Pope

'A world that is ablaze': Pope Leo laments war, environmental destruction, in Ash Wednesday service

Before sprinkling ashes on the heads of participants, a sign of mortality, the pope said the ashes could represent "the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war."

|ByREUTERS
POPE LEO XIV puts ash on a faithful's head during the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Santa Sabina Basilica in Rome, Italy, February 18, 2026.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 25, 2025.

Vatican says it will not participate in Trump's Gaza Board of Peace

The Holy See "will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States," the Vatican's top diplomatic official said.

|ByREUTERS
Steve Bannon gestures during a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., February 20, 2025, in this still image taken from a handout video.

Steve Bannon attempted to work with Jeffrey Epstein against Pope Francis - CNN

Bannon, who had previously served as an advisor to US President Donald Trump, reportedly petitioned Epstein to help him take down the pope.

|ByTZVI JASPER
Pope Leo XIV holds a baptism for Vatican City employees in the Sistine Chapel, January 11, 2026; illustrative.

Jesus gets a makeover as Sistine Chapel artwork undergoes restoration

The Vatican announced that Michelangelo’s Last Judgment will undergo its first restoration in 30 years, while the Sistine Chapel remains open to visitors.

|ByREUTERS

Round two of Easter in Jerusalem coming up in a month

Churches abide by different calendars, hence the holidays fall on different days most years.

APRIL 7, 2024ByNICOLE JANSEZIAN/THE MEDIA LINE
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos (C) takes part in the Easter Sunday mass procession inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's old city

Pope Francis calls for Gaza ceasefire in Easter address

Francis has repeatedly deplored the death and destruction in the Gaza war.

MARCH 31, 2024ByREUTERS
Pope Francis looks on from a balcony, on the day he delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (To the city and the world) message at St. Peter's Square, on Easter Sunday, at the Vatican March 31, 2024.

'War is always a defeat': Pope calls to end wars in Gaza, Ukraine

"We should never forget that war is always a defeat," Pope Francis said.

MARCH 20, 2024ByREUTERS
Pope Francis reacts during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 20, 2024.

My Word: White flags, red flags, giving in, and giving up - opinion

The pope is not alone in confusing white flags with white smoke while the world burns.

MARCH 15, 2024ByLIAT COLLINS
POPE FRANCIS leaves after the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday

Pope sees 'hypocrisy' in those who criticize LGBT blessings

He also stressed that such blessings do not amount to formal Church approval for same-sex unions.

FEBRUARY 7, 2024ByREUTERS
Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with members of Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service (CHARIS) at the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, November 4, 2023

Pope says Africans are 'special case' when it comes to LGBT blessings

Blessings were allowed last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which has caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church.

JANUARY 29, 2024ByREUTERS
Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023.

Pope 'colluding with forces of evil' against Jews, South Africa's chief rabbi says

Defending Israel's right to self-defense, Chief Rabbi of South Africa Dr. Warren Goldstein accused the Pope of "primitive pacifism."

DECEMBER 19, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
(L-R) South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Pope Francis

Pope Francis deplores Israeli killings of civilians at Gaza church

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the incident was still under review and had no immediate comment on the pope's words.

DECEMBER 17, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis leads an ecumenical prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, September 30, 2023.

Pope deplores end of Israeli-Hamas truce, calls for new ceasefire

"Many hostages have been freed but many are still in Gaza. We think of them, of their families, who had seen a light, a hope of embracing their loved ones again."

DECEMBER 3, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023.

Pope says conflict between Israel and Hamas has gone beyond war to 'terrorism'

The Pope asked for prayers so that both sides would "not go ahead with passions, which in the end, kill everyone".

NOVEMBER 22, 2023ByREUTERS
Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023.