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Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican

The new American pope's positions on AI, migration, and the Iran War create friction with Trump while navigating internal Catholic divisions

For nuns who gave a lifetime to others, basic end-of-life care is scarce

Illustration accompanying article: For nuns who gave a lifetime to others, basic end-of-life care is scarce
  • Sister Jane Frances Nakafeero, superior general of the Little Sisters of St. Francis, said the convent in Nkokonjeru, Uganda, has only seven wheelchairs for 14 retired nuns who need them, and lacks adult diapers, hearing aids, and warm blankets.
  • Jean Callahan, former chair of the Irish Hospice Foundation, partnered with Nakafeero and the African Palliative Care Association to launch a pilot hospice program in September 2025 after hearing Nakafeero's presentation at a 2023 meeting.
  • Researchers led by African Palliative Care Association director Eve Namisango are assessing the needs of 50 retired sisters, with plans to roll out palliative care in Ugandan convents by 2027 and then across the continent.
  • Nakafeero and Callahan said Catholic Church structures provide for priests but neglect nuns; the Vatican did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Campaigners are trying to raise about $135,000 to complete the program.
 2026-06-20 · 5 MIN READ

Ferrari unveils first fully electric Luce amid market skepticism

Illustration accompanying article: Ferrari unveils first fully electric Luce amid market skepticism
  • Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric car, the Luce EV, to Italy’s President and Pope Leo XIV.
  • John Elkann showed Pope Leo XIV the Luce at Castel Gandolfo, with Ferrari test driver Raffaele De Simone assisting.
  • The Luce EV is a four-motor, four-wheel drive electric car with 1,000 horsepower, a 0-to-100 km/h time of 2.5 seconds, and a range of more than 530 kilometers.
  • Ferrari stock fell after the announcement, dropping 8.4% in Milan and 5.3% for U.S.-listed shares.
  • Auto critics and market observers said the Luce’s design and price make it harder to fit Ferrari’s brand image and demand expectations.
 2026-05-26 · 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Rubio meets pope and cardinal at Vatican to affirm ties after Trump's remarks

Pope Leo XIV keeps Africa trip on track as public dispute with Trump deepens

2026-04-16

Aboard a charter flight from Algiers to Yaounde on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV pressed forward with an 11-day, four-nation Africa tour as an escalating public dispute with President Donald Trump played out on social media thousands of miles away, testing the first American pope's ability to keep his planned program at the center of a journey that Washington has tried to reshape from afar. Leo, traveling with a Vatican delegation and roughly 70 accredited journalists in a tightly managed press pool, did not take reporters' questions on the five-hour flight to Cameroon. He delivered brief remarks in English about his just-concluded Algerian visit — the first papal trip to that country — without addressing Trump directly.

Vatican visitors react to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV

2026-04-15

Vatican visitors on Tuesday reacted sharply to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who has been urging a softer approach to talk of war. The pope was away on a 10-day trip to Africa as the dispute unfolded online and at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV walks in St. Augustine’s footsteps in Algeria

2026-04-15

Pope Leo XIV visited the archaeological ruins in Annaba, Algeria, on Tuesday, making a pilgrimage to the birthplace and legacy of St. Augustine, his spiritual father. The pope arrived with tight security amid rain and said the visit reflects a message of peace and interreligious bridge-building. The stop is part of Leo’s four-country Africa tour.

Pope Leo XIV doubles down on peace message as Trump criticism intensifies

2026-04-15

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reinforced his call for peace and dialogue as U.S. President Donald Trump continued a week of public attacks on history's first American-born pope, accusing him of weakness on crime, claiming him as a political captive, and asserting that Leo owed his election to Trump. Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Cameroon, Leo said the message "the world needs to hear today" is one of peace and dialogue. Leo made no mention of Trump's latest social media posts or the suggestion by Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, that the pope should "be careful" when speaking about theology.

Many US Catholics dismayed by Trump’s verbal attack on Pope Leo

2026-04-14

U.S. Catholic voters backed Donald Trump in 2024, but many across the Catholic political spectrum reacted with dismay after Trump launched a broad verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first pope leading the U.S. Catholic Church. Critics included leaders of the U.S. bishops’ conference and prominent conservative Catholics, while Trump defended himself and said no apology was needed.

