Vatican News

CNA Staff, May 19, 2025 / 14:34 pm (CNA).

A 36-minute video purporting to show Pope Leo XIV reading a statement denouncing colonialism and praising Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the 37-year-old leader of Burkina Faso, has garnered nearly a million views on YouTube as of Monday. 

Claim: Pope Leo XIV is shown seated in the Paul VI Audience Hall reading from a paper. In an apparent response to a purported speech from Ibrahim Traoré, Pope Leo XIV appears to address the Catholic Church’s historical entanglement with colonialism and acknowledge its past failures to stand with the oppressed and speak out against economic exploitation and political interference in Africa. 

The “pope” then addresses ongoing injustices, including the plunder of Africa’s resources, the theft of cultural memory, the denial of sovereignty, and the crisis of migration, affirming Africa’s vital role as a “beacon of faith” and calling for a new era of justice, reconciliation, and partnership.

CNA finds: The video is entirely fake and admits as much in its own description on YouTube — but that hasn’t stopped thousands of viewers from being misled. 

“This made me cry!! What I’ve been waiting for a pope to say all my life!! Gives me hope for the world,” reads one user’s comment, amid hundreds more expressing similar sentiment. 

In reality, however, a disclaimer in the video’s description, posted by the channel Pan-African Dreams, explicitly describes the video as “a work of fiction inspired by the life of Ibrahim Traoré.”

“While some elements are based on real events, the situations and dialogues described are entirely imaginary and do not reflect any actual events. Any resemblance to real-life facts is purely coincidental,” the disclaimer says. 

A YouTube-required label on the video also notes that it contains “Altered or synthetic content: Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated.”

The video is by no means the first AI-generated, fake video of the newly elected Pope Leo to make the rounds online. (The pope himself, in a May 12 address to the media, has already emphasized the responsibility and discernment needed by all people, of all ages, in the use of artificial intelligence.)

In addition, this isn’t the first fake, propagandizing video to surface online specifically glorifying Traoré. In fact, posts recently circulated on social media claim to share a song released by jailed R&B singer R. Kelly in support of Traoré and his regime, AFP Fact-Check reported.

The young military leader, who came to power in 2022 following a coup, has been accused by observers of benefiting from propaganda specifically produced by Russia, possibly because of a connection to the infamous Russian mercenary organization the Wagner Group.  

The verdict: The video is fake and not to be taken seriously. That doesn’t mean Pope Leo will never address the topics raised in the video, such as colonialism and Catholicism in Africa, however — he just hasn’t yet.

We rate this claim false.

ACI Prensa Staff, May 19, 2025 / 12:03 pm (CNA).

From a portable throne carried on the shoulders of attendants to state-of-the-art electric cars, the pope’s means of transportation have evolved considerably over time, reflecting changes in the Church, technology, and the world.

For centuries, pontiffs used the “sedia gestatoria” (Italian for “portable chair”), a type of ceremonial throne used for solemn events adorned with feathered fans and carried by men during solemn ceremonies. The last to use a gestatory chair was John Paul I.

For longer journeys, the popes used horse-drawn carriages.

The oldest recorded carriage, according to the Vatican Museums website, is the Grand Gala Berliner, built in 1826 for Pope Leo XII. This carriage was crowned by a canopy decorated with a dove, representing the Holy Spirit.

The Vatican Museums houses at least five more carriages in its Coach Pavilion, including the Pontifical Landau, which could be opened to allow the pope to greet the faithful during his tours. It was used by Leo XIII and Pius XI.

The great epochal change came in 1929 with Pius XI, the first pontiff to use an automobile. That same year, after the signing of the Lateran Pacts — which gave rise to Vatican City State — the pope received as a gift an American Graham-Paige 837, whose interior seat resembles the Holy Father’s throne.

This was considered a historic vehicle, as it was the first to leave Vatican City since the fall of Rome in 1870. Years later, Pope Pius XII used the same car to personally travel to Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood after the American bombing of July 19, 1943.

In the following decades, papal vehicles continued to be modernized. In 1975, on the occasion of the jubilee, Paul VI commissioned an open-top car to greet the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.

This style was also adopted by John Paul II, during whose pontificate the term “popemobile” became popular. One of the most iconic was the Fiat Campagnola, in which the pope was shot during the 1981 assassination attempt. From then on, designs were outfitted with bulletproof glass and reinforced security.

The same style of automobiles continued with Pope Francis, except that he rejected armored cars for most of his trips involving large crowds of the faithful.

Toward the end of his pontificate, the use of electric cars was promoted, both for his personal transportation and for the Vatican’s vehicle fleet.

Donated vehicles 

Over time, the Vatican has also received vehicles as gifts, such as the Ferrari Enzo donated to the pope himself, who decided to auction it off and allocate the funds to the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Similarly, in November 2017, Pope Francis received a white Lamborghini Huracán, which was auctioned six months later for $950,000. Part of this money was used to help with reconstruction in the Nineveh Plains of Iraq.

Pope Francis also requested that one of his vehicles be transformed by Caritas Jerusalem into a mobile medical unit to provide health care to children in the Gaza Strip.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 19, 2025 / 06:52 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the papal library on Monday morning.

Details of the meeting were not released, but the Americans later spoke with a top Vatican diplomat about U.S. and international issues.

The 45-minute papal audience began with a one-on-one between Vance and the pope, with Rubio joining afterward. Second Lady Usha Vance; Rubio’s wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio; and the larger U.S. delegation joined for the final part of the meeting, which included the customary exchange of gifts.

In a photo of the encounter released by the Vatican, Vance appears to have given the pontiff a Chicago Bears jersey with “Pope Leo XIV” printed on the back.

Other photos show Vance and Rubio smiling, seated in places of honor across the papal desk from Leo, a position usually reserved for heads of state.

A Vatican spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the seating arrangement.

Following the papal audience, Vance and Rubio met with Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Rubio’s Vatican counterpart. They discussed collaboration between Church and state and issues relevant to ecclesial life and religious freedom, according to the Vatican.

The brief communication on the meeting from the Vatican also appeared to reference disagreements — “an exchange of views” — between the Vatican and the U.S. administration on “some current international issues.”

During the meeting, there was a call for “respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” the Vatican’s statement said.

In the 10 days since his election May 8, Leo has appeared to take a more pro-Ukraine line in the Russia-Ukraine conflict than his immediate predecessor, first by speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone in the first hours of his papacy, then meeting the leader for a private audience the same day of his inaugural Mass.

Leo also called for negotiations for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine in his first two Regina Caeli messages on May 11 and 18, and one of his early audiences was with the head of the Greek Ukrainian Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

As a bishop in Peru in 2022, then-Bishop Prevost also made explicit reference to Russia’s invasion, calling it “imperialist in nature,” while Francis avoided such language in his peace appeals and had even called for Ukraine to raise the white flag.

On the conflict in Gaza, Leo, like Francis, has called for ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages.

Vance, Rubio, and Zelenskyy also met together in Rome, after they both attended Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass on May 18.

According to a post on X from Vance’s office, the leaders discussed “updates on the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace.”

Zelenskyy called the encounter a “good meeting” in his own post on X and said he “reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy.”

The Ukrainian president also said he spoke about the need for pressure and sanctions against Russia as well as “defense cooperation.”

Vatican City, May 18, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV delivered the following homily at the Mass for the Initiation of the Petrine Ministry in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, May 18, after being elected the 266th successor of St. Peter on May 8.

Dear Brother Cardinals,

Brother Bishops and Priests,

Distinguished Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Greetings to the pilgrims who came on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Confraternities!

Brothers and Sisters, I greet all of you with a heart full of gratitude at the beginning of the ministry that has been entrusted to me. St. Augustine wrote: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you” (Confessions, I: 1,1).

In these days, we have experienced intense emotions. The death of Pope Francis filled our hearts with sadness. In those difficult hours, we felt like the crowds that the Gospel says were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). Yet on Easter Sunday, we received his final blessing and, in the light of the Resurrection, we experienced the days that followed in the certainty that the Lord never abandons his people but gathers them when they are scattered and guards them “as a shepherd guards his flock” (Jer 31:10).

In this spirit of faith, the College of Cardinals met for the conclave. Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, we placed in God’s hands our desire to elect the new successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome, a shepherd capable of preserving the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, looking to the future, in order to confront the questions, concerns, and challenges of today’s world. Accompanied by your prayers, we could feel the working of the Holy Spirit, who was able to bring us into harmony, like musical instruments, so that our heartstrings could vibrate in a single melody.

I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.

Love and unity: These are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus.

We see this in today’s Gospel, which takes us to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus began the mission he received from the Father: to be a “fisher” of humanity in order to draw it up from the waters of evil and death. Walking along the shore, he had called Peter and the other first disciples to be, like him, “fishers of men.” Now, after the Resurrection, it is up to them to carry on this mission, to cast their nets again and again, to bring the hope of the Gospel into the “waters” of the world, to sail the seas of life so that all may experience God’s embrace.

How can Peter carry out this task? The Gospel tells us that it is possible only because his own life was touched by the infinite and unconditional love of God, even in the hour of his failure and denial. For this reason, when Jesus addresses Peter, the Gospel uses the Greek verb “agapáo,” which refers to the love that God has for us, to the offering of himself without reserve and without calculation. Whereas the verb used in Peter’s response describes the love of friendship that we have for one another.

Consequently, when Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (Jn 21:16), he is referring to the love of the Father. It is as if Jesus said to him, “Only if you have known and experienced this love of God, which never fails, will you be able to feed my lambs. Only in the love of God the Father will you be able to love your brothers and sisters with that same ‘more,’ that is, by offering your life for your brothers and sisters.”

Peter is thus entrusted with the task of “loving more” and giving his life for the flock. The ministry of Peter is distinguished precisely by this self-sacrificing love, because the Church of Rome presides in charity and its true authority is the charity of Christ. It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda, or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did.

The Apostle Peter himself tells us that Jesus “is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, and has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). Moreover, if the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him (cf. 1 Pt 5:3). On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them, for all of us are “living stones” (1 Pet 2:5), called through our baptism to build God’s house in fraternal communion, in the harmony of the Spirit, in the coexistence of diversity. In the words of St. Augustine: “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor” (Serm. 359,9).

Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.

In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one. This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of goodwill, in order to build a new world where peace reigns!

This is the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.

Brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love! The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion “were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?” (Rerum Novarum, 21).

With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made “restless” by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.

Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters, let us walk toward God and love one another.

CNA Newsroom, May 18, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Follow our live coverage as Pope Leo XIV, first U.S.-born pope in history, begins his pontificate: Experience history in the making with former Cardinal Robert Prevost.

Vatican City, May 18, 2025 / 06:58 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday formally began his ministry as head of the 1.4 billion members of the universal Catholic Church, acknowledging divisions among the faithful with a call for fraternal communion and unity at his inaugural Mass.

Addressing an estimated 150,000 people crowded into St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, the 69-year-old pope, elected May 8, said: “I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”

Under Pope Francis, the Church experienced internal division over issues of liturgy and moral doctrine on sexuality and the family, including the approval of the blessing of same-sex couples.

At the Mass, concelebrated with the members of the College of Cardinals, Leo expressed his intention to “come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.”

Leo XIV has indicated his desire for collegiality from his first moment as pope, when he spoke about walking together as a united Church in his opening words to the world on May 8, following the announcement of his election. He also held an early meeting with cardinals where they were invited to speak up on whatever issue concerned them, something that had not happened under Francis since 2014.

Reflecting on the qualities expected in the successor of St. Peter, he said: “If the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him.”

Hundreds of religious and international leaders and dignitaries, representing nearly 200 foreign delegations, attended the Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome on May 18, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

In his homily, Leo spoke about the conclave that chose him to be the Church’s 267th pope: “Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, we [the cardinal electors] placed in God’s hands our desire to elect the new successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome, a shepherd capable of preserving the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, looking to the future, in order to confront the questions, concerns, and challenges of today’s world.”

“Love and unity: These are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus,” the pontiff added.

Quoting St. Augustine — who inspired the religious Order of St. Augustine, to which he belongs — Pope Leo XIV said: “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor.”

The pope lamented the discord and wounds of our time: “For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world.”

Before delivering his homily, Leo received the symbols of the papacy, the pallium and the fisherman’s ring, in a richly-symbolic rite including an act of obedience and fidelity from representatives of the College of Cardinals and “the people of God.”

The pallium, a narrow band made of white lamb’s wool, was draped over his shoulders. The pallium, which has two black flaps and three pins representing the nails of Christ’s cross, symbolizes the bishop as the good shepherd and Christ the Lamb crucified for the salvation of the human race.

The gold fisherman’s ring, a part of the papal insignia since the first millennium, has the image of St. Peter with the keys and fisherman’s net, a symbol of authority and the duty entrusted to St. Peter by Jesus to be “a fisher of men.”

After the sung proclamation of the Gospel in Latin and Greek — the passage from the Gospel of John, when Jesus asks Peter “do you love me?” and commands him to “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep” — Cardinal Dominique Mamberti placed the pallium around Leo’s shoulders and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, OFM Cap, recited a prayer.

With visible emotion, Leo received the fisherman’s ring from Cardinal Luis Tagle, looking at the ring and then lifting his face in prayer.

His papal name and elements from his coat of arms — the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of purity and the Virgin Mary, and a pierced heart, the traditional symbol of the Augustinian order — are engraved on the inside of the ring.

Before the Mass, Pope Leo XIV took his first ride in the popemobile, standing and waving to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square and Via Conciliazione, the main thoroughfare to the Vatican basilica.

The rite for the beginning of the pontificate started with Leo praying at the tomb of St. Peter together with the cardinals, who then walk in solemn procession together through St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Peter’s Square. 

An image of our Mother of Good Counsel from the Italian Sanctuary of Genazzano, which Leo visited on May 10 in one of his first acts as pope, was placed to the left of the altar.

“This is the hour for love!” Pope Leo said in his homily. “The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion ‘were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?’ (Rerum Novarum, 21).”

“With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love,” he continued, “a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made ‘restless’ by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”

At the end of Mass, Leo appealed for “a just and lasting peace” around the world, especially in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and sang the Regina Caeli, a Marian antiphon for the Easter season.

In addition to international leaders and dignitaries, a large number of religious representatives attended the first papal Mass, including members of the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism religions.

Around 36 different Christian churches or organizations were also represented, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem in attendance.

Jewish leaders from Italy, Israel, and the United States also came to the Mass, including the head rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni.

CNA Staff, May 17, 2025 / 16:45 pm (CNA).

Thousands of the faithful took to the streets of Rome on Saturday to take part in elaborate and beautiful processions by members of Catholic confraternities from around the world who gathered in the Eternal City as part of the 2025 Jubilee festivities.

A confraternity is a voluntary association of the faithful devoted to special works of Christian charity. Many date back hundreds of years.

The Saturday processions were held to mark the Jubilee of Confraternities. Two processions total marched through the Roman streets and ended at the Circus Maximus.

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among numerous international leaders and dignitaries, representing approximately 200 foreign delegations, who will attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, May 18. 

