The Vatican has issued an appeal against investments in activities that harm the environment and people, especially Indigenous peoples. The initiative, supported by 45 organisations, calls on religious institutions to review their use of financial instruments in light of the notion of “integral ecology" proposed by the encyclical Laudato Si'. For Cardinal Fabio Baggio, this is “An act of coherence with our faith, with the defence of human dignity.”
The bishops will meet between 9 and 15 April to choose a new patriarch. The former head will not participate nor vote so as not to "influence" the decision. This ancient Eastern Church, rooted in Mesopotamia, is currently experiencing a period of difficulty due to the exodus and war. The challenges of the last decade include the Islamic State group and the revocation of the presidential decree.
The announcement was made in a message released today on the tenth anniversary of the promulgation of Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The initiative calls for synodal discernment in light of what is being accomplished in local Churches. Let us “learn to evoke the beauty of the vocation to marriage” while acknowledging its fragility. Without families, the Church cannot become “the salt of the earth”.
Some 25,000 faithful welcomed Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Square for today’s general audience. In his catechesis on the Constitution Lumen Gentium, the pope said that, “every baptized person is an active agent of evangelization”. The Church “cannot err in matters of faith”. May “true peace prevail among all peoples,” the pontiff said in his greetings to Arabic-speaking faithful from the Middle East.
At the Angelus, Leo XIV called for "lasting solutions to the serious crisis" in Lebanon. He expressed his closeness to the loved ones of the "Thousands of innocent people" killed. Many nations are awaiting for peace. In his commentary on the Gospel, the pope said that “faith is an invitation to ‘open our eyes’.” Yesterday, he moved into the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, unused by Pope Francis.
During today’s general audience in St Peter's Square before some 15,000 faithful, Leo XIV remembered the Maronite priest killed in an Israeli attack. He “was a true shepherd,” said the pope, who called on everyone to pray for peace in Iran and the Middle East, and for all the civilian victims, especially the children. In his catechesis on Lumen Gentium, he stressed that, “the Church is one but includes everyone.”
Leo XIV returned to the war in Iran and other countries during the Angelus: “Let the noise of bombs cease.” Prayer to Mary for “those who suffer because of war.” On International Women's Day: “Commitment to equal dignity between men and women based on the Gospel.” Commentary on the Gospel: “This is not the time for confrontation.”
Yesterday at Castel Gandolfo, the pope again called for action to "promote dialogue," and find solutions "without weapons" in the Middle East. This morning, he held his audience on Lumen Gentium. The Church is born from "God's plan for humanity”, and “Christ dwells in her and continues to give himself through the smallness and fragility of her members.”
Leo XIV spoke at the Angelus following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, warning against “the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions." He appealed to the parties for a “reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue.” On fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he expressed hope that harmony may “prevail in all conflicts”. Speaking about the Gospel of the day, he said that “The Redeemer thus transfigures the wounds of history”.
The Holy See has officially announced the pontiff's trip, which includes Algeria (the capital Algiers and Annaba, Saint Augustine’s ancient city of Hippo) as well as Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. Algeria’s bishops are delighted that a pontiff will visit a country that has also seen Christian martyrs in recent years. For Bishop Carraro of Oran, a PIME missionary, this “visit encourages us”.
Pope Leo XIV calls for a “ceasefire without delay” after the Angelus, while earlier this morning he was in the Roman parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a “neighbourhood presidium” near Termini station, a place of “contradictions”: “So much potential for good and rampant violence”. On Lent: “Let us make room for silence”.
Pope Leo XIV met the religious in an audience, together with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, on the occasion of the anniversaries of the two missionary congregations. He recalled the history of the Oblates, founded in 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod in the post‑Revolutionary French context. He highlighted their presence in Europe, Africa, and Asia, which began in 1847 with their arrival in Ceylon. He also emphasized the gift of a “charismatic family and growing interculturality.”
The Vatican has released the list of the pope’s upcoming pastoral visits to six Italian cities between May and August 2026. A trip to Algeria, the land of Augustine, is eagerly awaited. In his homily at the start of Lent, the pontiff evoked the ashes of "international law" and "justice among peoples”. This morning, speaking to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, he urged them to pass on the faith by engaging young people in new ways.
Today, Ash Wednesday, Leo XIV spoke about Lent, a time of “true conversion” on the path to Easter, which is “the supreme revelation of God's merciful love” to be “interiorly renewed”. In his catechesis on Lumen Gentium, he said that "differences are relativized” in the liturgy, while “the Love of Christ [. . .] broke down the wall of separation between people and social groups.”
In the latest instalment of AsiaNews' reportage in the Vicariate of Northern Arabia, Fr Paulraj Devaraj shares his testimony. A “multicultural” community looks on with concern at regional tensions, from Gaza to Iran. There is “greater sensitivity” among the faithful, many of whom have “family and friends affected by the war”. The parish alone is the “centre” of activities, with numerous pastoral challenges.
