Vatican

Pope Leo and Trump head for a clash

The first American pope is on a collision course with U.S. President Donald Trump. The latest fault line between the Vatican and the White House emerged on Sunday. Shortly after…

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Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands

Pope Leo XIV is planning to travel to Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands to fulfil Pope Francis’ wish of visiting a key migration…

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Pope Leo Appeals for Renewed Spirit of Joy in Address to Church Hierarchy

Pope Leo indicated on Monday that he plans to follow the reform agenda of his predecessor Francis, praising the late pontiff's attempts to make the global Catholic Church more inclusive…

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Pope Urges Continued Dialogue in Meeting With Zelensky

Pope Leo XIV underscored the need to press ahead with dialogue aimed at ending the war in Ukraine during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday at the papal…

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Vatican reports first budget surplus after years of deficits

The Vatican closed 2024 with a budget surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.85 million), it said, signalling a turnaround after years of deficits that had frustrated Church leaders, including the…

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Belarus frees two Catholic priests serving long jail terms after visit by Pope Leo’s envoy

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has freed two Roman Catholic priests convicted of "serious crimes against the state" following diplomatic contacts with the Vatican, state news agency Belta reported on Thursday.…

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Pope Leo XIV shares his favourite movies ahead of Vatican special audience with Hollywood stars

Pope Leo XIV is set to host a Hollywood gathering at the Vatican on Saturday. Among the high-profile names from across the film and TV industry attending are Spike Lee,…

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Holy See Refutes Alleged Vision of Jesus in France

Jesus may answer prayers but he has not made special appearances in a small town in the north of France, the Vatican declared.. In a new instruction approved by Pope…

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Abbas Meets Pope as Holy See Marks 10 Years Since Recognition of Palestine

Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Vatican’s long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday,…

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Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says

Jesus may have heard words of wisdom from his mother Mary, but she did not help him save the world from damnation, the Vatican said on Tuesday. In a new…

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Pope Leo to visit eight cities in Turkey, Lebanon on first trip abroad as pontiff

Pope Leo will visit eight towns and cities in Turkey and Lebanon later this year, the Vatican said on Monday, his first trip outside Italy as pontiff, and he is…

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Almost 4,400 people abused by priests in Italy, victims’ group alleges

Nearly 4,400 people have been abused by Catholic priests in Italy in cases reported since 2020, a victims' group alleged on Friday, renewing pressure on bishops to confront a crisis…

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UPDATED: King Charles and Pope Leo pray together in a 500-year first

Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo prayed together in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Thursday, in the first joint worship including an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King…

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Pope Leo will ‘stand with’ Catholic leaders in protecting immigrants’ rights, advocates say

Pope Leo XIV said he will stand with Catholic leaders in protecting immigrants facing mass deportations in the U.S., according to a group of American Catholic leaders and advocacy groups…

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Pope Leo trims powers of Vatican bank, rolling back a Francis reform

Pope Leo cancelled the Vatican bank's sole authority over investments held by the city-state on Monday, rolling back one of the financial reforms of his predecessor Francis. In a short…

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Pope Leo writing first document on needs of poor

Pope Leo is preparing to publish the first high-level document of his four-month papacy, which is expected to signal continuity with his predecessor Pope Francis and focus on the needs…

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Pope Leo tells Catholic bishops not to hide abuse allegations

Pope Leo has instructed the Catholic Church's newest bishops to confront sexual abuse by priests and not to hide allegations of misconduct, in a text released by the Vatican on…

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Italian teen, Carlo Acutis, to become first millennial Catholic saint on Sunday

A British-born Italian boy who died of leukaemia in 2006 will become the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation on Sunday, in a ceremony led by Pope Leo in…

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Pope Leo calls for ceasefire, hostages’ release in Israel-Hamas conflict

Pope Leo made a "strong appeal" to the global community on Wednesday to end the nearly two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas, calling for a permanent ceasefire, the release of…

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Pope Leo calls for end to ‘barbarity of war’

Pope Leo called for an end to the 'barbarity of war' on Sunday as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in…

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Pope Leo interrupts vacation to appeal for action on climate change

Pope Leo interrupted a two-week vacation on Wednesday to celebrate a special Mass exhorting Catholics to exercise care for creation, in the Vatican's second major appeal in a week for…

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Pope Leo laments ‘diabolical intensity’ of Middle East conflicts

Pope Leo said on Thursday that conflicts in the Middle East were raging with an unprecedented "diabolical intensity" and appealed for greater respect for international law, in comments to Catholic…

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Pope calls for path of dialogue, diplomacy Middle East

Pope Leo XIV made another call for an end to violence in the Middle East during his weekly general audience at St Peter's Square on Wednesday."May the wounds caused by…

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Pope Urges Leaders to Reject War, Citing Predecessors in Peace Appeal

Pope Leo XIV issued a back-to-back plea for peace this week, urging the international community to reject armed conflict and embrace diplomacy amid mounting global tensions. Speaking Wednesday during his…

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Pope to Rest at Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to July 20

The Prefecture of the Papal Household has announced that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will spend a period of rest at the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo. The pontiff is…

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Pope Leo, in first month, makes a break in style from Francis

In his first month, Pope Leo has taken a very different approach to his predecessor Francis. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, has led some two dozen public events since…

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Pope Leo Presses Russia for Peace During Call with Putin

