Pope

Voices from the Arab press: Pope Leo and the Shi'ites

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai receives a chalice from Pope Leo XIV (R) at a Holy Mass during the pope’s first apostolic journey, in Beirut, on December 2.
Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd during a meeting with bishpops, priests consacrated persons and personal workers at the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, northeast of the capital Beirut, on December 1, 2025.

'A just and lasting peace': Pope Leo calls for dialogue after meeting Ukraine's Zelensky

 Pope Leo XIV holds a Jubilee audience on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican June 14, 2025.

Pope Leo scraps Francis’s Vatican fundraising panel amid budget shift

Pope Leo XIV disembarks the papal plane upon arrival at Rafic Hariri International Airport, during his first apostolic journey, in Beirut, Lebanon, November 30, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV lands in Beirut during first Middle East visit


Rome's chief rabbi criticizes Pope Francis over Israel remarks

"A pope cannot divide the world into children and stepchildren and must denounce the sufferings of all," he said. "This is exactly what the Pope does not do."

 Pope Francis. Vatican announces new guidelines allowing gay men to become priests in Italy under vow of celibacy.

Biden awards Pope Francis medal of freedom, highest US civilian honor

This is the first time during his administration that Biden gave the award with distinction, the White House said.

 Pope Francis and U.S. President Joe Biden meet as they attend the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy June 14, 2024.

Jewish leaders to Pope: Build bridges, don’t fuel antisemitism

Major Jewish organization leaders called on the Pope to refrain from 'incendiary comments' about the Israel-Hamas War.

Members of the Palestinian embassy to the Holy See give a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, to Pope Francis during a Christmas ceremony at St Peter's Square at the Vatican, Dec. 7, 2024.

'The Vatican was silent during the Holocaust, now it spreads modern blood libels’: MK Chikli

Diaspora Minister AMichai Chikli also accused Canada and Australia of creating unsafe policies for Jewish citizens.

 Israeli minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli and Pope Francis. (Illustrative)

‘This is cruelty, this is not war’: Pope cites Hamas death claims in latest Israel condemnation

The pope also complained, "Yesterday they (Israel) did not allow the Patriarch (of Jerusalem) into Gaza as promised.”

 Pope Francis, with a large bruise on his chin, arrives to hold an audience with donors of the St. Peter's Square Christmas tree and Nativity scene, at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, December 7, 2024.

The Popemobile goes fully electric with a custom-made, all-electric Mercedes-Benz

Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, personally handed over the unique, hand-built vehicle to Pope Francis in the Vatican.

 The popemobile.

At the Tent City of San Ferdinando, the "Laundry of Pope Francis" opens for service

The "Laundry of Pope Francis" in San Ferdinando is the seventh such facility after those in Rome, Genoa, Turin (two), Naples, and Catania.

 A laundromat.

Pope Francis urges Church to welcome cohabiting couples and divorced individuals

He emphasized that 'The Church must welcome everyone, everyone, do not forget this word.'

 Pope Francis Bergoglio celebrates mass and greets the Christian faithful who arrived in their thousands in St. Peter's. Rome.

Pope Francis breaks with tradition on his own funeral and burial rites

Francis opts to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, breaking with St. Peter's Basilica tradition.

 Pope Francis in March 2013.

Pope Francis to canonize ‘God's Influencer’ and the ‘First Digital Saint,’ Carlo Acutis

Acutis, who died at 15 from leukemia, used social media to reach a wider audience.

 Carlo Acutis Baliwag Fiesta 28.