The global leaders and representatives who will be present in St. Peter’s Square for the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass include: 

Americas

JD Vance, vice president of the United States

Marco Rubio, U.S. secretary of state of the United States

Mark Carney, prime minister of Canada

Rodney Williams, governor general of Antigua and Barbuda

Teresa Susana Subieta Serrano, ambassador of Bolivia to the Holy See

Javier Milei, president of Argentina

Joseph Curry, ambassador of the Bahamas to the Holy See

Milton Inniss, ambassador of Barbados to the Holy See

Geraldo Alckmin, vice president of Brazil 

Manuel José Ossandón, president of the senate of Chile

Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia

Arnoldo André Tinoco, minister for foreign affairs and worship of Costa Rica

Salvador Valdés Mesa, vice president of Cuba

Raquel Peña Rodríguez, vice president of the Dominican Republic

Félix Ulloa, vice president of El Salvador

Daniel Noboa, president of Ecuador

Alrich Nicolas, representative of Haiti

Alfredo Vásquez Rivera, ambassador of Guatemala to the Holy See

Rebeca Ráquel Obando, president of the supreme court of justice of Honduras

Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, interior minister of Mexico

Maurizio Gelli, concurrent ambassador of Nicaragua to the United Kingdom

Javier Martínez-Acha, minister of foreign affairs of Panama

Santiago Peña, president of Paraguay

Dina Boluarte, president of Peru

Matteo Forconi, honorary consul of St. Kitts and Nevis in Florence

Gilbert Chaguory, ambassador of St. Lucia to the Holy See

Ruediger Ackermann, honorary consul of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Germany

Colin Connelly, ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Belgium and the European Union  

Ricardo Duarte Vargas, charge d'affaires of Uruguay to the Holy See

Carmen Meléndez Rivas, mayor of Caracas, Venezuela

Europe

Bajram Begaj, president of Albania

Patrice Faure, representative of the Co-Prince of Andorra Emmanuel Macron 

Xavier Zamora, prime minister of Andorra

Vahagn Khachaturyan, president of Armenia

Christian Stocker, chancellor of Austria

Sahiba Gafarova, president speaker of Azerbaijan

Ihar Sierhiejenka, president speaker of Belarus

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Borjana Krišto, chairwoman of the council of ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Rosen Zhelyazkov, prime minister of Bulgaria

Andrej Plenković, prime minister of Croatia

Constantinos Kombos, minister of foreign affairs of Cyprus

Marek Výborný, minister of agriculture of the Czech Republic

Susanne Shine, ambassador of Denmark to Belgium, Luxembourg and Vatican State 

Lauri Hussar, president speaker of Estonia

Anders Adlercreutz, minister of education of Finland

François Bayrou, prime minister of France

Mikheil Kavelashvili, president of Georgia

Friedrich Merz, federal chancellor of Germany

Julia Klöckner, president of the Bundestag, Germany

Sofia Zacharaki, minister of education and religious affairs of Greece

Tamás Sulyok, president of Hungary

Einar Gunnarsson, ambassador and permanent representative of Iceland in Geneva

Michael Higgins, president of Ireland

Vjosa Osmani, president of Kosovo 

Evika Siliņa, prime minister of Latvia

Prince Alois of Liechtenstein 

Brigitte Haas, prime minister of Liechtenstein

Gitanas Nausėda, president of Lithuania

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg 

Luc Frieden, prime minister of Luxembourg

Robert Abela, prime minister of Malta

Prince Albert II of Monaco

Milojko Spajić, prime minister of Montenegro

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands 

Dick Schoof, prime minister of the Netherlands

Kjersti Rødsmoen, ambassador of Norway to Holy See

Andrzej Duda, president of Poland

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, president of Portugal

Mircea Abrudean, acting president of the senate of Romania

Olga Lyubimova, minister of culture of Russia

Denise Bronzetti, captain regent of San Marino

Đuro Macut, prime minister of Serbia

Peter Pellegrini, president of Slovakia

Robert Golob, prime minister of Slovenia

King Filipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain

María Jesús Montero, vice president of Spain 

Princess Victoria of Sweden

Jakob Forssmed, minister for health and social affairs of Sweden

Karin Keller-Sutter, president of Switzerland

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, to represent King Charles of the United Kingdom

Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine

Nuriddin Ismoilov, president speaker of Uzbekistan  

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission

Middle East and North Africa

Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, prime minister of Bahrain

Ahmed Fouad Hano, minister of culture of Egypt

Reza Salehi-Amiri, minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts of Iran

Saywan Barzani, ambassador of Iraq to Italy

Isaac Herzog, president of Israel

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan

Nasser Sanhat Alqahtani, ambassador of Kuwait to Italy

Joseph Aoun, president of Lebanon

Aziz Akhannouch, prime minister of Morocco

Benvinda Levy, prime minister of Mozambique

Sayyid Nazar Al Julanda Majid Alsaid, ambassador of Oman to Italy  

Mahmood bin Hamad Al Hasani, ambassador of Oman to the Holy See

Ramzi Khoury, minister of religious affairs of Palestine

Varsen Aghabekian, minister of state for foreign affairs of Palestine

Issa Kassissieh, ambassador of Palestine to the Holy See

Asma Naji Al-Amri, ambassador of Qatar to the Holy See

Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz, ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Italy

Adel al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia

Louay Fallouh, ambassador of Syria to the Holy See

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, minister of culture and tourism of Turkey

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, United Arab Emirates

Africa

Barthélémy Kéré, president of the constitutional council of Burkina Faso 

Prosper Bazombanza, vice president of Burundi 

Paul Atanga Nji, minister of territorial administration of Cameroon

Janine Lélis, minister of defence of Cape Verde

Ahmad Makaila, ambassador of Chad to the Holy See

Rrigobert Itoua, ambassador of Congo to the Holy See

Patrick Jérôme Achi, minister of state of Côte d'Ivoire

Joaquín Mbana Nchama, ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the Holy See

Russell Dlamini, prime minister of Eswatini

Brice Oligui Nguema, president of Gabon

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, member of the parliament of Ghana

Yvette Sylla, ambassador of Madagascar to United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Patrick Gervais Assirvaden, minister of energy and public utilities of Mauritius 

Betty Cherwon, ambassador of Kenya to France, Portugal, Serbia, Holy See and Monaco

Lucia Witbooi, vice president of Namibia

Bola Tinubu, president of Nigeria

Jean-Baptiste Tine, interior minister of Senegal

Sylvestre Radegonde, minister for foreign affairs of Seychelles

Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile ambassador of South Africa to Italy

Monday Semaya Kumba, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation of South Sudan

Salah Mohamed Ishag Rahama, charge d'affaires of Sudan to the Holy See

Hassani Iddi Mwamweta, ambassador of Tanzania to the Holy See

Faure Gnassingbé, president of the council of ministers of Togo

Thomas Tayebwa, deputy speaker of parliament of Uganda

Macenje Mazoka, ambassador of Zambia to the Holy See

Constantino Chiwenga, vice president of Zimbabwe

Asia-Pacific 

Anthony Albanese, prime minister of Australia 

Tareq Md Ariful Islam, ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Nations

Harivansh Narayan Singh, deputy chairman of upper house of parliament of India

Muhaimin Iskandar, minister of community empowerment of Indonesia

Tarō Asō, member of the house of representatives of Japan

Hendy Anak Assan, ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See

Gerelmaa Davaasuren, ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See

Hmway Hmway Khyne, ambassador of Myanmar to Italy

Tara Morton, ambassador of New Zealand to Andorra, Malta, Morocco and the Holy See

Yusuf Raza Gilani, chairman of the senate of Pakistan

Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig, ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See

Edwin Tong, minister for culture, community and youth of Singapore

Yoo In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism of South Korea

Oh Hyun-joo, ambassador of South Korea to the Holy See 

Chen Chien-jen, former vice president and ex-premier of Taiwan, to represent president Lai Ching-te of Taiwan (China)

Theerarat Samrejvanich, deputy minister of interior of Thailand

Maria Fernanda Lay, member of the national parliament of Timor-Leste

Bernard Leclerc, ambassador of Vanuatu to Israel and Russia

Duong Hai Hung, ambassador of Vietnam to Italy

CNA Staff, May 17, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

The Vatican’s sacred music school is seeking to teach Catholics worldwide how to sing ancient Gregorian chant as a means to help the faithful participate actively in the liturgy, including in papal Masses.

The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music said this week it is launching its “Let’s Sing with the Pope” initiative as a series of “short educational video tutorials” to make Gregorian music accessible to everyone.

The institute described Gregorian chant as a “rich heritage” and a “universal musical and spiritual language” used in papal Masses and other celebrations.

The video series will help “promote active and conscious participation in the liturgy,” including in upcoming papal celebrations, the institute said in an Instagram post.

In the initial video of the series, Father Robert Mehlhart, OP, the rector of the pontifical institute, demonstrated how the greeting of the Mass is sung by both the celebrant and the assembly.

The instructions will “help the people of God sing along with the Holy Father during the upcoming major liturgical celebrations,” the institute said.

The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music was founded by Pope Pius X in 1910. It is located in Rome, just west of Vatican City, at the former site of the Pontifical Abbey of St. Jerome-in-the-City.

The institute says it “currently has 153 students from 44 countries,” 10 of whom will sing in the guide choir at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass this weekend.

Rome Newsroom, May 17, 2025 / 09:42 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV urged members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation to embrace Catholic social doctrine as a path beyond polarization on Saturday, May 17, at the Vatican.

Good morning everyone!

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!

I thank the President and members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, and I greet all of you who are taking part in this annual International Conference and General Assembly.

The theme of this year’s Conference – “Overcoming Polarizations and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations” – speaks to us of the deepest purpose of the Church’s social doctrine as a contribution to peace and dialogue in the service of building bridges of universal fraternity. Especially in this Easter season, we realize that the Risen Lord always goes before us, even at times when injustice and death seem to prevail. Let us help one another, as I said on the evening of my election, “to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace.” This is not something that happens by chance, but is rather an active and continuous interplay of grace and freedom, one that our meeting today seeks to respect and support.

Pope Leo XIII, who lived in an age of momentous and disruptive change, sought to promote peace by encouraging social dialogue between capital and labour, technology and human intelligence, and different political cultures and nations. Pope Francis spoke of a “polycrisis” in describing the dramatic nature of our own age, marked by wars, climate change, growing inequalities, forced and contested migration, stigmatized poverty, disruptive technological innovations, job insecurity and precarious labour rights (Message to Participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, 3 March 2025). On such important issues, the Church’s social doctrine is called to provide insights that facilitate dialogue between science and conscience, and thus make an essential contribution to better understanding, hope and peace.

This doctrine helps us to realize that more important than our problems or eventual solutions is the way we approach them, guided by criteria of discernment, sound ethical principles and openness to God’s grace.

You have the opportunity to show that the Church’s social doctrine, with its specific anthropological approach, seeks to encourage genuine engagement with social issues. It does not claim to possess a monopoly on truth, either in its analysis of problems or its proposal of concrete solutions. Where social questions are concerned, knowing how best to approach them is more important than providing immediate responses to why things happen or how to deal with them. The aim is to learn how to confront problems, for these are always different, since every generation is new, and faces new challenges, dreams and questions.

This is a fundamental aspect of our attempts to build a “culture of encounter” through dialogue and social friendship. For many of our contemporaries, the words “dialogue” and “doctrine” can seem incompatible. Perhaps when we hear the word “doctrine,” we tend to think of a set of ideas belonging to a religion. The word itself makes us feel less disposed to reflect, call things into question or seek new alternatives.

In the case of the Church’s social doctrine, we need to make clear that the word “doctrine” has another, more positive meaning, without which dialogue itself would be meaningless. “Doctrine” can be a synonym of “science,” “discipline” and “knowledge.” Understood in this way, doctrine appears as the product of research, and hence of hypotheses, discussions, progress and setbacks, all aimed at conveying a reliable, organized and systematic body of knowledge about a given issue. Consequently, a doctrine is not the same as an opinion, but is rather a common, collective and even multidisciplinary pursuit of truth.

“Indoctrination” is immoral. It stifles critical judgement and undermines the sacred freedom of respect for conscience, even if erroneous. It resists new notions and rejects movement, change or the evolution of ideas in the face of new problems. “Doctrine,” on the other hand, as a serious, serene and rigorous discourse, aims to teach us primarily how to approach problems and, even more importantly, how to approach people. It also helps us to make prudential judgements when confronted with challenges. Seriousness, rigour and serenity are what we must learn from every doctrine, including the Church’s social doctrine.

In the context of the ongoing digital revolution, we must rediscover, emphasize and cultivate our duty to train others in critical thinking, countering temptations to the contrary, which can also be found in ecclesial circles. There is so little dialogue around us; shouting often replaces it, not infrequently in the form of fake news and irrational arguments proposed by a few loud voices. Deeper reflection and study are essential, as well as a commitment to encounter and listen to the poor, who are a treasure for the Church and for humanity. Their viewpoints, though often disregarded, are vital if we are to see the world through God’s eyes. Those born and raised far from the centers of power should not merely be taught the Church’s social doctrine; they should also be recognized as carrying it forward and putting it into practice. Individuals committed to the betterment of society, popular movements and the various Catholic workers’ groups are an expression of those existential peripheries where hope endures and springs anew. I urge you to let the voice of the poor be heard.

Dear friends, as the Second Vatican Council states, “in every age, the Church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, if she is to carry out her task. In language intelligible to every generation, she should be able to answer the ever-recurring questions which people ask about the meaning of this present life and of the life to come, and how one is related to the other” (Gaudium et Spes, 4).

I invite you, then, to participate actively and creatively in this discernment process, and thus contribute, with all of God’s people, to the development of the Church’s social doctrine in this age of significant social changes, listening to everyone and engaging in dialogue with all. In our day, there is a widespread thirst for justice, a desire for authentic fatherhood and motherhood, a profound longing for spirituality, especially among young people and the marginalized, who do not always find effective means of making their needs known. There is a growing demand for the Church’s social doctrine, to which we need to respond.

I thank all of you for your commitment and for your prayers for my ministry, and I cordially bless you and your families, and all that you do. Thank you!

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square, a liturgical event that will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome.

The following is a review of the most important moments of this ceremony, rich in symbols and highlights, which will be marked by several significant changes compared with the Mass for the inauguration of Pope Francis’ pontificate in 2013. For example, it will not be the cardinals who will pledge obedience to the new pope after the presentation of the pallium and the fisherman’s ring but rather a group of “representatives of the people of God.”

Prayer at the tomb of St. Peter

From the Altar of Confession, located in the center of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s baldachin stands, Pope Leo XIV will descend the stairs with the patriarchs of the Eastern Churches to the tomb of St. Peter. There he will pause in prayer for a few minutes.

The Holy Father will place incense in the thurible and incense the “Trophæum Apostolicum,” the venerated monument that marks the tomb of the Apostle Peter, the first pope and the rock upon which Christ built his Church. This ritual emphasizes the pontiff’s connection with the Apostle Peter and his martyrdom.