Pope Leo urged Russia to take steps towards ending the conflict in Ukraine when he spoke to President Vladimir Putin for the first time, the Vatican said. "The pope made…

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Italy PM says pope confirmed willingness to host Ukraine peace talks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that Pope Leo had confirmed during a phone call with her his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round…

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UPDATED: The new pope is American Cardinal Prevost, Pope Leo XIV

A new pope has just been elected.The new pope is Cardinal Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.…

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Popes Named Leo: A Legacy of Leadership and Reform

The choice of a papal name is never accidental and in selecting Leo XIV, the new Pope has aligned himself with a weighty historical legacy. The last pontiff to bear…

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UPDATED: Black smoke emerges once again from chimney as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during…

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Conclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new pope

The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their way to Rome in the…

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World waits for white smoke

Roman Catholic cardinals will begin the task on Wednesday of electing a new pope, locking themselves away from the world until they choose the man they hope can unite a…

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All set for Papal conclave

All of the 133 cardinals expected to take part in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said , with the race to…

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Over 70,000 have visited Pope Francis’s tomb so far

Over 70,000 mourners have already paid homage to Pope Francis by visiting his tomb in the Basilica of St Mary Major, Rome police said. The Argentine pontiff, who died aged…

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Conclave to elect new Pope to start on May 7

The Vatican announced Monday the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on Wednesday, May 7. “The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which remain[s] closed…

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Pope Francis’ Funeral: A Tribute to His Leadership and Vision

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the solemn and moving celebration. He was joined by some 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and consecrated religious. US President Donald Trump, Ukraine…

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Betting Markets Favor Cardinals Parolin and Tagle, but History Suggests Caution

As the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave to elect the 267th pope following the passing of Pope Francis, betting markets have identified Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy and Cardinal…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis’ body to be taken to St Peter’s Basilica ahead of funeral

The body of Pope Francis, laid out in an open coffin, was carried in a solemn procession from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica…

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Trump and von der Leyen set to attend Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday

Pope Francis’ funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CET, the Vatican said Tuesday in a statement. A slew of world leaders and foreign dignitaries are set…

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UPDATED: Reactions to the death of Pope Francis

Following are reactions to the death of Pope Francis: ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI: Meloni mourned the departure of "a great man, a great shepherd". "I had the privilege of…

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Who might succeed Pope Francis?

An old Italian saying warns against putting faith, or money, in any presumed front-runner ahead of the conclave, the closed-door gathering of cardinals that picks the pontiff. It cautions: "He who enters a…

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Pope Francis: Key moments from his life

Here are some facts about Pope Francis, who has died at the age of 88. - Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of…

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Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi on path to sainthood

He’s long been nicknamed “God’s architect” by those who point to his piety and the religious imagery woven through his soaring spires, colourful ceramics and undulating lines. Now it seems…

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Pope Francis discharged from hospital after 38 days in care

Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday following 38 days in care, waving from the window of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The 88-year-old pontiff was discharged after a severe…

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Pope seen for the first time since going to hospital

The Vatican has released the first image of Pope Francis since he was admitted to hospital a month ago. The photo shows the pontiff sitting in a wheelchair in front…

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Pope showing signs of recovery, resumed some work

Pope Francis is continuing his recovery from pneumonia in hospital and has resumed some work, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been hospitalized since February 14,…

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Pope Francis remains ‘critical’

Pope Francis remains in a "critical" condition, but "has not presented any further respiratory crises", the Vatican said in a statement on Sunday. He was still receiving high-flow oxygen therapy…

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Pope Francis ‘improving’ in hospital, Vatican says

Pope Francis is showing improvement, is alert and doing some work, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff began his eighth day in hospital battling pneumonia. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni…

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Pope opens special ‘Holy Door’ for Catholic Jubilee at Rome prison

Pope Francis made a visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison complexes in Italy, opening a special "Holy Door" for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, in what the…

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Pope says No to long homilies, max 10 mins

Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Wednesday that priests should avoid over-long homilies, which should be 10 minutes maximum."Many times there are long sermons, 20,…

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Vatican to consider classifying ‘spiritual abuse’ as new Catholic crime

Pope Francis has asked the Vatican to study whether the Catholic Church should classify "spiritual abuse" as a new crime in order to address cases where priests use purported mystical…

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Jubilee: Pope to open Holy Door at Rebibbia on Dec. 26

The day after the official beginning of the Jubilee, on December 26, Pope Francis will be at Rome's Rebibbia prison to open a Holy Door, Monsignor Rino Fisichella revealed this…

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China says it has extended agreement with Vatican on bishops

China and the Vatican have agreed to extend an accord on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China for a longer period of four years, Beijing said on Tuesday. The…

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Pope’s diverse choices of new cardinals won’t smooth path for successor

When Pope Francis appoints new Catholic cardinals, as he did on Sunday, the move is often described as the pontiff pushing to influence the group that one day will select…

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Pope Francis to open major Vatican summit, but hot issues on hold

Pope Francis will open a month-long summit of global Catholic leaders on Wednesday but it is likely to defer any decision on divisive issues such as women's ordination and blessings…

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Pope says doctors who provide abortions are ‘hitmen’

Pope Francis wrapped up a troubled visit to Belgium on Sunday by doubling down on his traditional views on women and abortion and demanding that Catholic bishops stop covering up…

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