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Over the weekend, thousands of Catholic faithful from across Kenya gathered at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Nakuru for the 2026 National Prayer Day, placing the country, its families, Church and leaders before God in prayer as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Walking through the Kibera neighborhood of Nairobi, the largest slum in Africa, not everything is as it seems: amidst the overcrowding, health issues, and crime, residents welcomed us with smiles, displaying their pride and identity and sharing their stories of hope.
In a conversation with our correspondent Guglielmo Gallone, the Bishop of Ngong, a Kenyan Diocese spanning 39,000 square kilometers, says, "We must get our hands dirty for the good of our brothers and sisters, for the love of God, and in the face of people's real-life struggles."
As olive harvest season begins, Palestinian Christian activist Ihab Hassan speaks to Vatican News about the situation in the village of Taybeh, which has been declared a ‘closed military zone’ by the Israeli army.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concludes its October Plenary Assembly, focusing on survivor participation, safeguarding in consecrated life, and protecting children online.
Pope Leo XIV sends a message of condolence to the parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City after an Israeli strike kills five people, including two Christian women.
The Vatican Publishing House will release The Private Diary of Pope Francis, a book by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, on 24 November in five languages across 94 countries. It will offer insight into the late Pope’s inner life through notes he kept between 1992 and 2024.
Pope Leo XIV emphasises the importance of dialogue in resolving issues that arise in the workplace and highlights the need to recognize and appreciate the presence of women in the Vatican.
In a meeting with Korean priests and religious, Pope Leo expresses his hope that those attending the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day will receive the faith of the Korean martyrs and “carry it out onto the roads of the world”.
The Gospel is not proclaimed only from pulpits. It is lived on school playgrounds, in conversations after class, and in the quiet accompaniment of young people searching for their worth. Rather than relying on grand words, Sr. Lucía López Álvarez-Ossorio, a Daughter of Charity, has chosen closeness, presence, and the…
Since 1989, the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo in Jerusalem have been running a kindergarten where children from Muslim and Christian families learn and play together. Their example is a testament to the fact that it is possible to be "artisans of peace" at the very epicenter of conflict.
The Holy See's Secretary of State says “People are suffering in Gaza, Ukraine and Iran. Kyiv has the right to defend itself. Peace requires a return to fundamental human values.”
At Mass on the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, marking the eighth centenary of his death, Cardindal Matteo Zuppi says that, at a time when “we are tempted and seduced by a vulgar, overbearing and deceptive culture of power”, fuelled also by “enormous economic interests” and “nationalisms”, peace “begins with us and…
After the Angelus catechesis, Pope Leo once again invited the faithful to pray the Rosary, joining the initiative of Aid to the Church in Need: “In particular, let us pray for the Holy Land and for the innocent victims of violence.” He expressed his joy at the many initiatives dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi and…
During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo reflects on God’s mercy and recalls Saint Francis of Assisi on the eighth centenary of his death, inviting the faithful to pray for peace and build harmony among peoples.
2027 will mark an extraordinary commemorative year, which the Pontifical Swiss Guard is preparing with a conference in Brig, Switzerland, in January, a historical publication, and participation in Zurich’s Spring Festival. In May, celebrations will take place at the Vatican, including light-art performances, the…
Celebrating the US city of Chicago’s legacy as a “City of Welcome,” Cardinal Blase Cupich calls on Catholics to recognize Christ in migrants and translate their faith into advocacy, hospitality, and practical support.
During the Mass celebrated Saturday afternoon, October 3, at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens for the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps that operates within Vatican City State, the Pope urged them to be trustworthy, discreet, and loyal. He emphasized that authority, in the light of the Gospel, is expressed above all…
Pope Leo XIV meets the President of Montenegro, Mr. Jakov Milatović, on Saturday morning in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.
Addressing the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo on its 150th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV recalls the College’s long history and calls upon its community to preserve their closeness to the Successor of Peter and to bear credible witness to the faith.
Pope Leo XIV has chosen the 60-year-old Cardinal from Bologna, a Conventual Franciscan, as the new shepherd of the archdiocese in Abruzzo, after accepting the resignation of Archbishop Bruno Forte, 77. Since February 2021, Gambetti has served as Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, Archpriest of St. Peter’s…
On October 7, Pope Leo XIV will open a meeting with the heads of the Eastern Churches and the presidents of Bishops’ Conferences on the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation 'Amoris laetitia,' which was presented at the Holy See Press Office.
Major Superiors of religious and consecrated persons in Ghana are expected to explore sustainable paths for their mission at this year's plenary assembly of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Ghana (CMSR-Gh), scheduled to begin this weekend.