Solemn procession 

The deacons then take the pallium, the fisherman’s ring, and the Book of the Gospels and carry them together in procession. These symbols of the Petrine ministry precede the pope, carried with solemnity, as a visible expression of the service, spiritual authority, and proclamation of the Gospel that the successor of Peter is called to exercise in the universal Church.

The procession heads toward St. Peter’s Square from within the basilica. During this journey, the solemn hymn of “Lauds Regiae” is intoned, a particular form of the Litany of the Saints in which their intercession for the pope’s holiness is requested.

Sign of the cross in Latin

Pope Leo XIV then makes the sign of the cross in Latin: ”In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.” This is the traditional way in which the pope begins the Eucharistic celebration during the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate. The pope then sprinkles the people with holy water.

Gospel will be read in Greek and Latin 

One of the most significant moments of the Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate is the proclamation of the Gospel in two languages: Greek and Latin. This expresses the unity of the Church and underscores that the successor of Peter is the pope of both Latin Catholics and Eastern Catholics.

Greek, the language of the Christian East and the New Testament, represents the ancient traditions of the Eastern Churches, while Latin, the language of the Roman rite, evokes the heritage of the Western Church.

By proclaiming the Gospel in both languages, it is evident that Christ’s message is intended for all peoples and that the ministry of the bishop of Rome encompasses the entire universal Church, in communion with its diverse liturgical and spiritual traditions. The Holy Father will then silently bless the Book of the Gospels.

Pallium and ring

During the days leading up to the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate, Leo XIV has worn his episcopal ring as a cardinal. However, on Sunday he will not wear that ring but receive the fisherman’s ring in the rite of initiation of his Petrine ministry.

This ring, on which his name is engraved, symbolizes his mission as successor of the Apostle Peter. It was formerly used as a seal to authenticate papal documents.

During the same ceremony, the pontiff will also receive the pallium, the liturgical insignia of metropolitan archbishops and, in the case of the pope, a symbol of his universal pastoral authority.

The pallium is a narrow band of white wool draped over the shoulders, with two dangling black ends — one in front and one in back — evoking the shape of the letter Y. It is decorated with six black silk crosses and three pins representing the nails of Christ’s cross. Receiving the pallium recalls Peter’s commission to guide Christ’s flock and his uninterrupted succession to the See of Rome.

Fidelity and obedience

After the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the Mass for the inauguration of the Petrine ministry includes a particularly significant gesture: the act of obedience and fidelity of the universal Church to the new pope.

In 2013, during the Mass for the inauguration of Francis’ pontificate, this gesture was limited to the College of Cardinals. A delegation of cardinals approached the Argentine pontiff to express their reverence, obedience, and ecclesial communion.

However, at the Mass for the inauguration of Leo XIV’s pontificate, it will not be the cardinals who will pledge obedience to the new pope after the presentation of the pallium and the fisherman’s ring but rather a group of ”representatives of the people of God.”

Homily

The pope will then deliver his homily. This will be his first major liturgical address, which can be interpreted as a roadmap for the beginning of his Petrine ministry. The Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate officially marks the beginning of Leo XIV’s service as bishop of Rome and successor to St. Peter.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. The liturgy will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome. On May 25, he will take canonical possession of St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

The Mass on May 18 will be celebrated as established in the “Order of Rites of the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry as Bishop of Rome,” a liturgical book approved by Benedict XVI in 2005 and reformed by him in 2013.

“The beginning of the Petrine ministry is what the celebration of the coronation of the pope used to be. Now, popes are no longer crowned with the three-tiered tiara, worn until Paul VI, but rather begin their ministry as the successor of Peter,” Father Juan José Silvestre explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. Silvestre is a professor of liturgy in the University of Navarra’s theology department.

In addition, during this ceremony, Leo XIV will receive the pallium and the fisherman’s ring, two elements with profound theological and pastoral significance that mark the start of his pontificate.

The beginning of the pontificate also includes taking canonical possession of the other three papal basilicas, including St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of Rome and thus of the pope.

The taking possession of St. John Lateran Basilica will take place on May 25 and has a distinctive character. “It defines the Holy Father as such, or rather, it is a reminder that he is the bishop of Rome,” Silvestre noted.

“Just as a bishop, once appointed, has a period of two months to take possession of his cathedral, his seat, so the pope, as bishop, will also be received by the cathedral chapter and once seated in his cathedra [bishop’s throne or chair] in St. John Lateran of the Diocese of Rome, he will receive the expression of obedience and respect from a representative group from the Diocese of Rome,” he noted.

Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate

According to the program, the solemn ceremony on May 18 will begin inside St. Peter’s Basilica, before the Altar of Confession. “Pope Leo XIV will go before the tomb of the Apostle Peter to pray there in silence, moments before the solemn Mass for the initiation of his Petrine ministry as bishop of Rome,” Silvestre explained.

The patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome will also participate in this moment of recollection and prayer. Afterward, the liturgical procession to St. Peter’s Square will begin, led by the pope from inside the basilica to the outdoor altar where Mass will be celebrated.

During the procession, the “Laudes Regiae” (“Royal Praises”), a solemn litany of the saints appropriate for this occasion, is intoned. “It is a particular form of the Litany of the Saints in which the intercession of the saints is sought, grouped in distinct groups, to pray for the holiness of the pope,” the liturgical expert said.

This ancient liturgical chant accompanied Roman imperial victories in the distant past. It was revived by Emperor Charlemagne on Christmas Day in the year 800 during his coronation as emperor and has since become a solemn hymn for monarchical rites.

Also sung for the kings of France and the sovereigns of England until the Reformation, the “Laudes Regiae” evoke a central theological truth: All earthly power comes from God and must be exercised with humility and responsibility.

The pallium and the fisherman’s ring

One of the central moments of the rite is the presentation of the signs of the Petrine ministry, “the two elements that mark the beginning of the pontificate. Previously, the tiara was placed on the pope, but now the important elements are the papal pallium and the fisherman’s ring,” Silvestre related.

Both elements have profound theological and pastoral significance. “The pallium, which is a kind of stole or scarf, is made of sheep’s wool and represents the pope as a shepherd who carries the flock, that is, the Church, on his shoulders,” the liturgy expert explained.

Regarding the fisherman’s ring, the priest said that “it’s a kind of gold ring on which a representation of St. Peter in his boat and the pope's name are engraved.” This ring also has a practical function because “it is used to seal documents.” 

Until this Sunday’s Mass, the pontiff has been wearing his usual episcopal ring. After the rite of presentation of both elements, the College of Cardinals’ act of fidelity to the new pope will take place.

“We will see a representation of the cardinals — on behalf of the entire college — approach the Holy Father to express their reverence, obedience, and ecclesial communion,” Silvestre said.

Proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin

Another of the main features of this Mass marking the inauguration of the pontificate is the proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin, because “the successor of Peter is the pope of the Eastern Catholics and the Latin Catholics.”

After the inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s, Leo XIV will take possession of the other three papal basilicas. On Tuesday, May 20, he will take possession of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica. On Sunday, May 25, his second Regina Caeli will be celebrated, and on that same day he will take possession of the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.

The visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica on May 20 will focus on the veneration of the tomb of the apostle to the Gentiles: “We will see the pope pray at the tomb of St. Paul.”

Finally, the visit to St. Mary Major Basilica — where Pope Francis used to go and where he is buried — will include Marian devotion. “During his visit to St. Mary Major, Pope Leo XIV will venerate the most famous icon of the city of Rome, the ‘Salus Populi Romani’ [‘Protection of the Roman People’],” Silvestre added.

Universal and diplomatic dimension

In any case, Silvestre emphasized that the Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate will have a clearly universal character because it “emphasizes the Holy Father as the pastor of the universal Church.”

Therefore, in addition to thousands of faithful, heads of state, and diplomatic representatives from various countries will attend. “The Holy See has diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries,” the liturgical expert noted.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 16:41 pm (CNA).

When he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost used to take long walks through the Borgo neighborhood in Rome. He lived in a simple apartment on Via di Porta Angelica until less than two months ago, when he moved to another apartment building reserved for high-ranking Vatican officials in the Sant’Uffizio (Holy Office) building where the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is now located.

In this central Roman neighborhood, just steps from St. Peter’s Square, he also frequented the Omega Fitness Club, which since May 8 — when he was elected pope — has become the most famous gym in Rome.

Last week, like all the residents in the area, the gym’s president and founder, Alessandro Tamburlani, ran to St. Peter’s Square as soon as he heard about the white smoke. His joy was even greater when he saw one of the registered members of his fitness center appear on the balcony.

“I won’t hide the fact that I cheered wildly,” Tamburlani said with emotion and pride. “My joy was doubled or tripled. Joy to finally have a new Holy Father after the obligatory period of mourning we went through. And joy also to know that he’s a good person and, moreover, someone we all already knew here at the gym.”

The then-Cardinal Prevost — who, as is well known, is also a tennis player — spent his free time on the cardio machines, his favorite exercise. He sometimes also used the stationary bikes and treadmills designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and burn calories. 

“He was a person like so many other members. He dressed like everyone else, in simple gym clothes. He was often accompanied by his assistant so he could work out,” he related.

An athletic pope

Tamburlani didn’t hide his enthusiasm when he noted that having an athletic pope really showcases the need to lead a healthy life. “He’s a shining light that allows us all to say that, if he can do it, we can all manage to take care of ourselves and exercise,” he pointed out.

He said Leo XIV’s lifestyle can be a model for all: “In the modern life we lead, always in a hurry, too busy for our own good, he invites us to be aware of our bodies and begin to take control of them, guiding them toward an excellent experience that combines spirituality and sports training.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).

The Holy See press office released a new photograph of Pope Leo XIV on Friday, available for free download at this link.

In the image, the pontiff appears smiling, dressed in the traditional white cassock and the gold pectoral cross he wore during his first greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election as the successor of Peter on May 8.

The Vatican stated that “the image is provided free of charge and may only be reproduced for institutional purposes” and that “any use for commercial or other purposes is expressly prohibited.”

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations on May 10 had already published the official portrait of the Holy Father in which he appears wearing the red mozzetta, embroidered stole, rochet, and golden pectoral cross.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 11:59 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Friday said peaceful societies can be achieved if governments invested in families “founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman” in his first address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

Welcoming more than 100 ambassadors to an audience held inside the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, the Holy Father stated that resolving global inequalities as well as deep divisions between “continents, countries, and individual societies” starts in the home.

“This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman, ‘a small but genuine society, and prior to all civil society,’” he added, citing Rerum Novarum.

“Indeed, the Church can never be exempted from speaking the truth about humanity and the world, resorting whenever necessary to blunt language that may initially create misunderstanding,” he remarked.

In his May 16 audience with the diplomatic corps, the Holy Father said peace, justice, and truth are the “three essential words” and pillars of the Church’s evangelical mission and outreach and “the aim of the Holy See’s diplomacy” with states and sovereignties.

“The first word is peace,” he said. “All too often we consider it a ‘negative’ word, indicative only of the absence of war and conflict, since opposition is a perennial part of human nature, frequently leading us to live in a constant ‘state of conflict’ at home, at work, and in society.”

Reiterating his message of peace on the day of his May 8 election, the Holy Father told the ambassadors present at the gathering that peace, “the first gift of Christ,” is an “active and demanding gift” necessary for building relationships. 

“I believe that religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace,” he said. “This naturally requires full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person.” 

On justice, the Holy Father said working for peace first and foremost “requires acting justly.”   

He reminded government leaders about their responsibility to “build harmonious and peaceful civil societies” that uphold the dignity of every person. 

“No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike,” he continued.

The need for truth in a world faced with several multilayered crises, Pope Leo XIV — who identified himself as a “a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate” — said every person needs and yearns for the truth that “can never be separated from charity.”    

“Truth, then, does not create division but rather enables us to confront all the more resolutely the challenges of our time, such as migration, the ethical use of artificial intelligence, and the protection of our beloved planet Earth,” he added.

Commenting on Pope Leo XIV’s remarks on migration, European Union ambassador to the Holy See Martin Selmayr told EWTN News reporter Valentina Di Donato that the decision to put “emigration and immigration in the one context” clearly revealed the underlying Christian worldview of the Catholic Church’s “truly global pope” on such issues.

“He spoke about the dignity of everybody in society, in particular the more vulnerable ones,” Selmayr said. I think his name [Leo] and from what we saw today is that this is a pope — it’s my impression — who wants to play a role internationally.”

Toward the end of his speech, the Holy Father particularly expressed his hope for peace, justice, and truth to start in “places that suffer most grievously,” specifically in Ukraine and the Holy Land.

Following the papal audience, Russian ambassador to the Holy See Ivan Soltanovsky told Di Donato that the Vatican is a significant player in world affairs.

“The Vatican is certainly a very important international actor who has moral, political, psychological — I should say — power,” he said. “This is respected everywhere, including Russia.”

“We respect the role of the Holy See in offering its mediation facilities and in resolving humanitarian aspects,” he added.

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, has not ruled out the possibility of Pope Leo XIV traveling to Nicaea, located in the present-day Turkish town of Iznik, where the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council will be celebrated later this month.

“It’s an important moment for the Catholic Church and for ecumenism,” the Italian cardinal stated after noting that it could be the new pontiff’s first international destination.

“It was definitely planned that Pope Francis would go. I imagine Pope Leo will follow the same path,” he added, speaking with Vatican media on the sidelines of the event “Toward a Theology of Hope for and from Ukraine,” held at the Gregorian University on May 14–15, organized under the patronage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

The death of Pope Francis on April 21 had dashed the hopes of the Eastern Orthodox ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew, of being able to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with the bishop of Rome around May 24.

The pivotal ecclesial meeting, which took place in A.D. 325 at the initiative of Emperor Constantine, marked a milestone in the history of Christianity as the first ecumenical council of the Church, during which the Nicene Creed, the first official summary of Christian belief, was formulated.

Nonetheless, Patriarch Bartholomew did not rule out the possibility of a visit by Leo XIV. On May 8, during a tribute he received at the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens, Greece, he proposed an alternative plan to travel to Turkey at the end of November in observance of the feast of the patron saint of the ecuemenical patriarchate, St. Andrew, on Nov. 30.

He also indicated that he would be present at the Mass to inaugurate Leo XIV’s pontificate, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s.

Istanbul, a path to peace in Ukraine

On another note, Parolin also encouraged peace negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia during the meeting to be held in Turkey with the mediation of the United States.

He expressed his hope that the meeting planned for Istanbul could be “a serious starting point for ending the war.” 

“We always hope there are openings for peace,” Parolin said. “We are pleased that there is finally the possibility of a direct meeting. We hope that the existing issues can be resolved there and that a genuine peace process can begin.”

No immediate plans for a papal trip to Ukraine

Regarding a possible visit by Pope Leo XIV to Kyiv, Ukraine, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s telephone invitation Monday, the Vatican secretary of state indicated that it is still “premature” to consider such a possibility.

Pope Leo XIV “will continue, as he has done numerous times since the start of his pontificate, to call for an end to the war,” Parolin affirmed.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 18:03 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday lamented that today’s youth must deal with “relativism,” “emotional instability,” and “superficiality,” although he called for transforming these challenges of the contemporary age into “springboards.”

