One year in, Pope Leo navigates division through dialogue in his push for peace May 8, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News One year after stepping onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and greeting the world with the words, “May peace be with you all,” Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a pontiff attempting to guide a polarized church and fractured world through dialogue, peace and increasingly forceful speech defending human dignity.
With outcries against corruption throughout Africa, pope softens speech in Equatorial Guinea April 25, 2026By Josephine Peterson OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News In the final leg of his apostolic journey to Africa, Pope Leo XIV struck a more measured tone, delivering a message to the faithful while navigating one of the continent’s most politically sensitive environments.
Pope condemns killings in Iran, speaks on migration, same-sex blessings April 23, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly called for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, went a step further April 23, condemning the unjust taking of life by governments as violence continues in Iran.
With candor, Pope Leo confronts Cameroon’s ongoing abductions, killings in plea for peace April 18, 2026By Josephine Peterson OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News “The voices in the bushes.” That is the fear that defines daily life for many residents of this city in Cameroon’s troubled Anglophone region.
Pope Leo praises ceasefire as ‘genuine hope,’ presses for dialogue, peace April 8, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly announced ceasefire in the Middle East as “a sign of genuine hope” after what he described as “hours of extreme tension,” while urging a return to negotiations and calling the faithful to prayer.
‘In this dark hour of history,’ do not shy away from your mission, pope says April 2, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to reject comfort, power and domination and instead embrace a mission rooted in self-giving love, even when it requires risk, vulnerability and suffering.
All Catholics share in Church’s mission, not just clergy, pope says April 1, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Laypeople are not passive members but active participants in the Church’s mission, called to live and spread the Gospel in everyday life, Pope Leo XIV said.
‘Lay down your weapons,” pope says in Palm Sunday call for peace March 30, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Marking the start of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV used his first Palm Sunday Mass to issue a forceful plea for peace, urging an end to war as he reflected on Christ’s Passion.
Communion of faithful, not just clergy, shares role in safeguarding faith, pope says March 18, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News All baptized Christians share in the Church’s mission and, guided by the Holy Spirit, are fit for renewing and building up the Church, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.
Church’s unity comes from faith in Christ and from love, pope says March 11, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church is made up of diverse people who are united by their faith in Christ and are called to welcome all of humanity, Pope Leo XIV said during his weekly general audience.
Visitor breath, sweat and climate change prompt work on Sistine Chapel masterpiece March 8, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, Vatican, World News hen millions of visitors flock to the Sistine Chapel each year, their seemingly invisible breath and sweat are slowly leaving a mark on this Renaissance masterpiece, according to Vatican Museums officials.
Church is holy by Christ’s presence, not human perfection, pope says March 4, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church is both a community made up of fragile and limited human beings and a divine reality, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.