Trump refuses to apologize to Pope Leon XIV amid Iran war tensions

2026-04-14

In a rushed White House Q&A on April 13, President Donald Trump said he would not apologize to Pope Leon XIV after criticizing the pope for speaking out against the U.S. war with Iran. Trump also addressed a now-deleted social media post that showed him in a religious-style scene, saying he thought the image was him as a doctor.

Pope Leo XIV launches Africa trip to Algeria with call for peace

2026-04-14

Pope Leo XIV opened an 11-day Africa tour in Algeria on Monday, urging peace and an end to “neocolonial tendencies” as the Vatican’s leader faces new criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over the war involving Iran. During his first remarks in Algiers, Leo linked his appeals for peace to Algeria’s fight for independence and said a just peace requires dignity for every nation.

Pope Leo XIV denounces U.S.-Israel war in Iran, urges peace talks

2026-04-14

Pope Leo XIV denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and urged political leaders to stop and negotiate peace, in remarks during an evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11. The Vatican said the pope’s message appeared aimed at U.S. officials and was delivered the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan.

Pope Leo XIV’s Africa trip to emphasize peace, migration and reform

2026-04-11

Pope Leo XIV will begin a first papal visit to Algeria on Monday as part of a two-day stop before traveling to Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican said the trip will focus on migration, the exploitation of natural and human resources, corruption, and the role of leaders in countries where some presidents have remained in power for decades.

Pope Leo XIV finishes Africa trip, urging peace and tackling corruption

2026-04-10

Pope Leo XIV ended an 11-day visit to four African countries, using the tour to call for peace and to denounce issues he described as driving conflict and exploitation on the continent. Before returning to Rome on Thursday, the Vatican said the pope’s final stop was Equatorial Guinea on Africa’s west coast.

Pope Leo holds U.S. citizenship; legal experts say it is hard to strip

2026-04-10

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, is an American citizen who also leads the Catholic Church and Vatican City as a foreign head of state. Legal experts said the U.S. government could “actively review” the citizenship status of Americans who serve in those roles, but federal law and the practical facts of renunciation make termination unlikely.

Pope Leo XIV wraps up Africa trip, urging peace and denouncing corruption

2026-04-09

Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome after an 11-day tour of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, his last stop in Equatorial Guinea’s western coast after visits to four countries meant to spotlight war, migration, corruption and the legacy of colonialism. In meetings with leaders and young people, the pope emphasized Christian-Muslim coexistence, called for an end to exploitation, and urged integrity in public life, according to coverage of the trip by The Associated Press.

Pope Leo says Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization is “unacceptable”

2026-04-08

Pope Leo XIV said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to “destroy Iranian civilization” was “truly unacceptable” and warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law. Speaking Tuesday as he left his country house in Castel Gandolfo, the pope urged Americans and other people of good will to contact political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and seek peace.

Pope Leo’s first Easter Mass urges peace through dialogue

2026-04-08

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff with a call for people with weapons to lay them down and for those who have power to seek peace through dialogue. In his Urbi et Orbi blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica’s loggia, the pope did not list the world’s conflicts by name, instead drawing on a message about the “great thirst for death” that Pope Francis delivered from the same spot last Easter.

Papa León XIV carga la cruz en el vía crucis del Coliseo en Roma

2026-04-07

El papa León XIV cargó una cruz de madera a través de las 14 estaciones del vía crucis en el Coliseo de Roma el Viernes Santo, en su primer día en el puesto, una práctica que no se repetía en esas dimensiones “en décadas”, según la crónica de la agencia AP. El pontífice, escoltado dentro del anfiteatro por dos portadores de antorchas, recorrió el rito durante una hora y luego subió por escaleras hasta el monte Palatino para la bendición final.

Good Friday unfolds across Latin America in processions and ceremonies

2026-04-04

Good Friday was marked across Latin America on Friday with Catholic devotees holding processions and ceremonies that re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus, from colonial Antigua in Guatemala to cities in Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. In Bolivia, President Rodrigo Paz joined Good Friday observances after years of leaders avoiding religious events, while in Mexico hooded penitents took part in a penitential procession in Atlixco, Puebla.