The pontiff received the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, on May 15 at the Vatican. He reminded them of the importance of experiencing teaching as a “ministry and mission” to help young people give their best according to God’s plan.

In his address, he listed the obstacles facing the younger generations: “Think of the isolation caused by rampant relational models increasingly marked by superficiality, individualism, and emotional instability; the spread of patterns of thought weakened by relativism; and the prevalence of rhythms and lifestyles in which there is not enough room for listening, reflection, and dialogue, at school, in the family, and sometimes among peers themselves, with consequent loneliness.”

These “demanding challenges,” he noted, must become “springboards” to “develop tools and adopt new languages to continue to touch the hearts of pupils, helping them and spurring them on to face every obstacle with courage in order to give the best of themselves in life, according to God’s plan.”

At the meeting, which took place against the backdrop of two special anniversaries: the third centenary of the promulgation of the bull In Apostolicae Dignitatis Solio, with which Benedict XIII approved the order and its rule (Jan. 26, 1725), and the 75th anniversary of Pius XII’s proclamation of St. John Baptist de La Salle as patron saint of educators (1950). 

“Young people of our time, like those of every age, are a volcano of life, energy, sentiments, and ideas. It can be seen from the wonderful things they are able to do, in so many fields. However, they also need help in order for this great wealth to grow in harmony and to overcome what, albeit in a different way to the past, can still hinder their healthy development,” he stated.

The American pontiff praised their presence, which continues to bring “the freshness of a rich and vast educational entity,” and focused in his address on the ministry and missionary dimension of teaching.

He thus quoted St. John Baptist de La Salle, who responded to the plea of ​​a layman, Adrian Nyel, who was struggling to keep his schools for the poor going.

“Your founder recognized in his request for help a sign of God; he accepted the challenge and set to work. Thus, beyond his own intentions and expectations, he brought to life a new teaching system: that of the Christian Schools, free and open to everyone,” the pope stated.

The pontiff also highlighted in his speech La Salle’s ability to respond creatively to the many difficulties of his time, also “venturing onto new and often unexplored paths,” and appreciated that this French saint and educator launched the “pedagogical revolution” of teaching directed at the entire class rather than individual students.

Another innovative element introduced by La Salle was “the adoption of French as the language of instruction; Sunday lessons, in which even young people forced to work on weekdays were able to participate; and the involvement of families in the school curriculum.”

This entire legacy, he emphasized, should serve as a model for today’s educators.

Under this premise, teacher training should be based on that principle so dear to La Salle: “teaching lived as ministry and mission, as [a form of consecrated life] in the Church.” 

Leo XIV also recalled the principle of “evangelizing by educating and educating by evangelizing,” ultimately emphasizing the importance of “synergy” among all the “formative components.”

Finally, he urged that “fruitful paths of holiness” be fostered and promoted among young people.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 16:03 pm (CNA).

The pontificate of Pope Leo XIV can bring new impetus to the Church’s evangelical mission in the world today, theologian and philosopher George Weigel said this week.    

Weigel held a public lecture on Wednesday at Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas — also known as the Angelicum — on the “10 Markers of a Church ‘Permanently in Mission,’” which highlighted criteria including the need for friendship with Christ, acceptance of the authority of divine revelation, the sacraments, the call to constant conversion of life, and a “liturgically-centred form of Catholic life.”

During the lecture, the American theologian expressed his hope that “the authentic Catholic reform” begun by Pope Leo XIII at the end of the 19th century will be “further accelerated” by Pope Leo XIV, whose papal inaugural Mass will take place on Sunday, May 18.

“Pope Leo XIV struck that missionary note in his presentation of himself to the Church and the world last Thursday evening when he called the Church to be faithful to Jesus Christ without fear,” Weigel said, reflecting on the new pontiff’s first “urbi et orbi” blessing. 

According to Weigel, Pope Leo XIV is an “absolutely pivotal figure” who has the ability, through his own pontificate, to carry out Pope Leo XIII’s vision of the Church as a “great institutional promoter and defender of basic human rights” in society.

In light of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical letter Rerum Novarum  — a key Vatican document outlining the foundations of Catholic social doctrine released on May 15, 1891 — Weigel propounded that “it is only Christ” who, through the Church, can be an intentional force of good and humanize the world amid suffering.

“The Church of the ‘new evangelization’ recognizes that in offering everyone the profoundly countercultural possibility of friendship with the Lord Jesus, it offers the postmodern world something postmodernity desperately needs — an encounter with the divine mercy,” he said.  

“The Gospel liberates postmodern humanity from its cynical nihilism, its skepticism, and its burden of guilt form of a tacit, if not inarticulate, understanding of the awfulness that humanity visited upon itself throughout the 20th century,” he added. 

The “Leonine revolution” that began in the Church more than 100 years ago should spur Catholics to go deeper into how to “engage the world in order to convert the world” as missionaries faithful to the Gospel, Weigel said on Wednesday. 

“A Church permanently on mission seeks to be a culture-forming [and] counterculture for the world, its healing, and its conversion,” he said, pointing out the ineffectiveness of a “church of maybe” that is timid, lukewarm, and lacks conviction.

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 15:33 pm (CNA).

In the first week of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, his preaching and speeches have featured quotations from saints and Church Fathers from St. Ignatius of Antioch to St. Gregory the Great.

The Catholic Church’s first pope from the Augustinian order is already helping to educate the faithful through his deep knowledge of the Church Fathers. Here is who he has been citing in the foundation-setting first week of his pontificate.

St. Augustine (354–430)

Catholics are virtually guaranteed to be hearing a lot more great quotes from St. Augustine in the upcoming years of this pontificate. 

In his first appearance on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, Pope Leo said: “I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’”

Leo gifted us with another classic St. Augustine quote again during his speech to journalists on May 12: “Let us live well and the times will be good. We are the times (Discourse 80.8).”

His papal motto under his coat of arms also features a line from St. Augustine, “In Illo uno unum,” which means “In the One, we are one.” It comes from a discussion of Psalm 128 (127 in the Latin Vulgate) in Augustine’s “Expositions of the Psalms”: “It is not as though he were one and we many; no, we who are many are one in him, who is one.”

St. Ignatius of Antioch (second century)

In his first Mass as pope, Leo XIV identified himself as the successor of Peter with St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was famously martyred by being thrown to the lions. 

In his homily in the Sistine Chapel on May 9 he reflected on a line from St. Ignatius of Antioch’s second-century “Letter to the Romans”: “Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body.” 

“I say this first of all to myself, as the successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as bishop of Rome and, according to the well-known expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, am called to preside in charity over the universal Church (cf. Letter to the Romans, Prologue),” Leo said. 

“St. Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city, the place of his impending sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: ‘Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body’ (Letter to the Romans, IV, 1).

“Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena — and so it happened — but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.”

St. Gregory the Great (540–604)

In Pope Leo’s first Regina Caeli address in which he sang the famous Marian prayer in Latin, he also quoted St. Gregory the Great, who he said teaches people to “respond to the love of those who love them (Homily 14:3-6).”

St. Ephrem the Syrian (306–373)

In Pope Leo XIV’s speech to the Eastern Catholic Churches, he cited the writings of several Eastern Church Fathers, among them St. Ephrem the Syrian, who is a theologian venerated in both the Catholic Church and Orthodox churches, especially in Syriac Christianity.

Pope Leo said: “Together, we can pray with St. Ephrem the Syrian and say to the Lord Jesus: ‘Glory to you, who laid your cross as a bridge over death… Glory to you who clothed yourself in the body of mortal man, and made it the source of life for all mortals’ (Homily on Our Lord, 9).”

St. Isaac of Nineveh (613–700)

Notably, Pope Leo also chose to quote St. Isaac of Nineveh, a seventh-century Assyrian bishop venerated across Christian traditions, whom Pope Francis added to the Roman Martyrology last November during a meeting with Mar Awa III, Catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

Pope Leo XIV said: “We must ask, then, for the grace to see the certainty of Easter in every trial of life and not to lose heart, remembering, as another great Eastern Father wrote, that ‘the greatest sin is not to believe in the power of the Resurrection’ (St. Isaac Of Nineveh, Sermones ascetici, I, 5).”

St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022)

In his speech to the Eastern Churches, Pope Leo also quoted an Eastern Orthodox monk, St. Symeon the New Theologian, who is also venerated in the Byzantine Catholic Churches.  

The pope said that St. Symeon used an eloquent image: “‘Just as one who throws dust on the flame of a burning furnace extinguishes it, so the cares of this life and every kind of attachment to petty and worthless things destroy the warmth of the heart that was initially kindled’ (Practical and Theological Chapters, 63).”

St. John Paul II (1920–2005)

The new pope has not limited himself only to citing early Church Fathers. Pope Leo also echoed the famous words of St. John Paul II from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Do not be afraid!”

John Paul II first spoke these words during his inaugural Mass on Oct. 22, 1978, saying: “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man.’ He alone knows it.” 

The Polish pontiff went on to repeat the phrase “Do not be afraid” many times throughout his pontificate.

Pope Leo XIV used the words in his first Regina Caeli address when discussing the need for prayer for more vocations among young people. “And to young people, I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!” Pope Leo XIV said.

Pope Leo also quoted John Paul II in his speech to Eastern Catholic Churches, telling them: “Truly you have ‘a unique and privileged role as the original setting where the Church was born.’”

St. Paul VI (1897–1978)

In his May 10 speech to the cardinals who elected him, Pope Leo said: “Dear brothers, I would like to conclude the first part of our meeting by making my own — and proposing to you as well — the hope that St. Paul VI expressed at the inauguration of his Petrine ministry in 1963: ‘May it pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of goodwill. May it shed light on paths of mutual cooperation and bless humanity abundantly, now and always, with the very strength of God, without whose help nothing is valid, nothing is holy’ (Message Qui Fausto Die addressed to the entire human family, 22 June 1963).”

St. Peter (first century)

It has been evident that Pope Leo has been doing a lot of praying and reflecting on the Petrine ministry and looking to past saint-popes for guidance. 

His first homily at his first Mass as pope focused on the relationship between St. Peter and Jesus, specifically Jesus’ question to St. Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter’s response: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).

Pope Leo XIV also made the choice to offer one of his first private Masses in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica at the tomb of St. Peter on May 11.

Blessed Virgin Mary 

Pope Leo XIV also highlighted that he was elected on the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. In his very first appearance as pope from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pope asked the crowd to pray a Hail Mary together with him before giving the solemn “urbi et orbi” blessing in Latin.

He said: “Today is the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.”

One of his first surprises as pope was making a spontaneous pilgrimage to a Marian shrine outside of Rome, the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy.

“I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has entrusted to me, to carry out this mission as the successor of Peter,” Leo told those present.

“As the Mother never abandons her children, you must also be faithful to the Mother,” he said.

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 13:25 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV earned his doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, where his thesis on the leadership of the Augustinian order may give insight into how the new pope will govern the Catholic Church, according to the university’s rector.

In an interview with EWTN News, Dominican Father Thomas Joseph White said he imagines that Leo XIV’s canon law formation will influence his governance as pope by providing “a balance between being consultative and making final decisions,” balance that would be familiar to Leo after 12 years of experience leading a religious order.

White, the university’s first American rector, also pointed out that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Leo XIV did their doctoral work at the Angelicum, as it’s commonly called: “For our university, it’s just an unspeakable honor that we’ve been involved in the formation of two of the last four popes.”

Leo studied for a canonical licentiate (the coursework for a doctorate) at the Angelicum from 1981 to 1983 after making his solemn vows in the Order of St. Augustine in August 1981. He was ordained a priest in June 1982, in the midst of his studies, and in 1985 he completed his doctorate with a thesis titled “The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine.”

According to White, Father Prevost’s thesis has a vision that could be extended beyond the Augustinian rule and the role of the order’s prior to be applied to the episcopacy, and even to the papacy.

“It’s a really mature work of a 30-year-old who’s extremely learned, very well read, and deeply thoughtful and spiritual,” the Dominican said.

The thesis, he explained, reflects “on obedience and authority in the Catholic Church and the communal nature of shared life, or communion of persons, the respect of conscience, the respect of the human persons, gifts, the talents of the brethren, and also the limitations or sufferings of the brethren, and how the prior is supposed to refer himself to Christ and to the rule, and cultivate a selfless way of life for the service of the common good of all.”

The pope’s doctoral writing also explores, according to White, how the superior of a religious order must respect the consciences of the order’s members, working with the freedom of each person while ultimately having “the responsibility to make final decisions and to assure the communion and unity of the group in question.”

Then-Father Prevost studied at the Angelicum during what White called “the golden age of our canon law faculty.” The university’s canon law professors in the early ’80s helped Pope John Paul II prepare and edit the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which is still in effect today.

He said what is evident from the future pope’s thesis is that he learned a theory of obedience where “obedience is something exerted through the life of the mind, open to the truth of the faith, the truth indicated by the rule of life, and the will is to consent freely by understanding a shared truth the community wants to live together.”

The rector called it a balanced but “demanding version of obedience,” very respectful of people in the context of a shared set of goals based on the truths of the Catholic faith.

“So his Dominican vision of obedience, if I could put it that way, and his study as a canonist in the Augustinian friars, that’s something that probably is really deep in him and probably very helpful,” White noted.

The topic of Pope Leo XIV’s thesis on the prior general of the Augustinians later became of greater practical significance when then-Father Prevost was himself elected prior general in 2001, leading the order until 2013.

“It’s really interesting,” White noted, “how God prepared him for this kind of task of being a leader in the Catholic Church who’s respectful of [everyone].”

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is expected to move into the official papal residence, an apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, departing from the living arrangements used by Pope Francis for 12 years.

The papal apartment, which is a series of rooms wrapping around the Vatican’s Sixtus V Courtyard, was the traditional home of pontiffs for over a century before Pope Francis eschewed those living quarters for a suite in the Vatican’s guesthouse, the Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis explained his decision as “a need to live my life with others” in a 2013 interview. The late pope said the papal apartment is “old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious.”

Francis’ choice of living space was commonly interpreted as a sign of his simplicity and rejection of papal pomp, though U.S. Jesuit Father James Martin said Leo’s expected move into the papal apartment was a prudent decision.

Martin called it understandable that Leo might move back into the Apostolic Palace, given the busy and crowded nature of the Vatican guesthouse compared with the privacy of the papal apartment.

“Leo’s move should not be taken as a sign either of a critique of Pope Francis (whom he has praised repeatedly and whose legacy he formally told the cardinals he wishes to continue) or as him not living ‘simply,’” the author wrote on X.

Pope Francis lived in a second-floor bedroom with a sitting room attached but would go frequently to the Apostolic Palace for meetings and audiences. Toward the end of his pontificate, he would also receive visitors in various meeting rooms of the guesthouse.

According to people who have been there, the Santa Marta guesthouse posed significant security challenges, and when the pope made it his official residence after his 2013 election, a section of the second floor was closed to guests for security.