In the wake of Pope Leo XIV's appeal for the embattled Tigray region at his Wednesday General Audience, the Bishops of Ethiopia have issued their own appeal for peace and prayer, stressing that armed conflict only worsens existing problems and decrying the painful reality that it harms the most vulnerable.
Especially in “the age of search engines,” the Church stands in need of artists,” who can aid pastors in making the Gospel “accessible and understandable,” Pope Leo told artists on Friday, in an address to participants in a meeting on “The Art of Possibility: Weaving Together,” promoted by the Dicastery for Culture…
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has returned from Moscow after his third mission to Russia, during which he meets Ukrainian prisoners of war, whose situation was a key focus of his talks, alongside the search for missing persons and the return of children to Ukraine.
Following the botched execution of Christa Pike, the Catholic and Episcopal Bishops of Tennessee call for the US state’s Governor to commute her death sentence and uphold their opposition to the death penalty.
At the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, 1,300 people—700 of whom are children—join Pope Leo in praying the Rosary in five languages, offering up the Marian prayer for an end to violence around the world.
The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the Rev Dr Anne Burghardt, speaks to Vatican News about meeting with Pope Leo, and the ongoing process of dialogue between the two Churches.
Aid to the Church in Need Executive President Regina Lynch says the “Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative hopes to promote prayer in families.
The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, reflects on the encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” and artificial intelligence at a study day at Comillas University in Madrid.
Pope Leo XIV dedicates his October prayer intention to mental health ministry, calling on the Church to listen without judging and accompany those who suffer without excluding them.
Meeting with a delegation of the Lutheran World Federation, Pope Leo XIV encourages Christians to bear witness to Christ and continue on the ecumenical “journey of grace.”
Cardinal Marc Ouellet illustrates the International Symposium “Vocations and Charisms: The Theology of God’s Gifts for a Synodal and Missionary Church,” which will take place in the Vatican’s New Synod Hall on April 15–17, 2027.
The Vatican Museums opens an exhibit at the Vatican Art Gallery to share the artistic and photographic work of the L'Osservatore Romano and the artists that have characterized the newspaper since its graphic redesign in 2020.
In a meeting with the Hera Group, an Italian multiutility group that manages environmental services in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV reiterates the importance of creating a “culture of care” to counter the “throwaway culture” that permeates our world and its resources.
Pope Leo XIV establishes the “Donum Missionis” Foundation with a Rescript, which will be responsible for the maintenance of properties owned by the Dicastery for Evangelization that provide accommodation and formation for seminarians and religious from mission territories.
The relics of the Holy Crib – the manger in which the Baby Jesus was laid at His birth – will be moved closer to the faithful to accommodate the restoration of the niche and reliquary where they are normally kept in the Confessio of Saint Mary Major.
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity announces its five-member judging committee for 2027, recognizing individuals and organizations working to advance human fraternity and peaceful coexistence.
The canon law commission's final report proposes amendments to the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church, based on the work carried out by the two General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023 and October 2024.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged deadly aerial attacks, killing and injuring numerous people, as energy infrastructure increasingly becomes a target with winter approaching. The latest strikes also affected neighboring countries amid new Russian nuclear threats against the NATO military alliance.
During his General Audience, Pope Leo XIV recalled the Polish martyrs of Pratulin in the Podlasie region: Blessed Wincenty Lewoniuk and his 12 Companions. The Greek Catholics were killed by soldiers of the Russian Empire in the 19th century after refusing to abandon their faith. Their witness shows steadfast fidelity…
The Archbishop of Marseille and president of the French Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, reflects on Pope Leo’s four days in France.
At the conclusion of the General Audience, Pope Leo XIV appealed to all sides in the Tigray region to halt hostilities, recalling that only sincere commitment can lay the foundations for lasting peace. Speaking to Polish pilgrims, he recalled the beatification, 30 years ago, of the 13 Greek Catholic martyrs of…
Pope Leo XIV meets with the International Commission of Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Vatican and encourages them to strengthen the value of silence in cloistered life as it creates “spaces of freedom and truth."
During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV recalls various highlights from his recent Apostolic Journey to France from September 25 to 28, and points to the theme of rebirth as a guiding thread.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and Cardinal Baldo Reina highlight religious communities’ contribution to peace at a conference in Rome, emphasizing religious freedom and respect for human dignity while rejecting the use of faith to justify war.
