Vatican City
In November, Pope Leo will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, covering 31,000 km and holding around 50 events. The tour will run from 6–17 November.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher called for an end to the war in Ukraine after talks with Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. The sides agreed on humanitarian cooperation.
The Vatican plans to build an 80–90 MW agrivoltaic plant for €100 million. Surplus electricity will be supplied to Italy.
In the Russian edition of Pope Francis’s autobiography “Hope,” statements about homosexuality and transgender people were blacked out. Passages about blessing same-sex unions were censored.
Pope Leo XIV spoke about the deaths of innocent people in Ukraine and Russia and called for compliance with international humanitarian law. According to the UN, more than 16,000 civilians have been killed during nearly 4.5 years of war.
The Pacific state of Nauru changed its name to the Republic of Naoero to restore its traditional designation. The international code will change from NRU to NRO, and residents will be called dei-Naoero.
Joseph Zhang Yanfeng was ordained bishop of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. Pope Leo XIV approved the appointment on June 15 according to the 2018 agreement.
The Office of the President of Ukraine reacted to Zelenskyy's interview with blogger Lori Loomer, thanking Trump for his support and Patriot missiles. A repost of Trump's and Loomer's posts was made.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a 15-20 minute face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the Vatican changed the tone of their relations. He called this moment historic and emphasized the importance of dialogue for saving lives.
The President of Ukraine met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, thanking him for prayers and support. They discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war and return abducted children.
President of Peru José María Balkasar stated that Pope Leo XIV will visit the country in the first half of November. The pontiff plans to visit six cities where he previously carried out pastoral work.
At the G7, Trump did not blame Kyiv, while partners are strengthening military aid. Zelenskyy publicly calls Putin to negotiations for diplomatic pressure.
Pope Leo met with Bad Bunny at a stadium in Madrid during a tour of Spain. The Vatican will not publish photographs from this brief private conversation.
In a new encyclical, Pope Leo XIV called the doctrine of just war obsolete. The Pontiff calls for diplomacy and forgiveness to resolve conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV condemned the "significant escalation" of the war and the massive shelling of the Ukrainian civilian population. The Pontiff stated that war only deepens problems.
The Pontiff acknowledged guilt for the legitimization of slavery and the ownership of slaves by church institutions. He called this legacy a wound in the memory of Christians.
Pope Leo XIV called for the disarmament of AI in the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. The Pontiff warned of the threat of digital slavery and autonomous weapons.
Pope Leo XIV called for the omnipotence of love to overcome the evil of war. More than 5,000 people gathered for the liturgy at St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Leo condemned companies for profits at the cost of environmental crimes in Italy. He met with the families of people who died of cancer due to pollution.
Pope Leo XIV establishes a commission in the Vatican to coordinate the Church's actions regarding AI. The Pontiff is preparing an encyclical on the ethical impact of technology on humanity.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed peace in the Middle East with Pope Leo. The State Department described the two-hour talks as constructive and friendly.
Marco Rubio will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican following critical statements by Donald Trump. The parties will discuss a range of topics, including the issue of nuclear weapons.
The announcement of the US troop withdrawal from Germany forced EU leaders to discuss defense independence. In Yerevan, they also coordinated actions regarding Ukraine.
The Pontiff called for prisoners to be given access to education and work during his visit to Bata. Prisoners chanted demands for release despite the presence of authorities.
The Pontiff criticized the policies of the US, Israel, and Iran during a prayer in the Vatican. He called for an end to the use of weapons and drones for the sake of peace.
The Pontiff stated that the shedding of innocent blood and bombings cannot be justified. God does not bless conflicts, and violence has no justification.
During the Easter Mass, the Pontiff called for peace through dialogue and led the Way of the Cross. In Jerusalem and Gaza, the holiday was observed under wartime restrictions.
The Pontiff urged the faithful not to give in to fear and criticized the war against Iran. During the mass, he baptized ten adults and addressed Donald Trump.
The President spoke with the pontiff about the return of children, humanitarian aid, and a visit to Ukraine.
The Pontiff washed the feet of 12 priests in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This gesture became a symbol of support for the clergy instead of serving laypeople and prisoners.