Next Tuesday, 17 February 2026, billions of people in Asia will ushered in the Lunar New Year. In his Angelus address, Leo XIV expressed hope that this will “strengthen family ties and friendships” and “bring peace to homes and society”. Speaking about today’s Gospel, he noted that “true righteousness consists in love and that, within every precept of the Law, we must learn to identify a call to love”.
The Holy See today released the pontiff's message for this "shared" time in preparation for Easter. In it he calls on the faithful to listen to the Word and recognise the voice of “those who are anguished and suffering”. This requires “disarming our language” in favour of “words of hope and peace”, as well as actions to “cultivate kindness”.
The cardinal who recently left his post in Damascus reflects with AsiaNews on his long service in the country amid the suffering of children and the faces of friends who have disappeared. A nation ‘destroyed and humiliated’ that must find the basis for rebuilding its future in the ‘ecumenism of suffering’. The few remaining Christians have the task of ‘being the glue’. Advice for the next generation of Vatican diplomats: ‘Live with the people, learn to adapt to reality’.
By mandate of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Manuel Fernandez, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, today met with Father Davide Pagliarani, superior of the Society of Saint Pius X. A path for theological dialogue on the points raised by traditionalists was proposed, but with the precondition of cancelling the consecrations scheduled for 1 July. The Lefebvrian Council will examine the proposal. For the Vatican, the Church should accompany this journey “with prayers”.
On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Leo XIV paid homage to the Virgin at the Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, accompanied by a group of sick people. At the general audience, he invited Europe to look to Saints Cyril and Methodius to overcome “tensions, divisions, and religious and political antagonisms." During the catechesis, he reflected on the relationship between the Word of God and the life of the Church, noting that Scripture opens “the mission towards everyone.”
Leo XIV at the Angelus: “Strategies of economic and military power offer no future”. Solidarity with the victims of terrorism in Nigeria: “Work to protect life”. On the Day Against Trafficking: “Peace begins with dignity”. In his commentary on the Gospel: “In the broken bread, life is given, love that makes no noise”.
In a letter released on the opening day of the Winter Olympics, the pontiff, a sports enthusiast, offers his thoughts on the value of sports, citing the prolonged rally of tennis as an example of the ability to improve oneself through such activities. At the same time, he warns against undue competition that sidelines the culture of encounter, as well as doping and the use of technology that focuses solely on improving performance while losing sight of the individual.
The award was also given to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for their peace process and to the Palestinian NGO Taawon for its humanitarian work. In his message, Pope Leo XIV said that fraternity is “not a distant ideal, but an urgent necessity.” Yaftali’s work for girls’ education, which has been severely restricted under the Taliban after they returned to power in 2021, was recognised. Her appeal is for the world not to forget Afghan women.
The pontiff called on the faithful to pray for "our brothers and sisters in Ukraine,” suffering from the cold and bombings. He expressed gratitude to dioceses in Poland and elsewhere for their assistance to the population. On the soon-to-expire New START treaty between Moscow and Washington, the pontiff urged action to “Ensure its concrete and effective follow-up.” Today’s catechesis was centred on “the Word of God in human words”.
Leo XIV spoke during today’s Angelus about the Milano Cortina Olympic Games, and urged governments to “promote sincere and effective dialogue”. He joined Cuban bishops calling on leaders to “avoid violence”. On the Beatitudes, he said, “God gives this hope primarily to those whom the world dismisses as hopeless.”
In today’s general audience, Leo XIV cited the "painful remembrance" evoked by International Holocaust Remembrance Day. He prayed to God for "a world without antisemitism and prejudice”, stressing that the community of nations should “remain ever vigilant.” In his catechesis on the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, he stressed that the Word of God “is not fossilized but [. . .] is a living and organic reality”.
Leo XIV thanked the participants in the Caravan of Peace: “Never be violent”. The pontiff's “pain” for Ukraine: the continuing hostilities “distance a just and lasting peace”. “Closeness” to people suffering from leprosy, on the day commemorating them. Comment on the Gospel: “We Christians must overcome the temptation to close ourselves off”.
The catechesis in today’s audience in the Paul VI Hall focused on the Second Vatican Council and Dei Verbum. The knowledge about God is "relational", realised in Jesus the "mediator," with his "integral humanity." Salvation also comes from the "real body" of Jesus. The pontiff also focused on building strong bonds of unity during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Leo XIV's message for the 34th World Day of the Sick has been released, which will be the heart of celebrations on 11 February 2026, in Chiclayo, Peru. The pontiff slams the culture of "haste" and "indifference”, pointing to the "sweet joy of loving," as an antidote, rooted in the bond with Christ. He cites the parable of the Samaritan and the encyclical Fratelli tutti: “To serve one’s neighbor is to love God through deeds”
The invitation starts the Ecumenical Week, whose meditations were prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church this year. As John the Baptist did, the call is not to seek approval and fame at all costs, but to love simple things and sincere words to recognise Jesus.