The quarters in the Apostolic Palace include a chapel, bedroom and bathroom, papal study, office for the pope’s secretary, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and library for meetings. Since John Paul II’s pontificate, which ended in illness, the apartment has also included an outfitted medical suite that was later expanded to include dental equipment. There is also a roof garden and rooms for housekeeping staff.

The Apostolic Palace is a large building situated just to the northeast of St. Peter’s Basilica, inside Vatican City. One corner of the building overlooks St. Peter’s Square.

Besides the papal apartment, the Apostolic Palace — also sometimes called the Palace of Sixtus V for the pope who had most of it built — contains Vatican offices, the Vatican library, and some of the rooms now part of the Vatican Museums.

Several of the windows of the papal apartment overlook St. Peter’s Square, including the window at which recent popes, including Pope Francis, would appear weekly on Sundays and holy days to pray the Angelus or Regina Caeli and give a brief reflection. On May 11, Pope Leo sang the Regina Caeli from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time.

Following recent convention, the papal apartment will likely undergo some renovations and customization prior to Leo’s move-in. Since his election, the pope has been continuing to sleep in the Vatican apartment he used as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which is in the Palazzo Sant’Uffizio, the building that also houses the offices of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday briefly discussed the revision of Opus Dei’s statutes with the apostolate’s prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, a revision that was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, two days before the convening of Opus Dei’s general congress, from which the revisions proposed for approval were to be issued.

According to the Opus Dei communications office in Rome, the May 14 encounter was “a brief meeting in which the pope expressed his closeness and affection.”

“In a familial atmosphere of trust, Leo XIV gave the prelate and the auxiliary vicar his paternal blessing” and, at the end of the audience, mentioned “the feasts of Our Lady celebrated on the day of his election,” the statement reads.

During the meeting, in which Ocáriz was accompanied by his auxiliary vicar, Monsignor Mariano Fazio, one of the topics discussed was the delayed statutory revisions.

“Among other topics, the Holy Father asked about the current study of the statutes of the prelature and listened with great interest to the explanations given to him,” the official statement noted.

Opus Dei had planned to revise its statutes to adapt them to Pope Francis’ motu proprio Ad Charisma Tuendum. In essence, the pope’s directive placed Opus Dei under the direction of the Dicastery for the Clergy rather than the Dicastery for Bishops and ended the practice of elevating the prelate of Opus Dei to the rank of bishop.

Pope Francis had also requested that Opus Dei revise its statutes to reflect this new structure, which was to be finalized during the general congress. This revision was to be presented as a proposal to the Holy See for approval following its adoption by the assembly.

However, the general congress ultimately focused solely on the tasks of choosing a new general council and central advisory board, positions that are selected every eight years.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

CNA Staff, May 14, 2025 / 14:48 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV met Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner at the Vatican on Wednesday. 

Photos shared by Vatican News show the newly elected pope, who has described himself as “quite the amateur tennis player,” warmly greeting the 23-year-old Italian and his family as well as the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, Alberto Binaghi.

Sinner, who is ranked No. 1 in the world, is from a predominantly German-speaking region in Italy’s far north. He became the first Italian man to win a major tennis title since 1976 when he bested Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open in 2024, earning kudos from the late Pope Francis. 

Sinner is currently competing in the 2025 Italian Open, taking place in Rome. 

Greeting the pope in a room off the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, Sinner presented Pope Leo with a tennis racket and ball and asked the pope in Italian if he wanted to play. 

The pope responded: “Here we’ll break something. Best not to!”

Leo also joked that “Wimbledon would let” him compete in his white cassock, a reference to the famous rule at the All England Club tennis tournament that players must wear white.

The pope had previously been asked by journalists about whether he would like to play tennis again — perhaps a charity match — and “seemed game” but quipped that “we can’t invite Sinner,” in an apparent pun on the English meaning of Sinner’s last name, the AP reported Monday. 

When asked about the pope’s comment, Sinner genially responded that it’s “a good thing for us tennis players” that Leo likes the sport and expressed openness to hitting with the pontiff in the future.

ACI Prensa Staff, May 14, 2025 / 14:18 pm (CNA).

The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV has decided to “maintain an active presence on social media through official papal accounts” on X @Pontifex and Instagram, creating a new one for the latter platform.

In a statement May 13, the Dicastery for Communication said “Leo XIV inherits the X @Pontifex accounts used by Pope Francis and previously by Benedict XVI,” and a new account has also been opened on Instagram.

“On Instagram, the new pope’s account is called @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV, and is the only official account of the Holy Father on this platform in continuity with Pope Francis’ account, @Franciscus,” the dicastery noted, adding that the content published by Pope Francis on X “will soon be archived in the appropriate section of the Holy See’s institutional website,” Vatican.va.

It also added that “the content published on the @Franciscus account will continue to be accessible as an ‘Ad Memoriam’ commemorative archive.”

The Vatican noted that “the presence of the popes on social media began on Dec. 12, 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI launched the @Pontifex account on what was then Twitter.”

The account, which is published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic, and Latin, “has a total of 52 million followers.”

The dicastery highlighted Pope Francis’ activity on social media, with “a total of approximately 50,000 posts published on the nine @Pontifex accounts and on @Franciscus.”

“In this way, he has accompanied us almost every day of his pontificate with brief evangelical messages or exhortations for peace, social justice, and care for creation; and he has achieved great engagement, especially in difficult times (in 2020, a year of exceptional numbers due to the pandemic, his messages were viewed 27 billion times),” the dicastery stated.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 14, 2025 / 12:12 pm (CNA).

Prior to his elevation to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV stayed out of the spotlight on certain reforms backed by his predecessor but maintained a close relationship with Pope Francis and support for pro-life values, the dignity of migrants, care for the environment, and a more synodal Catholic Church.

Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was appointed as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015 and took on major leadership roles in the Vatican from 2023 through 2025: prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops, where he provided guidance on appointing bishops and cardinals; and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where he oversaw the Vatican’s relations with the Church in the region.

In the past, Leo has been critical of gender ideology, much like Francis. On issues related to homosexuality and same-sex blessings, Leo’s tone was very critical before his appointment as a cardinal but has since appeared to soften.

“He has not been a bishop of a diocese or a cardinal in the Roman Curia for long,” Susan Hanssen, a history professor at the University of Dallas, a Catholic institution, told CNA.

“He is not a ’senior cardinal,’” she said. “It was the choice of a relatively unknown figure.”

Joe Heschmeyer, an apologist at Catholic Answers, told CNA that Leo’s “liturgical motto stresses the need for our unity in Christ, so I have a strong hunch that one of the goals of his pontificate will be to restore more of a sense of unity and order to the Church.”

“One of the things that seems immediately clear about the new Roman pontiff is that he speaks clearly and gently,” he said. “Those are both crucial right now.”

Promoting a culture of life

Similar to Francis, Leo has been a consistent advocate for a culture of life. He has spoken out against abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty.

Leo became involved in the pro-life movement before joining the priesthood and was active in “Villanovans for Life,” the pro-life club at Villanova University, and has attended pro-life marches. He has also publicly spoken on the issue, including in social media posts.

In 2015, while attending the March for Life in Chiclayo, the now-pontiff posted on X that people must “defend human life at all times.” He also reshared several articles on X, including articles from CNA, about the sanctity of human life and opposition to abortion.

During a 2022 interview with La Republica, then-Bishop Prevost said that being pro-life for the entirety of life means that “the death penalty is inadmissible” and that seeking “blood for blood” is not the proper answer when trying to bring about justice.

Gender ideology and same-sex blessings

Prior to his pontificate, Leo spoke out about gender ideology and homosexuality.

While bishop of Chiclayo, the now-pontiff condemned the promotion of gender ideology in the public education system in Peru, according to the national Peruvian newspaper Diario Correo.

“It seeks to create genders that don’t exist, since God created men and women, and trying to confuse the ideas of nature will only harm families and individuals,” then-Bishop Prevost said in 2016, according to the article. 

“This campaign, apparently, is going to create a lot of confusion and do a lot of harm. We mustn’t confuse the importance of family and marriage with what others want to create, as if it were a right to do something that isn’t,” he said.

In 2012, when Leo was the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he said that Western mass media promotes “enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel; for example, abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia,” while speaking in an interview with Catholic News Service.

Leo further criticized the negative media portrayal of members of the clergy who support “the traditional definition of marriage” in the same interview. He criticized the positive portrayal of “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” He spoke about the need for the Church to learn how to evangelize in this environment.

However, after he became a cardinal in 2023, he told Catholic News Service: “Pope Francis has made it very clear that he doesn’t want people to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress, or whatever.” He noted that “doctrine hasn’t changed...but we are looking to be more welcoming."

After the Vatican authorized certain nonliturgical blessings of same-sex couples through the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, then-Cardinal Prevost said: “Each episcopal conference needs to have a certain authority” in determining how to implement the document, according to CBCP News. Prevost noted some African bishops believed “our cultural situation is such that the application of this document is just not going to work.”

Leo was the prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops during the cardinal appointment of Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, who authored Fiducia Supplicans. Yet, Fernández was a longtime friend of Francis and it’s unclear whether then-Archbishop Prevost had any role in his appointment.

Christopher Malloy, the author of the book “False Mercy” and chair of theology at the University of Dallas, told CNA he does not know what Leo “will emphasize in his pontificate” but said the “infallible teaching on the sexual act cannot change” and “God does not change his truth,” which is in line with Leo’s 2023 comments.

“The sexual act is ordained by God to be between one man and one woman who are married and who do not act against the end of the act, procreation,” Malloy said. “Any use of the sexual faculties that violates this principle is objectively evil and therefore harms the very persons engaged in the act.”

Continuity with Francis: synodality, immigration, environment

Leo promoted the Church’s Synod on Synodality in a 2023 interview with Vatican News. The synod brings bishops, priests, and laypeople together for conversations about how to approach certain issues in the Church.

“I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is very present in the Church at this time and is pushing us towards a renewal, and therefore we are called to the great responsibility of living what I call a new attitude,” then-Cardinal Prevost said. “It is not just a process, it is not just changing some ways of doing things, maybe holding more meetings before making a decision.”

On social media, Leo was outspoken in support of migrants and shared posts that criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Three of his five posts on X this year were criticizing those policies, including one post sharing an America Magazine article on Francis’ response to Vice President JD Vance on a Catholic approach to immigration.

Leo also served on the board of directors for Caritas Peru from 2022–2024, which provides humanitarian assistance to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It established a shelter for Venezuelan migrants in 2019.

However, in a homily given in the Chicago area last August, then-Cardinal Prevost also acknowledged certain problems that come from mass migration. He spoke about a large number of migrants in the small Italian town of Lampedusa, calling it “a huge problem,” and added: “It’s a problem worldwide, not only in this country.”

“There’s got to be a way to both solve the problem but also to treat people with respect,” he said, adding that everyone is given “the gift of being created in the image and likeness of God.”

As a cardinal, Prevost also spoke about environmental concerns, stressing a need to move “from words to actions,” according to a Vatican News article at the time. He said that “dominion over nature” should not become “tyrannical” but must be a “relationship of reciprocity” with the environment.

Speaking to CNA, Heschmeyer said: “On issues like caring for the environment and immigrants, I think we can expect Pope Leo to sound a lot like Pope Francis (and the Catechism of the Catholic Church).”

Some uncertainties remain

The Holy Father may need to navigate other subjects that he has not publicly weighed in on at this time, including Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which opened the door to Communion for Catholics who have been divorced and remarried in limited circumstances.

Additionally, Leo will be tasked with managing his predecessor’s motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which restricts access to the Traditional Latin Mass.

“While there have been some rumors that he celebrates the Latin Mass, they remain just that right now: rumors,” Heschmeyer said when asked whether there have been any indications on how Leo might handle those restrictions moving forward.

“What is clear is that he seems to have a traditional sensibility in terms of liturgy and vestments, and his Latin (as seen in his blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s and in his first Mass as pope) seems crisp and clear,” he added.

Hanssen told CNA “there are a lot of cross-currents flying around the infosphere” and said it’s still unclear how Leo may handle certain topics of contention within the Church.

“Just as it was at the beginning of the Francis papacy, it is unclear how Leo XIV will position himself with regard to the John Paul II project of the re-evangelization of culture, what approach he would take to reinvigorating Christianity in secular, modern culture in first world countries, in the USA and Europe, because this has never been his primary field of pastoral work,” Hanssen said.

Heschmeyer encouraged Catholics not to follow Leo’s papacy by “looking for faults” on issues of contention but to rather focus on what can be learned from the Holy Father. 

“Spiritually, it’s so much healthier if you try to figure out what you can learn from him and how his leadership can help your own spiritual journey,” he said.

Vatican City, May 14, 2025 / 11:29 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV urged thousands of Eastern Catholics from around the world, many of whom come from places experiencing violence, not to abandon their ancestral lands and assured them that he will do everything he can to bring peace there.

“I thank God for those Christians — Eastern and Latin alike — who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them. Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence. Please, let us strive for this!” he said May 14.

The meeting with members of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches took place in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, part of a three-day jubilee event that included seven Eastern-rite liturgies celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The Eastern Catholic Churches follow the pope but maintain worship and other practices similar to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Speaking of Christ’s peace as “reconciliation, forgiveness, and the courage to turn the page and start anew,” Leo said, “for my part, I will make every effort so that this peace may prevail.”

“The peoples of our world desire peace, and to their leaders I appeal with all my heart: Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!” the new pontiff said.

Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia was in the audience with Pope Leo on May 14. He told CNA afterward that the Ukrainian people have embraced Leo “with acclamation” during his first days.

“His first few words, upon election, this Sunday, and today’s words have really touched the hearts of people who are enduring a brutal genocidal aggression” in Ukraine, the archbishop added.

Gudziak referred to Leo’s remarks at his first Regina Caeli prayer on May 11, when the 69-year-old pope said: “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just, and lasting peace, as soon as possible. Let all the prisoners be freed and the children return to their own families.”

On that occasion, Leo also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for the freeing of hostages. He entrusted all conflicts around the world to the intercession of the Queen of Peace.

In Wednesday’s audience, the pontiff recalled the Church’s hope in the power of Christ’s resurrection, an emphasis during the Easter season for Eastern-rite Christians, many of whom come from countries experiencing conflict, like the Holy Land and Ukraine.

“Who, better than you, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?” Leo said. “Who, better than you, who have experienced the horrors of war so closely that Pope Francis referred to you as ‘martyr Churches’?”

“From the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Lebanon to Syria, from the Middle East to Tigray and the Caucasus, how much violence do we see!” the pope continued. “Rising up from this horror, from the slaughter of so many young people, which ought to provoke outrage because lives are being sacrificed in the name of military conquest, there resounds an appeal: the appeal not so much of the pope, but of Christ himself, who repeats: ‘Peace be with you!’”

Leo’s speech also urged Eastern Catholics, who are minorities and a very small percentage of the global Catholic Church, to remain strong in their traditions, “without attenuating them … lest they be corrupted by the mentality of consumerism and utilitarianism” prevalent in the West.