Pope Leo XIV washes priests’ feet for Holy Thursday, restoring rite

2026-04-03

Pope Leo XIV washed the feet of 12 priests in the Holy Thursday ritual inside Rome’s Archbasilica of St. John Lateran on April 2, restoring a tradition that his predecessor had expanded to include laypeople and non-Christians. The 12 priests included 11 ordained by Leo last year and the Rev. Renzo Chiesa, director of the Rome Diocese’s primary seminary.

Orthodox Lent in Greece: monks and even McDonald’s embrace meatless rules

2026-04-02

In Greece and other Orthodox-majority countries, millions of Orthodox Christians follow Lent’s 40-day ritual by avoiding meat, dairy, eggs and fish, with weekday restrictions also limiting oil and wine. The practice comes before Orthodox Easter, which often falls later than Catholic and Anglican Easter. In central Greece, monks at the Monastery of St. Augustine and Seraphim also use the diet as part of a spiritual routine of focus and reflection, while some everyday businesses adapt menu items to match the fast.

Good Friday brings cross processions and ancient rituals across Christian world

2026-04-02

Good Friday, observed by Christians ahead of Easter Sunday, falls on April 3 this year for Catholics and Protestants and April 10 for Orthodox Christians. Services often begin around 3 p.m. and may include centuries-old liturgy and public processions, with worshippers gathering indoors and in the streets to venerate the cross.

Chile shifts right as President Kast’s religious views draw attention

2026-04-01

Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast has taken office with openly religious views rooted in Catholic groups and a record of opposing abortion and same-sex marriage. Supporters say his faith and values provide confidence, while LGBTQ+ and abortion-rights advocates warn his agenda could make progress harder. The focus on Kast’s religious background comes as Chile remains in a broader regional shift away from Catholic affiliation.

Pope Leo XIV urges Easter end to U.S.-Israel war on Iran

2026-04-01

Pope Leo XIV said he hoped the U.S.-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter, in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside Rome on Tuesday. The Pope urged world leaders to return to dialogue and find “ways to reduce the amount of violence,” adding that Easter should be a “time of peace” amid suffering across the Middle East.

Pope Leo XIV says God is “king of peace” rejecting war

2026-04-01

Pope Leo XIV rejected claims that God justifies war during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, while asking for special prayers for Christians in the Middle East. Speaking to tens of thousands gathered in the square, he said Jesus, the “king of peace,” rejects violence and cannot be used to justify war.

Pope Leo XIV urges Monaco to use wealth for good, reject “idolatry”

2026-03-29

Pope Leo XIV urged Monaco’s residents to use the principality’s wealth and influence for good and to reject what he called the “idolatry of power and money” that he said is fueling wars worldwide. The pope made a one-day visit to the Mediterranean enclave on Saturday, meeting Prince Albert and Princess Charlene before addressing Catholics in the cathedral and delivering a homily at Mass in the Monaco stadium.

Pope Leo era begins in Denver as Bishop James Golka takes over

2026-03-29

Pope Leo XIV has installed Bishop James Golka as Denver’s new archbishop, marking a leadership transition in a Catholic archdiocese known for conservative influence but also for internal tensions over culture-war issues. Golka was installed March 25, after heading the diocese of Colorado Springs for five years, and supporters and critics alike described what his appointment could mean for polarization in northern Colorado. The Associated Press report, written by Religion News Service, included reactions from clergy, Catholic nonprofits and parishioners.

Italy’s culture ministry unveils Antonello da Messina devotional painting

2026-03-27

Italy’s Culture Ministry put a recently purchased Antonello da Messina devotional painting on display in Italy’s Senate on Thursday, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said. The ministry said it plans to step up acquisitions after buying the double-sided work, titled “Ecce Homo,” from Sotheby’s for $14.9 million.

