Jubilee set to mark 800th year since St. Francis’ death; saint’s body to be displayed January 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”
New papal staff highlights Christ’s victory over death, papal liturgies office says January 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments While Catholics have been accustomed to the famed silver papal staff featuring the suffering of Christ crucified and used by the pontiffs for decades, a new staff, or crosier, used by Pope Leo XIV, emphasized the victory of the risen Christ over death.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate Machado asks pope for help in freeing political prisoners January 12, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, News, Vatican, World News Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado asked for Pope Leo XIV’s help in securing the release of political prisoners in the country following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Parents can’t wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Just as we wouldn’t leave newborns without clothes or food, we cannot leave them without faith and baptism, Pope Leo XIV told parents of children he baptized in the splendor and beauty of the Sistine Chapel Jan. 11.
Church leaders must listen to abuse victims, those who suffer, pope tells cardinals January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the Church’s failure to welcome survivors of sexual abuse, calling it a “scandal” that deepens their suffering, even though the issue was not a main topic at the Jan. 7-8 extraordinary consistory in Rome.
Pope embraces youth of Rome, tells them setting world ablaze requires a burning heart January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Youth Ministry Pope Leo XIV embraced the youth of Rome — both literally and with his words — during a Jan. 10 meeting with the young people of the Diocese of Rome, telling them to choose real relationships over digital isolation.
Pope embarks on synodal journey with cardinals to better listen to the world January 10, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV and members of his College of Cardinals have begun what is a kind of synodal journey together to grow in communion and discern together “what the Lord is asking of us for the good of his people.”
Pope Leo XIV to visit Spain this summer, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands January 10, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News With the jubilee year now officially ended, the pope’s travel schedule is also expected to ramp up, with one trip especially dear to the pontiff just confirmed: a June visit to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Pope delivers fierce defense of the unborn in address to diplomatic corps January 9, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV strongly defended the family, marriage and unborn life during his first-ever New Year’s address to the diplomatic corps Jan. 9, telling the diplomats accredited to the Holy See that abortion “cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life.”
Cardinals leave consistory with a clear vision from pontiff: ‘A Church that cares’ January 9, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After an intense day of roundtable discussions, the “low-batteried” but “very pleased” cardinals wrapped the first historic extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV in a spirit of fraternity, with a sense of knowing each other better and saying they “discovered” the pope, while he did “more listening than talking.”
Pope to cardinals: You are not experts promoting agendas, but a community of faith January 8, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV gathered cardinals present for the extraordinary consistory this week for an early morning Mass Jan. 8 in St. Peter’s Basilica, telling them they’re together not to promote “agendas,” but to take part in a “discernment” that “comes from the Lord.”
Pope Leo calls on Catholics to rediscover Vatican II teachings January 7, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The teachings of the Second Vatican Council are still “the guiding star” the Catholic Church is meant to follow, Pope Leo XIV said.