Malawi has just celebrated 125 years since the Gospel first arrived. Years of faith have built schools, hospitals, and consciences, and it is still growing stronger. The Catholic Lawyers Association of Malawi (CLAM) recently organised what was dubbed a ‘Red Mass’ celebration in gratitude to God for his graces all…
The Special Penal Tribunal of First Instance and the Appeals Tribunal have reached “moral certainty” of the late Argentine Father Carlos Miguel Buela guilt for acts constituting “an offence against the sixth commandment, committed with violence against several people.”
Msgr. Anthony Ekpo, Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and President of the Financial Security Committee, speaks at an international conference at Rome’s Luiss University dedicated to legislation introduced 15 years ago in the Vatican to prevent and combat money laundering and terrorist…
At a conference in Rome on “Religions and Diplomacy,” Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, speaks to Vatican News about the responsibility of Churches in Europe to take responsibility for rediscovering unity and peace, so that they can help build it in society.
The Vatican Dicastery for Communication releases the theme for the 2027 World Communications Day, which is “A New Gaze: Paying Attention in the Age of Clickbait.”
While a secular society and declining numbers in the Church in France are a reality, a visit to the Parish of Notre Dame of the Assumption in Metz at Sunday evening Mass, full of young people and all pews taken, is an example of young people's longing for meaning, according to Fr. Emmanuel Ecker.
In an interview with Vatican News as Pope Leo's Apostolic Journey to France draws to an end, Sister Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, reflects on the Pope’s journey, its impact, and his message of peace and reconciliation in Metz.
Highlights from Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Journey to France, including his meeting with President Macron, his visit to UNESCO, his Mass for 700,000 pilgrims in Paris, his prayer of the rosary with pilgrims in Lourdes, and his 'Roots of Europe' meeting in Metz.
Speaking to journalists on the flight from Metz to Rome at the end of his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV discusses conflicts and the economic interests that sustain them, saying the Church “continues to raise her voice in proclaiming the Gospel. A few are growing rich from the arms industry; these billions…
Vatican News correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov brings us into the lively atmosphere outside St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where crowds gathered in celebration and prayer for Pope Leo's Mass in the heart of the city. She also reflects on the fruits of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to France.
Pope Leo XIV departs from France's northeastern city of Metz, bringing his fifth Apostolic Journey abroad to an end.
The Holy See’s special envoy for humanitarian issues is in Russia for three days of institutional meetings focused on prisoners of war and children transferred from their places of origin.
At the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Metz, Pope Leo celebrates Mass to close out his time in the city on the last day of his Apostolic Journey to France. In his homily, he stresses that choosing forgiveness and mercy over revenge and violence is not a path of weakness, but rather one of strength.
The Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C. calls for human dignity to guide the development of artificial intelligence and the treatment of migrants and refugees, urging solidarity and moral responsibility rooted in Catholic social teaching.
Our Editorial Director reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s call for Christians to pray the Rosary for peace and his invitation to “sacrifice certain positions for the greater good.”
From inside the Schuman Center in Metz with Pope Leo, Vatican News correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov shares why the Pope chose this city, following in the footsteps of a founding father of the European Union, Venerable Robert Schuman.
Pope Leo XIV addresses a meeting on “The Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity,” saying Europe’s Christian roots “help us understand more clearly that openness to the transcendent is always a constitutive part of the human person and a living source of civilization.”
Meeting with representatives of various religions in the French city of Metz, Pope Leo XIV praises efforts to engage in interreligious dialogue, recalling that God’s name must never be invoked to justify violence or oppression.
As Pope Leo XIV meets with French religious leaders in Metz, representatives of various religions release an appeal for sustained dialogue and efforts for peace in the world.
On World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Catholic Church in Kenya has called for renewed commitment to the dignity, protection and rights of refugees, migrants and displaced children, urging society to see every child not as a statistic but as a person deserving care, safety and opportunities to thrive.
As Pope Leo XIV visits the French border city of Metz, we recall the legacy of Venerable Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the European Union, who worked tirelessly for peace and the common good after World War II.
As Metz welcomes Pope Leo XIV, a young Catholic professional who lives and works in the eastern French city tells Vatican News that Pope Leo is especially appreciated for 'truly caring for young Catholics,' and for his commitment to peace in Europe and throughout the world.
Highlights from Pope Leo's third day in France, in which he met with bishops, the sick, and abuse victims, celebrated Mass, and took part in a torchlight procession with 50,000 pilgrims.
After meeting for two hours with Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes, seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse speak to the press about their experiences and the Pope’s empathy and concern for those who have suffered the scrouge of abuse.
Pope Leo XIV prays the rosary with thousands of pilgrims in Lourdes, and participates in a torchlit procession that illuminates the night sky.