Pope Leo XIV to visit Nicaea site to mark 1,700th anniversary of creed

2026-03-25

Pope Leo XIV will travel to the site of the Council of Nicaea on Nov. 28 to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the church meeting that helped define the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith still recited by millions, the Vatican announced. The pope will mark the moment in a joint commemoration with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Pope Leo XIV heads to Nicaea to mark 1,700 years of Nicene unity

2026-03-24

Pope Leo XIV will travel Nov. 28 to Nicaea in present-day Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a foundational moment that helped shape the Nicene Creed, which many Christians still recite. The anniversary also highlights how the creed’s adoption came from an early collaboration of church and state and how later schisms left no lasting doctrinal agreement.

Sistine Chapel concert debuts composition on biblical angels for English

2026-03-23

The Vatican hosted a rare Sunday evening concert in the Sistine Chapel, debuting an English-language composition focused on “interactions with angels” drawn from the Bible. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, told the roughly 200 invite-only attendees that they could not use phones to film or photograph the premiere. The 70-minute oratorio, “Angels Unawares,” was commissioned by John Studzinski’s Genesis Foundation and written by Sir James MacMillan, with texts by the late Robert Willis.

Peaceful cloister near Rome’s Pantheon holds centuries of history

2026-03-21

A hidden cloister just steps from Rome’s Pantheon offers quiet meditation behind a wooden door, but its frescoed walls record a turbulent past that includes papal conclaves and the Roman Inquisition. The cloister is part of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, a Dominican convent complex near the Pantheon, where 20 friars still live and carry out duties.

Pope Leo XIV endorses Francis’ ‘Joy of Love’ Communion guidance

2026-03-20

Pope Leo XIV has endorsed Pope Francis’ controversial 2016 document “The Joy of Love” as he marks its 10th anniversary, while convening a Rome meeting of bishops’ conference presidents on ministering to families. The endorsement centers on Francis’ Chapter VIII and a related footnote discussing when, in particular cases, the help of the sacraments could include Communion for Catholics in civil remarriages.

Pope Leo XIV demands ceasefire in Iran war, appeals to leaders

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday in what the Vatican presented as his strongest appeal to date, addressing those “responsible for this conflict.” The pope spoke at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, without naming the United States or Israel.

Pope Leo highlights abuses of “vulnerable” adults, meets Opus Dei critic

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with Vatican child-protection officials and with investigative journalist Gareth Gore, whose book “Opus” alleges abuses within Opus Dei. In remarks to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the pope emphasized concerns about abuse of “vulnerable” adults in addition to the church’s focus on clergy sexual abuse of children.

Pope Leo XIV moves into renovated papal apartment

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV moved into a newly renovated papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace on Saturday, the Vatican said. The move places him in a residence famously eschewed by Pope Francis and required a major renovation to update utilities and other systems.

AP photographer’s long-exposure image imagines blind people ‘seeing’ art

2026-03-15

Alessandra Tarantino, an Associated Press photographer in Rome, described how she created an “extraordinary photo” inspired by Picasso to depict the idea of “tactile image” through touch. The image was made in a darkened museum room after the Museo Tattile Omero in Italy’s Omero museum closed for the night, using a small LED light and a long exposure as a blind visitor explored the face of Michelangelo’s David. Tarantino explained that she developed the concept through inclusive tours in Rome organized by Radici and in consultation with a blind woman she followed during the museum’s tactile experience.

Peter Thiel’s Antichrist lectures stir controversy in Vatican’s backyard

2026-03-15

One of Silicon Valley tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s invitation-only lectures on the Antichrist is scheduled to take place in Rome from Sunday to Wednesday, amid public distancing from Catholic universities initially linked to the event. The Associated Press reported that the Vatican’s backyard conference is not being hosted by the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University, also known as the Angelicum, and that the Catholic University of America said it is not sponsoring the Rome gathering. Organizers have said the series is intended to draw on classical and Christian thought.

Pope Leo XIV’s Africa trip to include mosque, prison, 2021 blast memorial

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV will make a four-nation Africa tour from April 13-23 that the Vatican says will emphasize Christian-Muslim relations, comfort for victims of violence and outreach to Catholics in countries where it operates under state pressure and conflict. The itinerary includes a visit to a mosque in Algeria, a peace meeting in Cameroon and a memorial in Equatorial Guinea for victims of a 2021 blast. In each stop, he also plans meetings with leaders and local bishops, Vatican officials said.

