Vatican City
Supermodel Naomi Campbell and Argentine film producer Fernando Sulichin attended the Pope's weekly audience in the Vatican. The 55-year-old model presented the pontiff with a book about spices.
70-year-old Pope Leo XIV unveiled his four favorite films released in the 20th century, ahead of a meeting with famous movie stars at the Vatican. He plans to deepen the dialogue with the world of cinema.
Pope Leo officially denied reports of Jesus' apparition in Dozulé, Normandy, where a local resident claimed to have seen Christ 49 times in the 1970s. The main doctrinal office stated that this phenomenon has no supernatural origin, urging Catholics not to accept these reports as true.
Pope Leo will hold a special audience with about thirty Hollywood actors and directors, including Cate Blanchett and Spike Lee, at the Vatican this weekend. The event is organized as part of the Church's Holy Year to deepen dialogue with the world of cinema and promote human values.
Pope Leo XIV spent almost three hours meeting with Belgian victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, listening to their testimonies of trauma. The Catholic Church in Belgium is facing a crisis due to hundreds of abuse cases, and the Pope has pledged to combat violence and cover-ups.
The Vatican has officially stated that the salvation of the world is solely due to Jesus Christ, and not the Virgin Mary. A new decree by Pope Leo prohibits believers from calling Mary the "co-redeemer" of the world.
Lithuania is temporarily closing two border crossings with Belarus, Medininkai and Šalčininkai, for a month, starting on Wednesday. Exceptions will apply to diplomats, EU citizens, and other categories, while Šalčininkai will be completely closed and Medininkai partially open.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, will make his first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2. The visit will include meetings with leaders, interfaith events, and a prayer at the site of the Beirut port explosion.
King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV held a joint prayer in the Sistine Chapel, marking the first such event in 500 years. They recited the 'Our Father' in English, and the King presented the Pope with an icon of Saint Edward the Confessor.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the Vatican for a historic meeting with the Pope. Charles will be the first British monarch in 500 years to pray publicly with the Pope.
King Charles III will hold a joint prayer with Pope Leo XIV during an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel. This is the first time in five centuries that a British monarch will publicly pray with the pontiff.
The President of Ukraine stated that his American counterpart seeks an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and Trump's message to stop at the line of contact is, in the opinion of the head of state, positive. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not consider Budapest the best platform for US-Russia negotiations.
Iryna Vereshchuk met with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, who has represented the Holy See in Kyiv since 2021. They discussed strengthening the Vatican's role in returning Ukrainians from captivity and supporting the families of prisoners of war.
British King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will pay an official visit to the Vatican this autumn. They will meet with Pope Leo XIV, a visit that was canceled in April due to the deteriorating health of the late Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV stated in an interview that he would not change key doctrine regarding same-sex marriage and women deacons. This hinders reforms and is a step towards traditionalists, unlike his predecessor.
The event concluded the 2025 World Meeting on Human Fraternity and included unusual drone choreography depicting the face of Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV met with Jesuit James Martin, a well-known advocate for LGBTQ+ integration. The new pontiff confirmed the continuation of Pope Francis' policy regarding LGBTQ+ acceptance in the church.
Ukraine successfully consolidates European partners and prevents capitulation at negotiations in Istanbul. The country has achieved significant successes in the development and testing of new models of missile weapons and drones.
Pope Leo XVI expressed hope for peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for continuous efforts and prayer to achieve it. He constantly communicates with political leaders and prays for progress in peace negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin could meet by the end of the month. Five possible locations are being considered, with Geneva deemed the best.
A number of countries, including Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary, have expressed readiness to organize a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. The White House is considering Budapest as the main venue for trilateral negotiations.
European diplomats are discussing a possible venue for a trilateral Trump-Zelenskyy-Putin summit. Rome and Geneva are the main options, but the parties have different preferences.
Pope Leo XIV called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and a resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of dialogue. He also called for the release of Israeli hostages.
A potential end to the war in Ukraine could solidify the Kremlin's control over part of the occupied territories. This sets the stage for a potential meeting between Trump and Putin, while Ukraine's European allies express concern.
Donald Trump has asked Italy to organize a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Rome or the Vatican. Italy, as a party to the Rome Statute, is obliged to arrest Putin under the ICC warrant.
Pope Leo XIV met with Metropolitan Antony, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. During the meeting, issues of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue and current conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine, were discussed.
Pope Leo XIV will hold an audience with Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk on July 26. The meeting aims to resume dialogue after tensions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The United States announced unprecedented sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on July 11, four years after anti-government protests. The sanctions include visa restrictions for Díaz-Canel and other high-ranking officials for human rights violations.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his readiness for a third meeting with Russia only if leaders participate. The desired format is negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the USA at the highest level.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the proposal for meetings in the Vatican to stop Russian aggression remains possible. Currently, only Moscow rejects this peace initiative.