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."

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

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

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


Pope Francis to meet with Gaza hostages' families

The Vatican has been vocal in calling for the release of all hostages as well as a ceasefire.

 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 Francis urged to intervene in Israeli hostage crisis

The hostages, captured by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, are reported to be in dire conditions, with fears of torture and urgent medical needs.

 Pope Francis meets with the delegation of the Conference of European Rabbis at the Vatican, November 6, 2023.

In a first, a Jewish organization opens an office at the Vatican

WJC said its “Kishreinu” initiative was a response to Nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 document that modernized the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church, Judaism and other religions.

 World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder gives Pope Francis a a “Kishreinu” (Hebrew for “Our Bond”) document marking influence of the Catholic Church's Nostra Aetate declaration on Catholic-Jewish relations, Oct. 19, 2023.

‘I pray for those families’: Pope Francis calls on Hamas to free Israeli hostages

The death toll in Israel from Hamas' attack has reached 1,300, with more than 3,000 people injured, as hostages remain trapped in Gaza.

 Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 29, 2023.

Vatican Jerusalem Cardinal appointment signals diplomatic and religious intentions

The appointment of Archbishop Pizzaballa as a cardinal underlines the Vatican's desire to play a more active role in the ongoing diplomatic discussions concerning Jerusalem.

Cardinal-elect Pierbattista Pizzaballa at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem during Easter week, 2023.

No 'sea of death': Pope calls for pan-European action on migration

Francis spoke out in favor of welcoming migrants, in a long speech that concluded a Church conference on Mediterranean issues.

 Pope Francis reacts as he attends a meeting at Palais du Pharo, on the occasion of the Mediterranean Meetings (MED 2023), in Marseille, France, September 23, 2023.

Pope says impeding migrant rescues at sea is 'gesture of hate'

According to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, about 178,500 migrants have come to Europe in the year to date via the Mediterranean, while about 2,500 died or went missing on the way.

 Pope Francis holds the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 8, 2023.

The Vatican knew about the Holocaust, WW2-era letter reveals

The letter, dated December 14 1942, proved Pope Pius knew of extermination camps killing Jews and Poles.

 POPE PIUS XII appears in an undated file photo from the archives of Vatican newspaper ‘Osservatore Romano.’

WWII -era documents name Jews aided by Catholics in fascist Rome

The researchers were careful to note that the scholarly understanding of the role of the Catholic world in the actions taken by Germany’s Nazi regime is unchanged.

 Pope Pius XII at the end of Mass.

Catholic Church to beatify Polish family, including new-born baby, killed by Nazis

The family was killed by German military police for sheltering a family of Jews.

Jews held at gunpoint by Nazis during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.