Pope Leo XIV will accept Liberty Medal in Philadelphia by remote broadcast

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV will accept the Liberty Medal on Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 3 in a remote broadcast from Rome, while he will not travel to the United States during the country’s 250th birthday celebrations this year. The National Constitution Center said the honor will recognize his “lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world.”

Peter Thiel’s Antichrist lectures stir controversy near the Vatican in Rome

2026-03-15

Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley tech billionaire, is holding a four-lecture, invitation-only series in Rome on the Antichrist, drawing public distance from Catholic institutions initially linked to the event. The lectures run from Sunday to Wednesday, according to event details seen by The Associated Press.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for ceasefire in Iran, urging leaders to stop conflict

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East in his strongest remarks yet, addressing the leaders responsible for the war in Iran. Speaking at the end of his noon blessing, the pope appealed “to those responsible for this conflict” to “Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened.”

Pope Leo XIV to accept Liberty Medal remotely ahead of July 4

2026-03-15

Pope Leo XIV will accept the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia on July 3 via a remote broadcast from Rome, according to the National Constitution Center. The pope will spend the Fourth of July on the Italian island of Lampedusa instead of traveling to the United States during the city’s 250th birthday celebrations.

Pope Leo XIV to tour Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea

2026-03-15

ROME—The Vatican has released details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four-nation Africa tour, saying the April 13-23 trip will include meetings with Muslim and Catholic communities, a peace meeting in Cameroon, and a visit to a memorial for victims of a deadly 2021 blast in Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican said the pope will also hold private talks with leaders of the four countries and celebrate Masses for the faithful.

Pope meets Opus Dei critic and urges Vatican focus on “vulnerable” adults

2026-03-15

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV met Monday with Gareth Gore, an investigative journalist who has criticized Opus Dei, and told the Vatican’s child protection commission that the church should pay attention to abuse involving “vulnerable” adults. The pope held two back-to-back Vatican audiences focused on safeguarding, including one with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Pope accepts resignation of Chaldean Catholic bishop charged with embezzlement

2026-03-13

Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, a Chaldean Catholic leader in the San Diego area, who faces criminal charges accusing him of embezzling $270,000 from his parish. The Vatican said it accepted Shaleta’s resignation under canon law for Eastern Rite churches, and named a temporary administrator for the El Cajon congregation.

Cuba to release 51 prisoners in rare move tied to Vatican talks

2026-03-13

Cuba’s government said it will release 51 people from prisons in the “upcoming days,” framing the decision as an act of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican. The announcement came Thursday night, hours before President Miguel Díaz-Canel is scheduled to speak to the press.

Cuba announces release of 51 prisoners, citing goodwill toward Vatican

2026-03-13

Havana’s government said Thursday night it would free 51 inmates in the coming days, describing the move as a gesture of goodwill tied to close relations with the Vatican. The announcement came hours before President Miguel Díaz‑Canel’s scheduled press briefing on national and international issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that all those slated for release have served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct while incarcerated.

Cuba to Release 51 Prisoners in Unexpected Move

2026-03-13

HAVANA — Cuba’s government announced Thursday night it will release 51 people from the island’s prisons in an unexpected move, citing goodwill and close Vatican ties. The decision comes hours before President Miguel Díaz-Canel addresses the nation and the world in a rare press conference.

Pope names fellow Augustinian to run Vatican’s charity office

2026-03-11

Pope Leo XIV named Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín to lead the Vatican’s charity office, the Holy See’s almsgiving work, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Marín, a fellow Augustinian and a Spanish church official, replaces Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who is set to become archbishop of Lodz.

Restorers revive Rome’s San Pietro in Vincoli with EU recovery funds

2026-03-10

Rome restorers have begun cleaning and restoring ornate ceilings, altar areas and other features at San Pietro in Vincoli, a basilica near the Colosseum, using an EU pandemic recovery grant. The project includes careful scraping work using a “descialbo” technique and is expected to finish by May 2026, according to the scientific director of the restoration.