Speaking about the contribution of the Christian East, the pope praised the sense of mystery in the liturgies, “liturgies that engage the human person in his or her entirety, that sing of the beauty of salvation and evoke a sense of wonder at how God’s majesty embraces our human frailty!”

“Pope Leo,” Gudziak said, “was at pains to say, basically, you might not be statistically big, but you have a unique role to play in the Catholic community: Stay faithful to your traditions.”

“The subtext is that sometimes these Churches, many of which are persecuted, are suffering from war, from genocide — Churches that have been numerically reduced, Churches that are in danger of disappearing after being there for 2,000 years, still speaking and praying in Aramaic, the language of Jesus —  he was saying, hold on to this legacy. We need it. The whole Catholic Church needs it,” Gudziak added.

The Catholic Church needs the Eastern rites’ “focus on the Resurrection, the Christocentric experience of the Church,” the Ukrainian archbishop continued. “There’s no Church without Christ. You can’t just have sociological gatherings. If Christ is not there, it’s not the experience of the Church, it’s not the experience of salvation.”

The closing Divine Liturgy of the Jubilee of Eastern Christians was a Byzantine liturgy with the Melkite Greek, Ukrainian Greek, and Romanian Greek Catholic Churches, together with the other Churches of the Byzantine rite.

In his homily for the liturgy, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv, the primate of Ukraine, said: “We are all very touched by the meeting with the newly-elected Pope Leo. This morning we felt embraced by the Holy Father, consoled in our suffering … appreciated for our ancient Christian traditions, and encouraged in our evangelizing mission which we carry out in the contemporary world.”

On the new pope’s ability to promote peace in the Russian conflict with Ukraine, Gudziak noted that “today, many are saying maybe Pope Leo is not the most powerful American in the world, but he’s the most important American in the world, even though he doesn’t have [military] or financial or political resources.”

Vatican City, May 13, 2025 / 11:43 am (CNA).

The leadership of the Vatican’s synod office has pledged its full availability and support of Pope Leo XIV in a public letter to the new pontiff shared Tuesday to its website and social media pages.

Noting that the synodal journey “continues” under Leo’s guidance, the letter says the General Secretariat of the Synod looks “with confidence to the directions you will indicate, to help the Church grow as a community attentive to listening, close to each person, capable of authentic and welcoming relationships — a home and family of God open to all: a missionary synodal Church.”

Signed by Secretary-General Cardinal Mario Grech and undersecretaries Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, and Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, the letter explains the path the Synod on Synodality has taken since its start in 2021, including Pope Francis’ approval of the final document at the end of the general assembly in October 2024.

“The General Secretariat of the Synod remains fully available to offer its service in a spirit of collaboration and obedience,” it concluded.

As prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the now-Pope Leo XIV participated in both sessions of the assembly of the Synod on Synodality in October 2023 and October 2024.

Like Leo, Marín, one of the synod’s undersecretaries, is a member of the Order of St. Augustine.

The synod, the letter says, “is an ecclesial journey led by the Holy Spirit, the gift of the risen Lord, who helps us grow as a missionary Church, constantly undergoing conversion through attentive listening to the Gospel.”

The letter also quotes an accompanying note to the final document, which said the document’s indications “can already now be implemented in the local Churches and groupings of Churches, taking into account different contexts, what has already been done, and what remains to be done.”

Vatican City, May 13, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez of Chiclayo, Peru, had been planning a trip with his mother for months to visit various Marian shrines in Europe, such as Fátima, Medjugorje, and Lourdes, with of course a final stop in Rome.

What this diocesan priest could never have imagined was that his arrival in Rome would coincide with the election of “Bishop Roberto” Prevost as successor to St. Peter — the bishop who led his diocese for eight years and with whom he has a close friendship.

On the afternoon of Sunday, May 12, Pope Leo XIV made time in his busy schedule to welcome his friend Sánchez and Sánchez’s mother to the Vatican.

“The joy was immense; we were able to speak for a little over 30 minutes and give him a painting of Cuzco that we brought from Peru,” Sánchez told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

Leo XIV’s heartfelt gesture

Sánchez met with ACI Prensa at the curia general of the Augustinians in Rome, a few steps from the Vatican and where Pope Leo XIV resided when he was prior general of the order. Despite having recently assumed the Petrine ministry, the Holy Father found time for a heartfelt gesture: He personally requested that his friend and his friend’s mother be given accommodations at the Augustinian community.

This closeness, the Peruvian priest noted, is precisely what characterizes the pontiff: “Since he left Chiclayo, he always sends us a message on our birthdays, or when there is a priestly ordination. He also writes if he hears of a priest having a problem.”

Sánchez still recalls with visible emotion the moment of the white smoke. “I was with my mother at the Lourdes shrine and I was 90% certain that the Holy Spirit could give us Bishop Prevost as pope,” said the pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in the José Leonardo Ortíz district of Chiclayo.

“I was simply waiting for the cardinal’s name to be said, and when it was, my mother and I both wept for joy. Then we thanked God, and I wrote him a message. He hasn’t answered me yet, but his secretary told us to have a little patience, as he has received many messages.”

Love for priests, confidence in the young

Sánchez particularly highlighted the “love for the priests” that the now pope demonstrated as bishop of Chiclayo as well as his trust and commitment to young priests.

“We’re a young diocese, but we have many vocations. There are an average of about 80 or 85 priests, and he achieved a balance and harmony between the young and those who had been there for several years,” Sánchez emphasized.

He recalled the profound impact it had on him when years ago in the Chiclayo cathedral, he heard Prevost quote a line from St. Augustine, words that now Pope Leo XIV repeated in his first public appearance from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’” In this sense, Sánchez reflected, “we can all walk together toward that homeland that God has prepared for us.”

As Sánchez sees it, the pontiff chose this line because “in some ways, he felt a certain fear in assuming this responsibility, but also comfort in knowing that he is not alone but accompanied by his brothers in the faith.”

‘Always ready to listen’

The priest also recalled the new pope’s availability, always “ready to listen” and engage in conversation with anyone who needed it.

“While he listened to you, he looked at you and listened to you until you were finished.” And then “he gave you simple yet profound advice. He has a very special charism,” Sánchez noted.

During Prevost’s years as bishop of Chiclayo, the priest noted, “he gave us an example of service, humility, and simplicity.”

Pope Leo XIV’s profound spirituality and extensive formation, with degrees in mathematics, philosophy, and canon law, did not prevent “his daily dealings from being simple and open.” 

“Before leaving Chicago, he was already doing advanced German studies and is fluent in several languages. But within that intellectual level that surprised us and his preparation, his relationship with the faithful was very simple, I think due to his ability to listen. His words were simple but profound, always focused on the Gospel and Christ.”

Closeness to the poorest

Sánchez also highlighted Prevost’s closeness to the poorest and the common people. “He revived Caritas in Chiclayo, when it was practically defunct,” he noted.

Sánchez was moved when he spoke of Chiclayo’s “strong but simple” faith while emphasizing the new pope’s closeness to young laypeople. He recalled with a smile “there’s a very funny video of him singing with them at Christmas.”

“He had a great ability to reach young people. Now on social media, we can see, without exaggerating, thousands of people from Chiclayo who have a photo with him,” he related.

‘He often laughs heartily’

He also highlighted his moderate stance, one of the characteristics that, according to the Peruvian priest, “made Cardinal Prevost a candidate for papacy.”

“His election came quickly to show that there are no divisions in the Church, and I believe the Holy Father will achieve harmony,” he emphasized.

He also emphasized that he has “a good sense of humor.”

“He doesn’t tell jokes, but he often laughs heartily when there’s a funny anecdote.”

Finally, he noted that “we needed a pope whose pontificate could be longer,” something he hopes for from the pontificate of Leo XIV, who will turn 70 on Sept. 14.

“As they say at the Augustinian college, we will have a pope for a while, and if God allows it, at some point he will visit Peru, and for the first time a pope will come to the Diocese of Chiclayo,” he said with hope.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Rome Newsroom, May 12, 2025 / 14:24 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV traveled to several countries as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine between 2001 and 2013 and also as a member of a Vatican dicastery since 2019. 

Below are some of the countries (in alphabetical order) the Chicago-born pope has visited — or where he has been based for pastoral reasons — outside of the U.S. in the last three decades.

Australia

As prior general of the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV visited Australia in 2002 and 2005. 

In 2002, he visited the order’s Villanova College in Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane. In 2005, he traveled to New South Wales to visit his confreres and celebrate Mass in Holy Spirit Parish — whose pastoral care is entrusted to the Augustinians — in western Sydney.    

Democratic Republic of Congo

In 2009, Pope Leo inaugurated the Augustinian university in the country’s capital of Kinshasa, where he spoke about the importance of education and also met with families and communities in war-torn villages. He also visited his confreres in the Bas-Uélé province in the same year.  

India  

Pope Leo XIV traveled twice to India, in 2004 and 2006, when he was prior general of the Augustinians, visiting communities in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In 2004, he concelebrated the priestly ordination of six deacons belonging to his order in St. Francis Xavier Church in Kerala — the state where a significant number of Indian Catholics belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church live.

Indonesia

In 2003, Pope Leo XIV traveled to Papua, Indonesia, to celebrate an anniversary of the Order of St. Augustine in the Diocese of Sorong in Jayapura. During this stay, the former head of the Augustinians listened to the plight of those faced with armed conflict and civil unrest in the Papua region.

Kenya 

Pope Leo XIV was in Kenya in 2011, 2024, and 2025. In his 2024 visit to the African nation, the then-cardinal presided over the consecration and dedication of the chapel at Augustinian International House of Theology in Nairobi, reminding his listeners that the new church is “built on the rock which is our faith” and the need for each and every Catholic to “live in unity.”

Nigeria 

The Nigeria Catholic Network reported that Pope Leo has visited the African country at least nine times between 2001 and 2016, participating in a number of meetings in Abuja and beyond in order to establish and consolidate the Augustinian order’s Nigeria province. 

Peru 

Pope Leo was sent on mission in 1985 as a newly-ordained priest to Peru, where he was made the local prior for his religious community. Throughout the 1990s, he served the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Trujillo as judicial vicar and as a professor of canon law, patristics, and moral theology at the San Carlo and San Marcello seminary college.   

He returned to Peru in November 2014, after being in Chicago and Rome between 1999 and 2014, having been appointed by Pope Francis head the Diocese of Chiclayo. In 2020, he was also appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Callao. He remained in Peru until 2023 when he was called by the pope to work for the Roman Curia and eventually made a cardinal.  

Philippines

Pope Leo has made several visits to the Philippines — in 2002, 2010, and 2012 — as the prior general of the Augustinians. During one of his visits, the pope visited the country’s oldest church, the Santo Niño Basilica, in Cebu, which houses the renowned shrine of the Child Jesus. The Order of St. Augustine is recognized as the first group of missionaries who effectively helped establish Catholicism as the main religion on the Asian archipelago.   

South Korea

Augustinians in the Asia Pacific helped to establish their community in South Korea in 1985.  While still a newly-ordained priest and young missionary, Pope Leo took a flight to the Asian nation, though he was on holiday, to support his brothers when they were having difficulty setting up the mission in the country, Father John Sullivan, OSA, told The Catholic Leader.

Tanzania 

Pope Leo has visited the African nation of Tanzania more than five times. Tanzania’s national newspaper Daily News reported that the newly-elected pontiff had traveled to several places — even undertaking an approximately 468-mile road trip from Songea to Morogoro. 

“We got into the same car [in Songea], which he drove himself, and went to Morogoro, where he received the perpetual vows of three of our sisters (nuns) on Aug. 28, 2003,” Bishop Stephano Musomba told Daily News.

Vatican City, May 12, 2025 / 12:04 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have spoken on the phone following the pontiff’s plea for lasting peace in the country, the Vatican said Monday.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed that the two leaders had spoken after the pope expressed concern for Ukraine during his Sunday address delivered from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,” Pope Leo said on Sunday after singing the Regina Coeli prayer with approximately 100,000 people.

“May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just, and lasting peace, as soon as possible,” the Holy Father continued. “Let all the prisoners be freed and the children return to their own families.”

On Monday morning, Zelenskyy shared a photo on X of him purportedly having a telephone call with the new head of the Catholic Church from his office.

“I spoke with Pope Leo XIV,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X. “It was our first conversation but already a very warm and truly substantive one.”

After expressing gratitude to the Holy Father “for his support for Ukraine and all our people,” Zelenskyy said he and the pope specifically discussed the plight of thousands of children deported by Russia.

“Ukraine counts on the Vatican’s assistance in bringing them home to their families,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to work toward a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and the end of the war with Russia, the president said he also invited the Holy Father “to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine” during the phone call.

“Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people,” he said. “We agreed to stay in contact and plan [an] in-person meeting in the near future.”

Vatican City, May 12, 2025 / 09:22 am (CNA).

In his first address to international media on Monday, Pope Leo XIV thanked journalists for their service to the truth and for communicating peace in difficult times.

“We are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount. They present a challenge for all of us, but it is one that we should not run away from,” Leo said in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall on May 12. “On the contrary, they demand that each one of us, in our different roles and services, never give in to mediocrity.”

“Thank you, dear friends, for your service to the truth,” he said, also underlining the importance of preserving free speech and the free press.

In one of his first audiences, Pope Leo XIV met with several thousand members of the international press to thank them for their “long and tiring days” of work over the last few weeks as they reported on Pope Francis’ death, funeral, and the conclave.

Before his prepared remarks in Italian, the new pope spoke in English, thanking everyone for the warm reception and the applause. 

“They say when they clap at the beginning it doesn’t matter much… If you are still awake at the end, and still want to applaud… Thank you very much!” Leo said.

Turning to the present moment, Leo said: “The Church must face the challenges posed by the times. In the same way, communication and journalism do not exist outside of time and history. St. Augustine reminds of this when he said, ‘Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times’ (Discourse 311).”

The pontiff, elected May 8, also emphasized the important role of communications for promoting peace. 

“In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Mt 5:9). This is a beatitude that challenges all of us, but it is particularly relevant to you, calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it,” Leo said.

“Peace,” he continued, “begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”

According to the pope, one of the most important challenges for media today is promoting communication that moves away from the confusion of the “Tower of Babel” and the “loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”

“Your service, with the words you use and the style you adopt, is crucial,” he underlined. “As you know, communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion. In looking at how technology is developing, this mission becomes ever more necessary.”

He mentioned in particular the responsibility and discernment needed in the use of artificial intelligence — a responsibility that involves everyone according to his or her age.

On the topic of truth, Leo XIV reiterated the Church’s solidarity with journalists who have been imprisoned “for seeking to report the truth” and appealed for their release.

“The Church recognizes in these witnesses — I am thinking of those who report on war even at the cost of their lives — the courage of those who defend dignity, justice, and the right of people to be informed, because only informed individuals can make free choices,” he said. “The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.”

Vatican City, May 11, 2025 / 06:51 am (CNA).

“To young people I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!” declared Pope Leo XIV to thunderous applause during his first Regina Coeli address as an extraordinary crowd of jubilant pilgrims packed St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.

The spontaneous call to young people from the first U.S.-born pope echoed the famous words of St. John Paul II in 1978.

