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During a pastoral visit to San Marino on August 22, Pope Leo XIV met with civil authorities and urged the world's oldest republic to serve as a 'laboratory of good politics' rooted in Catholic social teaching. He called for diplomacy, warned against idolatry in politics, and praised San Marino's welcome to Ukrainian people.
Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with survivors of clerical sexual abuse during his four-day visit to France in September. The Vatican announced the meeting as part of a trip that includes talks with President Macron, an address at UNESCO, and events in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz.
Pope Leo XIV will make his first Latin America trip from November 6 to 17, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The journey marks the first papal visit to Argentina and Uruguay in nearly 40 years and holds personal significance as Leo returns to Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop.
The Pacific island nation formerly known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, with citizens now referred to as dei-Naoero. The change, passed by parliament in May, aims to honor the country's heritage and move away from a colonial-era name.
Court documents reveal the Christian Brothers kept nine convicted child abusers as members, citing a 'Gospel imperative' to care for 'the needy'. The order also faces financial strain, proposing to sell properties to compensate survivors, while property records show its buildings housed at least two offenders with long histories of abuse.
The Vatican has excommunicated six bishops of the ultraconservative Society of St Pius X after the group consecrated four new bishops without papal approval, and declared all priests and formal adherents of the group to be in schism. The decree, issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, also ruled that the society's sacraments are now illicit.
The Society of St. Pius X has consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV's approval, prompting warnings of excommunication and schism. The Vatican has declared the group formally in schism, while the SSPX defends the act as a 'sacred duty' to uphold tradition.
The Israeli government has unanimously approved a resolution to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a move praised by Armenian leaders as a moral duty but analyzed by some as a diplomatic gesture. The decision now moves to the Knesset for a final vote.
A man has been charged with a hate crime after a cross was burned in Chicago's Grant Park. The incident prompted condemnation from Mayor Brandon Johnson and a $10,000 reward offer from a local reverend. The FBI has joined the investigation.
President Lee Jae Myung met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and invited him to attend World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul. The two discussed peace on the Korean Peninsula, with Lee asking the pope to also consider visiting North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, speaking at a Mass in Rome, said he believes the 'ember of hope' for reviving dialogue with North Korea still exists. He reaffirmed his commitment to peace efforts, including suspending propaganda broadcasts. Separately, a South Korean cardinal said Pope Leo XIV is willing to play a role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, but a papal visit depends on Pyongyang's response.
Pope Leo XIV has issued the most explicit papal apology to date for the Catholic Church's historic involvement in legitimizing slavery, acknowledging centuries of delay in condemning the practice. The apology, delivered in his first encyclical, was welcomed by Ghana as an 'act of moral courage' amid ongoing global discussions on reparations.
The Trump administration threatened to revoke visas for Palestinian diplomats unless they withdrew Riyad Mansour's candidacy for UN General Assembly vice president. Internal State Department cables reveal pressure on the Palestinian Authority, which ultimately withdrew the bid. The move highlights ongoing US opposition to Palestinian statehood and tensions at the UN.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to the Vatican for talks with Pope Leo XIV as President Trump renews criticism of the pontiff over Iran. The pope, who marks his first anniversary, denies supporting Tehran's nuclear ambitions and urges dialogue. The visit is seen as an effort to ease tensions between Washington and the Holy See.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Rome for meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Italian leaders, in an effort to ease tensions triggered by President Trump's verbal attacks on the pontiff over his opposition to the US-Israeli war in Iran. The visit also comes amid friction between Washington and Rome over the conflict and its broader implications.
US officials say no imminent military action against Cuba is planned, despite President Trump's repeated threats. Washington has offered humanitarian aid and internet access with conditions, while Havana warns of a humanitarian catastrophe and denounces sanctions as collective punishment.
French President Emmanuel Macron is in Andorra, where he is expected to back the microstate's efforts to decriminalise abortion, despite its co-prince being a Catholic bishop. Andorra remains one of only two European countries where abortion is completely banned. Macron is also set to endorse Andorra's EU association agreement.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te made a surprise visit to Eswatini, the island's only African ally, after three countries revoked overflight permissions, prompting China to voice 'high appreciation' and condemn Lai's actions as a 'stowaway-style escape farce.' Taipei insists it has the right to engage with the world and accuses Beijing of economic coercion.
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a site tied to the transatlantic slave trade, where he prayed and urged thousands of faithful to build a more just world. He did not directly mention slavery, but his remarks, set against the shrine’s painful history, sparked reflection on the Catholic Church’s role and calls for acknowledgment.
Pope Leo XIV has called for peace and reconciliation as he continues his Africa tour, responding to recent social media attacks from US President Donald Trump over the pope's criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The pope said he is not afraid of the Trump administration and plans to keep speaking out against war.