Pope Leo XIV calls for end to U.S.-Israel war in Iran

2026-03-09

Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the U.S.-Israel war in Iran on Monday, issuing a new appeal after two U.S. cardinals condemned the conflict. In Vatican statements, the pope expressed “deep sorrow” after a Maronite Catholic priest was killed in southern Lebanon.

Pope Leo XIV appoints Vatican diplomat as new US ambassador

2026-03-09

Pope Leo XIV named Italian Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as the Holy See’s new ambassador to the United States, a role that will put the Vatican at the center of U.S.-Holy See diplomacy during tensions over Iran and immigration. Caccia, 68, replaces retiring French-born Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who has been apostolic nuncio in Washington.

Claims of “rediscovered” Michelangelo unsettle Renaissance experts

2026-03-05

ROME — An independent researcher says a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelangelo, challenging the work’s current attribution and drawing skepticism from Renaissance scholars. Valentina Salerno announced the claim Wednesday and published her theory on academia.edu, as the Italian military and the church that oversees the site said they would protect the artwork regardless of whether it can be linked to the Renaissance master.

Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” restoration removes chalky salt film

2026-03-04

Vatican restorers have begun cleaning Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel, removing a chalky white film of salt that has built up over the fresco since its last major restoration about three decades ago. The Vatican said the work is taking place on floor-to-ceiling scaffolding and aims to finish by Easter in the first week of April.

Pope Leo XIV to visit Monaco and four African nations in 2026

2026-02-26

The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV will travel to Monaco and four African countries—Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea—in the first half of 2026. The schedule runs alongside a string of one-day visits across Italy beginning in May, which the Vatican said will allow the pope to meet Catholics after the 2025 Holy Year ended. The Vatican also confirmed that Leo will skip the United States this year and will instead travel to Italy’s Lampedusa on July 4.

Bones of St. Francis on public display in Assisi for one month

2026-02-26

In Assisi, Italy, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi went on public display for the first time Sunday, capping an 800-year saga over the friar’s bodily remains. The Franciscans are exhibiting the relics for one month, through March 22, to mark the 800th anniversary of Francis’ death in 1226. Police said extra security measures were in place as pilgrims passed through metal detectors before entering the basilica.

St. Francis relics on display in Assisi draw 400,000 pilgrims

2026-02-25

In Assisi, Italy, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi are going on public display for the first time, an exhibition expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the hilltop Umbrian town. Assisi Mayor Valter Stoppini said nearly 400,000 people have already registered to pray before the relics, and the total could reach about half a million before the bones return to their tomb on March 22.

Choir in Milan church promotes inclusion ahead of Winter Paralympics

2026-02-23

MILAN — Days ahead of the Winter Paralympics, a choir from northern Italy performed a pop music concert inside Milan’s Sant’Antonio church, urging harmony and inclusion, including for people with disabilities. The Terzo Tempo choir staged the Feb. 18 performance titled “Like Yeast in the Dough,” as part of the Archdiocese of Milan’s push to tie Olympic and Paralympic attention to Christian values.

Catholic priests see renewed interest in confession during Lent

2026-02-21

Catholics in the United States are returning to confession during the Lenten season with a renewed focus on grace, priests say, as churches prepare for longer lines and more talk about mercy. The sacrament, long practiced as a routine step for Catholics seeking forgiveness and Communion, has shifted over decades from memorized lists of sins toward conversations aimed at God’s love.

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s children honor his civil rights legacy in Chicago

2026-02-19

In Chicago, adult children of the late Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. held an emotional tribute Wednesday, a day after his death. The family said Jackson, who was battling a rare neurological disorder, will be honored next week with services at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and at a South Side church.

Vatican expands St. Peter’s Basilica visitor access for its 400th anniversary

2026-02-17

The Vatican is rolling out a series of visitor-focused changes at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the 400th anniversary of its consecration, including expanded access to the terrace and a new online reservation system meant to reduce long waits. The plans, outlined Monday at Vatican City, also include simultaneous translations for Masses in up to 60 languages and a new permanent exhibition tracing the basilica’s history.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent for Catholics and many Christians

2026-02-17

Ash Wednesday falls Feb. 17 for Catholics and many other Christians, marking the start of Lent, a season of fasting, reflection and repentance. Many worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads during church services, while some communities offer “Ashes to Go” for people who may not be able to get to a sanctuary.

