vatican

Pope Leo XIV in Turkey: A Historic Moment

On the second day of his visit to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in Istanbul before joining Orthodox leaders for a historic prayer in Iznik. In a country where Christians make up only 0.1% of the population, his visit is seen by many as “a blessing.” The Pope emphasizes the importance of supporting refugees and the most ...

Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew Mark 1,700 Years Since Nicaea in Turkey

Pope Leo XIV will join the leader of the world's Orthodox Christians Friday to celebrate 1,700 years since one of the early Church's most important gatherings, on the second day of his visit to Turkey. The American pope began his four-day visit on Thursday in Ankara, where he urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to embrace Turkey's role as a ...

Ahead of the Pope’s Visit, Lebanon Mobilizes

Preparations are intensifying nationwide, reflecting the significance of the long-anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon. He will arrive in Lebanon on November 28 and will tour the country until December 2.  From new installations to renewed public spaces, the capital is reshaping itself ahead of the event. Teams are deployed across key ...

Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Turkey on First Foreign Mission of His Papacy

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey on Thursday for a four-day visit, where he will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and meet Christian leaders on the first overseas trip of his papacy. The trip, which includes a second leg to Lebanon, begins in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where the first American pope landed shortly after ...

As Pope Leo XIV’s Visit Nears, Hope Runs Deep in Beirut

In Beirut, residents are awaiting Pope Leo XIV’s visit, scheduled from November 30 to December 2, with a mix of hope and caution, anticipating a unique moment for a capital suspended in uncertainty. Across Beirut, in cafés, malls, offices, and homes, the pontiff's expected arrival is sparking a wide range of feelings. Between hope, devotion, ...

From Paul VI to Leo XIV: The Vatican’s Bond with Lebanon

From Paul VI to Benedict XVI, Lebanon has welcomed historic visits from popes, each carrying a message of peace, unity, and intercommunal dialogue. As the country continues to face crises, Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit follows this tradition and underscores the unique bond between the Vatican and the Land of the Cedars. Since 1964, three ...

Pope Urges Leaders Not to Leave Poor Behind

Pope Leo XIV decried poverty on Sunday, urging world leaders and Catholics to reach out to marginalized people, as the Church celebrated a "Jubilee of the Poor." The pope has made social justice a key theme of his papacy, now in its sixth month since he was made head of the world's Catholics in May following the death of Pope Francis. The ...

Pope Leo XIV Shares His Favorite Films Ahead of Vatican Hollywood Audience

Pope Leo XIV has revealed his four favorite films ahead of a special audience with Hollywood celebrities and Oscar-winning directors at the Vatican. Leo, the first pope from the United States, picked tearjerkers, including Frank Capra's classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart, in which an angel is sent from heaven to help a ...

A Peacemaker Visits a Land of Perpetual War

Pope Leo XIV’s expected visit to Lebanon later this month comes at a moment of peril for the country. Lebanon’s most recent war, launched by Hezbollah on October 8, 2023, has barely ended, with Israel threatening to renew the conflict at any moment should Hezbollah not disarm. The Lebanese government has pledged to assert state power and ...

King Charles, Pope Leo Pray Together in Historic First

King Charles III, the head of the Church of England, became the first British monarch Thursday to pray publicly with a pope in a Vatican service led by Leo XIV. The ceremony in the Sistine Chapel, broadcast live by the Vatican's official news service, came during a state visit by the 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla. It was the ...

UK King to Be First to Pray With Pope in Five Centuries

King Charles III leaves for a state visit to the Vatican Wednesday, where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and make history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with the pontiff since the schism between the churches 500 years ago. The visit comes at a delicate time for the British king following new revelations about his brother, ...