On Sunday, Leo’s call — to an estimated crowd of 100,000 people — came during an address that coincided with Good Shepherd Sunday, which the new pontiff called “a gift from God” for his inaugural Sunday as bishop of Rome.

The sound of marching bands and cheerful pilgrims resonated throughout the Vatican as an exuberant, celebratory atmosphere filled the piazza and the surrounding streets. Participants in the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment, specially welcomed by the pope, provided melodious moments throughout the gathering. Huge crowds poured into the square on a warm Roman spring day with spontaneous cheers of “Viva il Papa” erupting repeatedly.

“I consider it a gift from God that the first Sunday of my service as bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter,” Pope Leo said, prompting another wave of enthusiastic applause.

“In this Sunday always is proclaimed in the Mass the Gospel of John, chapter 10, in which Jesus reveals himself as the true Shepherd, who knows and loves his sheep and for them gives his life.”

The pope noted that this Sunday also marks the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a day focused on praying for those called to religious life and priesthood.

“Today, brothers and sisters, I have the joy of praying with you and all the people of God for vocations, especially those to the priesthood and religious life. The Church has such a great need for them!” the pope said.

Leo XIV emphasized the importance of young people finding “acceptance, listening, and encouragement in their vocational journey” within Catholic communities and having “credible models of generous dedication to God and to their brothers and sisters.”

The pope specifically acknowledged the Jubilee of Bands and Popular Entertainment being hosted in Rome on Sunday. “I greet with affection all these pilgrims and thank them because, with their music and their performances, they enliven the feast of Christ the Good Shepherd,” he said as musical groups in the square responded with brief, spirited performances.

Referencing Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Leo encouraged Catholics to welcome and accompany young people discerning their calling.

“Let us ask our heavenly Father to assist us in living in service to one another, each according to his or her state of life, shepherds after his own heart, capable of helping one another to walk in love and truth,” he said.

In a particularly animated moment, the pope addressed young people directly: “To young people I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!” The crowd responded with sustained applause.

The Regina Coeli prayer replaces the Angelus during the Easter season. Pope Leo invoked the Virgin Mary, “whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call,” to accompany all in following Jesus. He masterfully sang the Regina Coeli in mellifluous Latin before imparting his blessing. The crowd erupted in shouts of “Viva il Papa!”

The pontiff then spoke solemnly about the tragedy of the Second World War, which ended on May 8, 1945. “We are now confronting a third world war piecemeal as Pope Francis reminded us,” he said. “As Pope Paul VI said: War no more!”

“I hold close to my heart the suffering of the poor people in Ukraine, that they might find a true and lasting peace,” he continued. He also called for an end to the violence in Gaza and prayed for all those taken hostage to be released. “And I rejoice at the recent peace made between India and Pakistan.” He said he hoped for a lasting accord.

Pope Leo greeted “with affection all of you, those from Rome and the pilgrims from various countries,” mentioning countries and groups by name to cheers and applause from the square.

Leo also acknowledged that Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries. “I send a special greeting to all mothers for all they give to us,” he said, prompting warm applause.

The pope thanked everyone and wished everyone a “buona Domenica” and a happy Sunday. He spent a few moments gratefully smiling and acknowledging the ecstatic, warm reception before departing.

Following the Regina Coeli, the pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and greet journalists who covered the conclave on Monday.

Morning Mass near the tomb of St. Peter

Earlier Sunday morning, Pope Leo celebrated Mass at the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica at the altar near the tomb of St. Peter. He concelebrated with the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, Father Alejandro Moral Antón. After Mass, the Holy Father paused to pray at the tombs of his predecessors and visited the niche of the Pallia. These woolen stoles symbolize the unity between the pope and metropolitan archbishops worldwide.

This story was updated on May 11, 2025, with further images and details.

Vatican City, May 10, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).

The Vatican unveiled Pope Leo XIV’s official portrait and signature Saturday, revealing the American pontiff’s embrace of traditional papal elements just two days after his historic election.

The formal portrait shows the 69-year-old pope wearing the red mozzetta (short cape), embroidered stole, white rochet, and golden pectoral cross — traditional papal vesture that present a visual contrast to the simpler style preferred by his predecessor.

Vatican Media published the portrait alongside the pope’s personal signature, which includes the notation “P.P.” — an abbreviation traditionally used in papal signatures that stands for “Pastor Pastorum” (“Shepherd of Shepherds”). Pope Francis had departed from this convention, signing simply as “Franciscus.”

This return to traditional elements accompanies Leo’s papal coat of arms.

The heraldic design features a fleur-de-lis on a blue background, symbolizing the Virgin Mary, while the right side displays a heart pieced by an arrow, resting on a book against a cream background. This is based on the traditional symbol of the Augustinian order.

The fleur-de-lis has particular significance in Catholic iconography as a symbol of purity and the Virgin Mary.

The three-petaled lily design has also been connected to the Holy Trinity. It is prominently featured in French heraldry, which may hold personal meaning for the pope, who has French ancestry through his father’s lineage.

Beneath the shield runs a scroll displaying the pope’s episcopal motto: “In illo uno unum” (“In the one Christ we are one”), a phrase taken from St. Augustine’s commentary on Psalm 127. The motto reflects Leo’s roots in the Augustinian order and his commitment to unity in the Church.

These profound presentations of papal symbols — the portrait, signature, and coat of arms — traditionally occur in the early days of a new pontificate and provide insights into the theological priorities and pastoral style the new pope intends to emphasize.

Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, made history on May 8 after becoming the first U.S.-born pope.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story described the heart in the coat of arms as a rendering of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The story was updated on May 12, 2025, at 11:24 a.m. ET to reflect the fact that it is a heart pierced by an arrow, a traditional symbol of the Augustinian order.

CNA Staff, May 10, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s pontifical name is a reflection of his intent to lead the Catholic Church with a “clear vision” amid a turbulent world, Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni said Friday.

The Italian prelate, who was one of the voting members of the conclave that elected Leo to the papacy this week, told EWTN News Vice President and Editorial Director Matthew Bunson in Rome that the cardinals were “surprised by the name” chosen by the new pope, born Robert Prevost.

But “it [was] a wonderful surprise,” the cardinal said.

“I asked him why he took this name,” Filoni said. “He’s an Augustinian. ... He told me: ‘In this moment, we need a man with a clear vision of the Church.’”

Filoni pointed to what was until this week the most recent Leonine pope, Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903 during a time of great global upheaval and change.

“[It was] a moment when society was reorganizing itself, especially the social [aspects] and the work, the organization,” Filoni said.

Leo XIII worked to articulate the social positions of the Catholic Church in the midst of those transformations, including with the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which in part addressed deplorable working conditions and asserted the rights of workers.

Leo XIII has been hailed for decades as the “social pope” for those efforts. Filoni also pointed out that Pope Leo I — who served in the fifth century — is remembered as “Leone Magno,” or “Leo the Great,” and who among his accomplishments worked to clarify doctrines related to Christ’s human and divine natures.

“I think [Leo XIV] had a lot of these aspects in his heart” in picking his name, Filoni said. “And we will see it.”

The cardinal further noted the new pope’s first address to the world, which he opened with: “Peace be with you all.”

Filoni — the grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre — said the significance of this blessing cannot be missed, particularly in the context of ongoing unrest in the Holy Land.

“I am sure it will remain an essential part of his pontificate, but not in the sense of a sociological aspect or political aspect,” he said.

“If there is no peace of the Lord, men never will make peace,” he said. “They will make an agreement [and] after a while it will be completely abandoned. So he put at the center of peace the person of Jesus, the risen Lord.”

Vatican City, May 10, 2025 / 08:15 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV met with the College of Cardinals on Saturday morning for his first official address since his election, outlining key priorities for his pontificate in the age of artificial intelligence while emphasizing continuity with his predecessors and commitment to the Church’s social teaching.

The U.S.-born pontiff, speaking in Italian, explained his choice of papal name, noting that Pope Leo XIII “addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution” with his encyclical Rerum Novarum.

“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor,” Pope Leo said.

The 69-year-old pope began the meeting with a prayer, expressing his gratitude to the cardinals while acknowledging his own limitations in assuming the papacy.

“You, dear cardinals, are the closest collaborators of the pope. This has proved a great comfort to me in accepting a yoke clearly far beyond my own limited powers, as it would be for any of us,” he said.

The pope specifically thanked Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, for their service during the sede vacante period.

In his address, Pope Leo emphasized his commitment to continuing the Church’s path following the Second Vatican Council, specifically highlighting Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium as providing “masterful and concrete” direction.

The pope identified several fundamental principles to guide his pontificate, “the return to the primacy of Christ in proclamation; the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community; growth in collegiality and synodality; attention to the sensus fidei, especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, such as popular piety; loving care for the least and the rejected; courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world.”

After his prepared remarks, the Holy Father engaged in a dialogue session with the cardinals, discussing “advice, suggestions, proposals, concrete things” raised during the pre-conclave meetings.

Pope Leo concluded by quoting St. Paul VI’s hope expressed at the beginning of his pontificate in 1963, praying that the Church would “pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of goodwill.”

Rome Newsroom, May 10, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo described Pope Leo XIV as a “solid, discreet, and good worker” and expressed confidence that the new pontiff will continue to be “bold” in addressing the needs of today’s world in comments made shortly after the May 8 conclave that elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the Church’s 267th pope.

Speaking with ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner, on the streets of Rome, the bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica — who participated as a cardinal elector — said the College of Cardinals entered the conclave with openness to the Holy Spirit, not political calculation.

“It’s precisely this: We weren’t thinking at all about strategies or political tactics,” Bustillo said.

“We were trusting and wanted not our own good, not the good of us cardinals, but wanted the good of the people of God, and I think we succeeded in giving a good pope to the Church — and this was our objective.”

The cardinal highlighted the significance of the date of Leo’s election. May 8 is marked across much of Europe as Victory in Europe Day, commemorating the end of World War II.

“Our world needs peace — there’s too much violence in our lives, in our families, everywhere, even in international geopolitics — and so there’s a need for peace,” he said. “The pope was right to recall the meaning of peace, and the mission of the Church is to foster peace.”

When asked about similarities between Leo XIV and his predecessor, Pope Francis, Bustillo pointed to their shared pastoral outlook.

“He reminds me of Pope Francis in his contact with people, in his vision of the world, and in his understanding of the Church’s response to the world,” he said. “That’s what’s important.”

Bustillo emphasized that the conclave, which concluded in under 24 hours, was marked by spiritual clarity and fraternal unity.

“He is the pope the Holy Spirit has given us — in less than 24 hours we elected the pope, and there were neither tactics nor strategies. There was freedom and trust,” he said.

Reflecting on the Church’s challenges, Bustillo voiced hope that Leo XIV would offer meaningful guidance for a restless world.

“Faith in a world that is very materialistic, hedonistic — we need to find a spirituality, a soul, in this world that functions but does not live,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 10, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The election of Leo XIV was enthusiastically received by Caritas Internationalis, which expressed its support for the new pontiff and reaffirmed its readiness to walk alongside the new pope “in a spirit of service and synodality,” recognizing his election as a sign of both continuity and renewal in the ecclesial commitment to the most vulnerable.

“We offer our heartfelt prayers at the beginning of his sacred ministry and we pledge to follow and support him in a spirit of service and synodality, so that in guiding the Church, he may be a visible foundation of unity in faith and communion in charity, ‘building bridges through dialogue’ as we build a synodal Church, walking together, for greater peace and charity, close to those who suffer,” the Catholic organization said in a statement.

Caritas Internationalis also emphasized the significance of the new pope choosing to be called Leo just a few days before the 134th anniversary of Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, which gave rise to the Church’s social teaching.

“The choice of the name Leo is deeply significant as we approach the 134th anniversary of Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum on May 17, a clear commitment to the social apostolate of the Church and Catholic social teaching,” the statement said.

Caritas Internationalis also stated that its mission is closely linked to charity as an essential expression of the Church’s inner being: “‘As the service of charity is a constitutive element of the Church’s mission and an indispensable expression of her very being’ (Intima Ecclesiae Natura), this new chapter invites us to renew our mission — to witness the love of Christ through concrete acts of compassion, justice, and hope for the world’s most vulnerable, with the dignity of every person at the center, hearing ‘both to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’ (Laudato Si’, 49).”

The president of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, emphasized that the confederation is not just an aid agency but “a manifestation of God’s love in action.”

Along the same lines, the organization’s secretary-general, Alistair Dutton, celebrated the beginning of Leo XIV’s pontificate: “This is an exciting moment for the Church and the world. Pope Leo’s immediate identification with issues of peace, solidarity, dialogue, and charity, and particularly his commitment to people who suffer, is an early indication to his commitment to a missionary Church for the poor and social justice.”

The new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has a long background in pastoral and charitable work. Born in Chicago, he served as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. From 2022 to 2024, he also served on the board of directors of Caritas Peru.

Sean Callahan, president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) — a member of Caritas Internationalis — also expressed his joy at the election: “We are overjoyed by the election of Pope Leo XIV and look forward to his leadership and guidance. As the first pope born in the United States, this is a momentous occasion for American Catholics and, as the humanitarian organization for the U.S. Church, CRS is proud to mark his historic election.”

Rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Caritas Internationalis is a global confederation present in more than 200 countries.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

CNA Deutsch, May 10, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has candidly confessed he “didn’t expect” the election of Pope Leo XIV, praising the new pontiff’s “warmth and humanity” while expressing hope for theological clarity concerning synodality.

Speaking to EWTN News after attending the new pope’s first Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, the German cardinal reflected on the conclave process that yielded the Church’s 267th pope.

“I entered the conclave with all the different speculations that one could perceive in the media,” Woelki acknowledged. “But it’s usually the case that on the first evening, at the first vote, certain trends become visible — whether others have also discerned in prayer that this or that candidate might be the one called by the Lord. And that’s how it turned out with regard to the current Holy Father.”

The archbishop of Cologne expressed particular appreciation for the papal name choice, connecting it to previous pontiffs who addressed social challenges.

“I think it’s wonderful that he chose this particular name, which besides Leo the Great — who naturally has special significance for Rome — also recalls Leo XIII with Rerum Novarum and its tremendous impact,” Woelki said. “And I think, given the divisions in the world, including the social divisions we face, we depend on the pope’s voice. Just as we once relied on Leo XIII, today we rely on Leo XIV.”

Woelki, who has faced controversies in his German archdiocese in recent years, highlighted qualities he finds reassuring in the new pontiff.

“What I associate most with Pope Leo is his approachability, his humanity,” the cardinal stated. “He radiates security. That is, I believe, something that is important and beneficial here in the Vatican and in this universe.”

Profound problems persist both globally and within the Church that will require papal attention, Woelki observed. Among these challenges, he emphasized theological questions surrounding the concept of synodality as developed during the previous pontificate.

“Major issues naturally include preserving the Church’s unity in faith,” the cardinal explained. “Additionally, what Francis initiated must now be organized by him [Leo XIV] and theologically deepened, especially what Francis repeatedly understood as synodality — where particularly in Germany, but I believe also in other parts of the world, there remains considerable uncertainty about what synodality theologically really means for us.”