Milan’s Duomo conservation group launches “Adopt a Statue” restorations

2026-02-16

Milan’s historic Duomo has brought a restored 15th-century statue back into public view through an “Adopt a Statue” program launched by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo’s conservation authority. The Bearded Saint with Book, restored for display at Piazzale Cadorna behind glass at the headquarters of FNM, is one of several sculptures whose restoration is funded by donors under conservation-approved loan agreements.

Catholic pilgrimage in Italy spotlights queer tradition of femminielli

2026-02-12

Hundreds of femminielli — a nonbinary gender identity with roots in Neapolitan culture — gathered Feb. 2 at a Catholic Mass in Mercogliano, outside Naples, for the annual Juta pilgrimage. The ceremony blended Catholic ritual with local folklore, as participants said the event offers faith and resistance amid violence and prejudice affecting LGBTQ people worldwide.

Milan Catholic archdiocese uses cross and Masses to promote Olympic unity

2026-02-11

Milan’s Catholic archdiocese has designated a Romanesque basilica as a special “Church of Athletes” during the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting a wooden “Cross of the Athletes” and holding Masses in multiple languages. The cross, which AP describes as made from wood sourced in five continents, is displayed at the Basilica of San Babila as Olympic and Paralympic visitors arrive.

Christian artists making rap, Afrobeats and R&B gain traction

2026-02-11

A new wave of Christian artists is blending rap, Afrobeats and R&B to reach younger global audiences, drawing attention from major labels and streaming platforms even as the music remains less visible than mainstream faith content. The shift is powered in part by social media and independent releases, with Spotify and Amazon Music reporting rising interest since 2022. Industry leaders and performers say the genres offer a “sonic” experience alongside Christian messaging that they say can reach listeners beyond churchgoers.

Vatican gives green light again for Fulton Sheen beatification in Illinois

2026-02-10

The Vatican has approved again the cause to beatify Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a U.S. radio and television evangelist whose path to sainthood was delayed after a 2019 postponement. Peoria Diocese said the beatification can now take place in Peoria, Illinois, but did not announce a new ceremony date on Feb. 9, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.

Tourists, locals shut out of Milan’s Last Supper during Vance visit

2026-02-08

Tourists in Milan during the Winter Olympics who hoped to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” were unable to access the painting as the site closed to the public for 3 1/2 days, ending Feb. 8 morning. The restrictions came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other Olympic-era VIP groups were allowed in on Saturday, according to the vice president’s office and others.

Incoming New York archbishop Ronald Hicks to emphasize evangelizing

2026-02-06

Ronald Hicks, the incoming archbishop of New York, said he plans to emphasize evangelizing and reengagement as he takes charge of one of the largest U.S. archdioceses. Speaking during a news conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral ahead of his installation ceremony Friday, Hicks focused on how the Church can reengage people who have been part of it but less involved.

New archbishop of New York calls for unity and helping the vulnerable

2026-02-06

Ronald Hicks was installed Friday as the 11th archbishop of New York in a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, where he urged Catholics to build unity, spread the faith, and care for those most vulnerable. In remarks to clergy, laity and representatives from other faiths, Hicks succeeded Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation took effect after he turned 75, and said the archdiocese should be “a church made up of missionary disciples” that protects life and supports the poor.

Vatican’s “trial of the century” resumes as defense challenges pope’s decrees

2026-02-05

Pope Francis’ role is back at the center of appeals in the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” as defense lawyers argue secret decrees issued during the investigation violated defendants’ right to a fair trial. The appeals hearings resumed Tuesday in Vatican City after a three-month break, with tribunal president Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo urging lawyers to avoid citing the pope by name.

Pope Leo XIV faces crisis as SSPX plans bishop consecrations without consent

2026-02-05

Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics after a breakaway group linked to the traditional Latin Mass announced plans to consecrate new bishops without papal consent, raising fears of another schism. The Society of St. Pius X, known as the SSPX, said the consecrations are scheduled for July 1, despite Vatican objections and the automatic excommunication that church law attaches to unauthorized bishop consecrations.

