Pope Francis

Pope Leo XIV and the Call for Unity 1,700 Years After Nicaea

The First Ecumenical Council in history was convened by Emperor Constantine on May 20, 325, with a clear purpose: to restore the unity of the Church in the face of doctrinal divisions. The goal was to define the faith, establish its core foundations and create a common framework for all of Christianity. This was encapsulated in the Nicene Creed, ...

Pope Meets Vance ahead of Ukraine Ceasefire Push

Pope Leo XIV received US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Monday, ahead of a US-led push to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Vatican released photographs of Vance and Rubio smiling as they met with the Chicago-born pontiff, who was elected as head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8 ...

Pope Leo XIV Receives US VP Vance, Rubio

Pope Leo XIV received US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican Monday, a day after the new US pontiff's inauguration mass. The Vatican released photographs of Vance and Rubio smiling as they met with the Chicago-born pope, who was elected as head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8. Vance then met ...

Pope Offers to Mediate between World Leaders to end Wars

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, saying that he himself "will make every effort so that this peace may prevail". The new US pontiff, who became head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes, in a speech to members ...

Leo XIV Gets Down to Business on First Full week as Pope

Pope Leo XIV launches his first full week as leader of the world's Catholics on Monday, with journalists, diplomats and top Vatican officials all set to meet the newly elected pontiff. Pomp and prayer marked the initial days of the pontificate of the former Robert Francis Prevost, the US pope first introduced to the world from the balcony of St ...

The Vatican’s Finances: A (Nearly) Divine Mission for Leo XIV?

Amid ongoing spiritual and social transformation, the Vatican is facing a more down-to-earth reality—its accounts are in the red. The Holy See’s financial management appears more akin to that of a debt-ridden state than a model of virtue. As head of the Catholic Church, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV inherits not only a spiritual mission but ...

Pope Leo Says Church Must Illuminate 'Dark Nights of This World' in First Mass

Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world become the first US head of the 2,000-year institution. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the 267th pope, spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion ...

Lebanese Leaders Welcome Election of Pope Leo XIV

Lebanese officials and political leaders extended their congratulations Thursday following the historic election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new head of the Catholic Church, assuming the papal name Pope Leo XIV. His election, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, was officially confirmed as white smoke billowed ...

Prevost becomes first US pope as Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on Thursday, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Tens of thousands of people packed in St Peter's Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, waving with both ...