destroyed 217 churches within the relatively new diocese. Church leaders report that the attacks, predominantly targeting Christian farming communities, persist despite repeated appeals for urgent government action...

From Gaza to Rome: Students begin new chapter at Sapienza University

A group of Palestinian students from Gaza are in Rome and able to start rebuilding their future thanks to a joint initiative of the Sapienza University, the Diocese of Rome and the Community of Sant’Egidio. On the day of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the historic institution, they share their stories of war, displacement and hope.

‘How Kids Roll’: The children of Gaza and their message of peace

An exhibition in Rome tells the story of the war on Gaza through the eyes of children with a selection of photographs, poetry and video installations. An immersive journey that reflects on past and present amid fragility, memory and the longing for a future.

Archbishop Gallagher: Vatican diplomacy has served peace for centuries

In Cape Verde for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, Archbishop Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, delivers a speech in which he explores the working methods of papal diplomacy.

Holy See: Wars and extreme climate events have lethal impact on food systems

The Holy See laments the impact of war, recessions, climate events, and political instability on the world’s agrifood systems, calling for local food systems to keep human dignity at their center.

From a refugee camp to the World Taekwondo Grand Prix

The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation is giving 8 young athletes the opportunity to participate in the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome this June, as well as the chance to meet Pope Leo XIV.

Bahrain: Celebrations mark 800 years from death of St Francis

A series of initiatives will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi9;s death. A statement from the Embassy of Italy in Manama, in collaboration with 'This is Bahrain', reveals the intention to underscore “a commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and respect for diversity.”

Suspect arrested over attack on French nun in Jerusalem

Israeli police announce they have arrested a 36-year-old suspect for allegedly attacking a French-born religious sister, who works as a researcher at the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research in Jerusalem.

Cameroonians hope Pope’s visit will 'bring healing' to a divided country

Ahead of Pope Leo XIV9;s arrival, Cameroonians tell Vatican News that his Apostolic Journey to the African nation could inspire diverse groups to “live together, work together, and get along.'