Catholic Church, Italy investigate cherub resembling Giorgia Meloni

2026-02-05

The Catholic Church in Rome and Italy’s Culture Ministry are investigating a cherub in a historic basilica that critics say resembles Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after photographs circulated in Italian newspapers. The diocese and the ministry launched inquiries into recent renovations at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, drawing sharp reactions from church and government officials.

Pope Leo XIV invited to Peru as 2026 travel plans unfold

2026-02-02

Peru’s ambassador to the Holy See invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the South American country during a Vatican garden ceremony on Saturday, as the Vatican weighs major travel plans for 2026 that include potential trips to Africa and Latin America.

Indian-born bishop named archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas for Indigenous Catholics

2026-02-01

Indigenous Catholics across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a new archbishop as Susai Jesu, born in Tamil Nadu, was consecrated in a ceremony that included traditional drumming and songs in multiple languages. Jesu, 54, succeeds as leader of the Diocese of Keewatin–Le Pas and will oversee ministry to about 49,000 Catholics, most of them Indigenous, spread across an area larger than Texas.

Pope Leo XIV urges Vatican doctrine office to uphold truth and justice in abuse cases

2026-01-30

Pope Leo XIV told the Vatican’s doctrine office to uphold “truth, justice and charity” when deciding clergy sex abuse cases, during an audience Thursday with cardinals and bishops in the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith. The Pope said the matter requires careful attention to justice, while his remarks also came with renewed emphasis on ensuring victims are listened to and not left unheard.

Social media reacts to South African man’s Rapture prediction

2026-01-29

A doomsday prediction about the Rapture attributed to a South African man has spread on social media ahead of Sept. 23 or Sept. 24. The claim is based on an apocalyptic message he said he received in a YouTube video posted months ago, and it has prompted both debate among some evangelical Christians and mockery online.

Catholic share declines across Latin America as “nones” rise, Pew finds

2026-01-21

Pew Research Center surveys of adults in six major Latin American countries found Catholicism shrinking and more people identifying as religiously unaffiliated, including atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” The Pew report, released Wednesday, draws on surveys conducted in early 2024 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Pope consoles Italian families after Swiss Alps bar fire kills teens

2026-01-15

Pope Leo XIV met Thursday with relatives of Italian teenagers killed or injured in a New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland, telling them he wanted to share “a moment” amid their grief and urging them to seek hope. Families later met with Italian government officials, who said Italy will seek participation in the Swiss and possible European investigations.

Pope Leo XIV plans Spain trip with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Canary Islands

2026-01-08

Pope Leo XIV is planning a trip to Spain this year with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, the archbishop of Madrid said. Cardinal José Cobo Cano said the Vatican itinerary is still being worked out after meetings in Rome, including with the Vatican secretary of state. The announcement comes a day after Spain’s government said Catholic bishops agreed to let the state ombudsman have the final say on church-funded compensation for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Pope Leo XIV opens 2026 with plea for peace after New Year’s Mass

2026-01-03

The pope opened 2026 with a prayer for peace, urging solidarity for nations “bloodied by conflict” and families “wounded by violence or pain,” as he marked World Day of Peace on Thursday in Rome. After a New Year’s Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered a special noontime prayer from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Leo XIV closes 2025 Jubilee prayer asking Rome to welcome foreigners

2026-01-01

Pope Leo XIV closed out 2025 with New Year’s Eve vespers at St. Peter’s Basilica, praying that Rome be welcoming to foreigners and vulnerable people, young and old. In his homily, the pope said he wanted it “to be so again” after the “time of grace” of the Holy Year, which brought millions of pilgrims to Rome.

Pope opens 2026 with plea for peace for nations and families

2026-01-01

On New Year’s Day, Pope Leo XIV opened 2026 with a plea for peace, praying for countries “bloodied by conflict” and for families “wounded by violence or pain.” He marked the day with a New Year’s Day Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a special noontime prayer overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Rome.