Pope Leo brings his visit to Lourdes to an end with a candlelit procession through the heart of the Marian shrine, urging the faithful to persevere on their journey, inspired by the Immaculate Conception.
Pope Leo XIV meets in Lourdes, France, with seven victims of clerical sexual abuse, and expresses his closeness to those who suffer the “wound of abuse.”
Our Editorial Director reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s words in France, saying the Pope urges every Christian community to live in a spirit of closeness and compassion, never closing themselves off from the present age.
During his visit to the Accueil Notre-Dame in Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV hears three testimonies from people whose lives have been shaped by service to the sick, by suffering and by their experience of faith.
Pope Leo XIV visits the Accueil Notre-Dame pilgrim centre at Lourdes, where he visits with sick pilgrims and representatives of organizations that serve them at the Marian sanctuary.
As he prays the Angelus in Lourdes, France, Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to pray the Holy Rosary for the intention of peace in the world and an end to conflict.
The faithful attending Pope Leo XIV’s Mass in Lourdes share what the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes means to them and reflect on the significance of the Pope’s visit.
In Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV calls pilgrims to conversion and penance, urges the Church to conversion, and invites the sick to see their suffering as part of Christ’s redemptive action.
Meeting with the Bishops of France in Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV upholds the Church’s voice in French society and encourages them to support the spiritual life of families.
As Pope Leo XIV bids “au revoir” to Paris, Vatican News Correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov brings us to the widely anticipated Mass with the Holy Father at Place de la Concorde, which not only filled the iconic square but also stretched along the Champs-Élysées. She also shares Pope Leo’s invitation to the French…
On Pope Leo's second day in France, he met with migrants, visited the country's synodal assembly, celebrated Mass for 700,000 people in central Paris, and prayed at the Grotto of the Apparitions in Lourdes.
At the Grotto of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Leo entrusts France, its people and its Church to Our Lady.
Just after arriving in the Marian pilgrimage city of Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV went to the heart of the shrine to pray to the Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Massabielle, surrounded by thousands of faithful. Kneeling in prayer, the Pope asked for “the gift of fraternal harmony” for the host country, and also entrusted to…
Addressing the General Assembly in New York, the Vatican Secretary of State calls for an end to wars, respect for international law, responsible use of artificial intelligence and renewed multilateralism.
As Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Marian shrine of Lourdes, Vatican News speaks with the coordinating chaplain of the English-speaking pilgrims, Fr. James Phalan, who offers an inside look at the “home of Mary” that the Successor of Peter is making a pilgrimage to visit.
At Mass for some 700,000 people in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the thirst for God that lies in the depths of every human heart.
A newly baptized Catholic and two catechumens preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation share with Vatican News their stories of discovering the faith, saying that seeing the Pope gives them hope for the future.
Addressing France’s synodal assembly, catechumen,s and newly baptized Catholics, Pope Leo XIV highlights the growing number of adults approaching the faith and urges the Church to accompany them beyond Baptism.
As the Church celebrates the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Edmund Power reflects on the theme: “Actions speak louder than words."
Pope Leo XIV visits the ‘Maison Bakhita’ social integration centre in Paris, and encourages everyone to enjoy life in abundance by sharing our God-given spiritual and material gifts.
Vatican News correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov brings us the great excitement at Pope Leo's encounter with 80,000 young people at the Stade de France.
Vatican News correspondent Deborah Castellano Lubov reports from the Cathedral of Notre Dame with Pope Leo XIV, who this evening became the first Pope to step inside the Cathedral since the devastating 2019 fire.
On the first day of Pope Leo's Apostolic Journey to France, he met with President Macron, visited UNESCO, presided over vespers at Notre Dame, and led a prayer vigil with some 80,000 young people in the country's biggest stadium. Watch our video highlights here.
Pope Leo XIV’s first day in France comes to a close with a prayer vigil attended by some 80,000 young people. The Holy Father responds to their questions and encourages them to follow Christ without fear.
The President of the Association Maison Bakhita, Valèrie Moniod, shares with Vatican News her joy for Pope Leo XIV's visit to their structure that helps many individuals in exile from their homelands develop skills that help enable them to have a better future.
In the iconic Parisian Cathedral flooded with light, Pope Leo XIV celebrates Vespers with the French Church calling it, like Notre Dame, to be reborn.
At the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame de Paris Pope Leo XIV celebrates Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and consecrated men and women. In his homily, the Pope calls them to missionary conversion, to cultivate an authentic love for the liturgy, and to remain close to the Lord in prayer.
On the first day of his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV returns to UNESCO 46 years after St John Paul II, calling for education, science and culture to remain at the service of human dignity, truth and peace.