The Cologne cardinal also pointed to numerous international conflicts requiring papal leadership.

“Of course, there are the major crisis areas in the world,” Woelki added, “from the Holy Land to Ukraine. In this context, the pope has an important voice regarding peace, social justice, and where people are being exploited.”

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States, was elected on May 8, becoming the first U.S.-born pontiff in the Church’s history.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 9, 2025 / 18:28 pm (CNA).

Americans gathered in St. Peter’s Square on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. Born Robert Francis Prevost on Chicago’s South Side, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar was chosen by the College of Cardinals after just two days of conclave. 

While American flags were scarce among the sea of international banners, those present from the U.S. lingered in the square long after the Holy Father appeared out on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time. They shared prayers, chants, and reflections on the unprecedented moment.  

“Never in a million years did I think that the Holy Spirit would send us a beautiful cardinal from Chicago,” said Deacon Steven Marcus, a Maronite Catholic from Florida. “You could tell by his face that he’s filled with the Holy Spirit. He’s filled with love. This is who the Church needs.” 

Moments after the white smoke rose, the crowd surged toward the front of the basilica.  

John Stadeno, a Villanova University graduate from Philadelphia, stood front and center with his friend, John Sanchez of New York, clutching an American flag and wearing a Phillies jersey and a baseball cap. Together they chanted the name of the spiritual father of the new pope’s religious order: “Agostino! Agostino!” 

“It’s an affirmation of the Augustinian way,” Stadeno said, referencing the shared alma mater with the new pope. “Prevost is a good man. He’s worked hard as a missionary, as a bishop. He’ll do a good job.” 

Sanchez added: “God bless the new Pope Leo XIV and God bless the U.S.A.” 

Brother Benedict Mary Bartsch, OP, a 29-year-old Dominican from Hawaii studying at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum — where the new pope is also an alumnus — expressed his awe at witnessing the event firsthand.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be here in Rome, to be at the heart of the Church, and praying all these days for the cardinals and for the election of the new Holy Father. And to be here in the square when it actually happened, it’s just amazing.” 

Upon seeing Pope Leo XIV emerge, Bartsch observed: “He seemed like he was very moved. I mean, you could see he was tearing up a little bit. You could see that he understood the sort of weight, the burden that comes with the office, with the Petrine office.” 

Andres Novoa, 33, from the Archdiocese of Miami, held up one of the few American flags in the square. “It feels unbelievable,” he said. “The Church needs a lion. The Church needs to realize that Christ is the Lion of Judah. The Church needs to assert herself as the mother and teacher, you know, that is what the world needs. And the Church is not here to hurt anyone. It’s here to give everyone salvation.” 

Novoa joked about the unexpected turn of events: “I thought the only thing this American flag would do for us was get us beat up. And now, the last thing we expected was an American pope.” 

David Solheim, an Eastern Orthodox Christian from Phoenix, traveled to Rome for the conclave. “I came out to Rome specifically for the conclave, something I always wanted to do. Like a bucket list item,” he said. “And never thought that my first conclave would be the first American pope.”

He noted the pope’s initial reaction: “You could tell he wasn’t expecting it. He was nervous. Like, I think all of us would be up there. He seems like a genuine shepherd and pastor and I look forward to what the future holds for the Church.” 

Jerry Grogan, holding an American flag before the announcement, expressed his pride: “It’s so exciting to have someone from Chicago, my hometown, to represent the Catholic Church. I’m so proud.”

He recounted a conversation with a priest from Champaign, Illinois, also waiting in St. Peter’s Square, where they doubted the possibility of an American pope. “Lo and behold, now we have our first American pope,” he said. 

Pope Leo XIV, known for his missionary work in Peru and his role in the Roman Curia as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, brings a global perspective to the papacy. Fluent in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, he is also reportedly a White Sox fan who enjoys playing tennis and the game of “Wordle,” according to his brother.  

“You could tell by the people that were in the square today how much they love Almighty God and how much they love our new Holy Father. Good things are happening for our Church,” Marcus said.

ACI Prensa Staff, May 9, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV had the opportunity to meet three of his predecessors at the helm of the Barque of Peter. The following are some photos of these encounters between former Cardinal Robert Prevost as a young Augustinian religious, prior of the order, and cardinal.

The Augustinian Province of the Midwest in the United States, established under the patronage of Our Mother of Good Counsel, has published several photos of his meetings with St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

In the first, a young Prevost, vested as a deacon, is seen greeting the Polish pontiff, likely at the conclusion of a liturgical ceremony.

In the second, St. John Paul II appears again with the young Prevost, who is wearing the black habit of the Order of St. Augustine.

He was also wearing the Augustinian habit when his photo was taken during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.

Finally, on Sept. 30, 2023, a photo was taken capturing the moment when Pope Francis made him a cardinal.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Vatican City, May 9, 2025 / 14:19 pm (CNA).

The United States cardinals who were part of the conclave that on Thursday elected Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, called him “a citizen of the world,” in continuity with Pope Francis but with his own manner of doing things.

At a May 9 press conference at the Pontifical North American College in Rome following Leo’s election, seven cardinals fielded questions about participating in the conclave, the qualities of Pope Leo, and the impact of having an American pope.

While Cardinal Robert McElroy, the new archbishop of Washington, D.C., expressed surprise at the election of a U.S.-born pope, something he said he never expected to see in his lifetime, others, including Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, underlined that where Leo is from was of little importance to the cardinals’ decisions compared with the new pontiff’s quiet manner and missionary experience. 

Leo XIV “is a citizen of the world,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York underlined, and “where he came from is secondary” to what he represents now as pope and leader of the universal Church.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, Leo’s hometown, emphasized the unity and common purpose of the cardinal electors, who, he said, treated one another with respect and “jelled” inside the conclave, allowing at least 89 men from many different countries and backgrounds to agree and make a decision in just 24 hours.

McElroy described an atmosphere of contemplation, from walking into the conclave to the chanting of the Litany of Saints, to coming face-to-face with Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” on the wall of the Sistine Chapel.

“All sense of divisions within the world fell away and we were looking into the souls of each other,” reflecting on which soul had the capacity to be Christ’s vicar on earth, he said.

Like Pope Francis, Pope Leo will promote a missionary discipleship, McElroy said. Leo is “at his core a missionary. In every way a missionary giving his life for the Church.”

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, of French origin but the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., was also present in the press conference and seconded the reflection that the conclave took place in a spiritual atmosphere rather than a political one.

The archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory, got emotional as he recounted pledging his respect, fidelity, and love to the new pontiff after his election. He said the former Cardinal Robert Prevost made the biggest impression on the other cardinals during small, side conversations during lunch or coffee breaks, rather than in one big speech before the whole assembly.

McElroy added that the new pope did speak during the general congregations before the conclave, but it was less about what he said and more about how he said it.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, shared the most evocative image from inside the Sistine Chapel.

He recalled walking up to cast one of his votes, and immediately afterward, turning and looking over toward the then-Cardinal Prevost, who had his head in his hands. 

“And I was praying for him, because I can’t imagine what happens to a human being when he faces something like [becoming pope],” Tobin said. “And then when he accepted it, [it was like] he was made for it. All of whatever anguish [he had] was resolved by the feeling, I think, that this wasn’t simply his saying yes to a proposal, but God made something clear and he agreed to it.”

Tobin, who has known Pope Leo XIV for about 30 years and worked with him when they were both superiors of their respective religious congregations, said: “I don’t think he’s one to pick fights with people, but he’s not one to back down if the cause is just.”

Tobin, DiNardo, Gregory, Cupich, and Dolan all encouraged journalists to let Leo grow into the office of pope, watching what he does and says in this new role before casting judgment.

“You can’t capture tomorrow by looking at yesterday,” Gregory said.

McElroy added that while the cardinals were looking for someone “following the same pathway as Francis,” they were not interested in choosing “a photocopy.”

Vatican City, May 9, 2025 / 13:52 pm (CNA).

In his first Mass as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to “bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Savior” in a world where “a lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life.” 

Preaching in the Sistine Chapel on May 9 to the cardinals who elected him, the first pope born in the United States opened his homily in English. 

“My brother cardinals, as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the ministry of Peter,” the new pope said, speaking off the cuff.

 “You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me, as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel.” 

He continued the rest of the homily in Italian, reflecting on the Gospel question Jesus posed to Peter: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 

Leo XIV — the Chicago native and Augustinian missionary born Robert Prevost — said the world’s response often rejects Jesus “because of his demands for honesty and his stern moral requirements.” 

“Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure,” he said.

“These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied,” he continued. “Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.”

“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” 

The pope said this is “the world that has been entrusted to us,” where believers are “called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Savior.” 

“It is essential to do this, first of all, in our personal relationship with the Lord, in our commitment to a daily journey of conversion. Then, to do so as a Church, experiencing together our fidelity to the Lord and bringing the good news to all,” he said. 

“I say this first of all to myself, as the successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as bishop of Rome and, according to the well-known expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, am called to preside in charity over the universal Church (cf. Letter to the Romans, Prologue),” he said. 

“St. Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city, the place of his impending sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: ‘Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body’ (Letter to the Romans, IV, 1),” the pope said.  

“Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena — and so it happened — but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him. May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.” 

Leo XIV offered the Mass in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected Thursday afternoon as the 266th successor of Peter. It marked the first time Pope Leo XIV prayed the Eucharistic Prayer as bishop of Rome, saying “and me, your unworthy servant.” 

Beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes, Leo prayed the prayers of the Mass in Latin. The two readings were delivered in English and Spanish. At the end of the liturgy, he led the cardinals in singing the Marian Easter hymn “Regina Caeli,” joined by the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel Choir. 

The Vatican announced that Leo will be formally installed at a Mass on May 18 and will preside over his first general audience May 21. He is scheduled to deliver his first Regina Caeli blessing at noon on Sunday. 

Rome Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 12:26 pm (CNA).

From Europe to the Asia Pacific, millions of Catholics are celebrating the election of U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church.

After news of “white smoke” began to spread across Rome, Singaporean theology student Dominic Nalpon managed to arrive at the center of St. Peter’s Square in time to hear the awaited “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”) announcement and see the new Holy Father.

“My first impression of the new Pope Leo XIV was that he had a sense of presence about him,” Nalpon told CNA on Thursday. “I was especially joyful at his name ‘Leo’ as it brings to mind two other popes of the same name who are dear to me.”

“Leo the Great who is a doctor of the Church and the one who turned away the Huns from invading Rome through the intercession of Sts. Peter and Paul,” the Angelicum student continued, “and Leo the XIII, who is renowned for laying the foundations for Catholic social teaching and reviving Thomism.”

Father Dante Bendoy, OSA, prior provincial of the Augustinian Province of the Philippines, praised the new pope’s “genuine pastoral heart” and “deep commitment to our order and the Church.” 

“As Augustinians, we take pride and joy in his election, for he is the first Augustinian to be elected pope — a historic milestone that fills our hearts with gratitude and hope,” Bendoy said in a Friday statement.

“We cherish the memories of his warm presence, the Mass he celebrated with us, his humility, and the photos we shared,” he said after recounting the several times Pope Leo XIV — as prior general of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013 — visited the Philippines. 

While Bendoy recognized his confrere’s recent election as a “divine blessing,” he said the papal office is a “high calling” that is “not without its crosses.”

“Let us be reminded that, just as our Holy Father Augustine did, there is always grace on the cross,” the Filipino religious superior said. “We his Augustinian family stand united in prayer and support, confident that God’s grace will sustain him in his sacred mission.”

Religious priests who had the opportunity to meet Pope Leo during his visits to India in 2004 and 2006 have also expressed their joy with the news of the Church’s first Augustinian pope, Agenzia Fides reported on Friday.

“When he was here, we knew him as an extraordinarily simple person, down-to-earth, always ready to face the difficulties of everyday life,” said Father Jacob Mullassery, OSA, who accompanied him on both visits.   

“Before each meeting or pastoral activity, he spent a long time in silent Eucharistic adoration,” recalled Father Metro Xavier, OSA. “He demonstrated a profound love for the Church and total reverence for her magisterium — his spiritual life gave us a testimony of prayer and simplicity.”

In Australia, pastors of Holy Spirit Parish in Sydney also shared their pride on social media for having hosted the new Holy Father during his visit to their church in 2005. 

“We rejoice in the election of our dear brother Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA, as Roman pontiff … God bless our new pope,” the Facebook post read. “The [then] prior general of the Augustinian order visited our parish and presided over Mass on Dec. 16, 2005.”

Rome Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 08:57 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV delivered this homily at his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, the morning after being elected the 266th successor of St. Peter, addressing the cardinal electors who had chosen him.

I will begin with a word in English, and the rest is in Italian. But I want to repeat the words from the responsorial Psalm: “I will sing a new song to the Lord, because he has done marvels.”

And indeed, not just with me but with all of us. My brother cardinals, as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the ministry of Peter.

You have called me to carry that cross, and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me, as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel.

[Continuing in Italian] “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). In these words, Peter, asked by the Master, together with the other disciples, about his faith in him, expressed the patrimony that the Church, through the apostolic succession, has preserved, deepened, and handed on for 2,000 years.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God: the one Savior who alone reveals the face of the Father.

In him, God, in order to make himself close and accessible to men and women, revealed himself to us in the trusting eyes of a child, in the lively mind of a young person, and in the mature features of a man (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 22), finally appearing to his disciples after the Resurrection with his glorious body. He thus showed us a model of human holiness that we can all imitate, together with the promise of an eternal destiny that transcends all our limits and abilities.

Peter, in his response, understands both of these things: the gift of God and the path to follow in order to allow himself to be changed by that gift. They are two inseparable aspects of salvation entrusted to the Church to be proclaimed for the good of the human race. Indeed, they are entrusted to us, who were chosen by him before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs (cf. Jer 1:5), reborn in the waters of Baptism and, surpassing our limitations and with no merit of our own, brought here and sent forth from here, so that the Gospel might be proclaimed to every creature (cf. Mk 16:15).

In a particular way, God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator (cf. 1 Cor 4:2) for the sake of the entire mystical Body of the Church. He has done so in order that she may be ever more fully a city set on a hill (cf. Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world. And this, not so much through the magnificence of her structures or the grandeur of her buildings – like the monuments among which we find ourselves – but rather through the holiness of her members. For we are the people whom God has chosen as his own, so that we may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (cf. 1 Pet 2:9).

Peter, however, makes his profession of faith in reply to a specific question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). The question is not insignificant. It concerns an essential aspect of our ministry, namely, the world in which we live, with its limitations and its potential, its questions and its convictions.

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” If we reflect on the scene we are considering, we might find two possible answers, which characterize two different attitudes. 

First, there is the world’s response. Matthew tells us that this conversation between Jesus and his disciples takes place in the beautiful town of Caesarea Philippi, filled with luxurious palaces, set in a magnificent natural landscape at the foot of Mount Hermon, but also a place of cruel power plays and the scene of betrayals and infidelity. This setting speaks to us of a world that considers Jesus a completely insignificant person, at best someone with an unusual and striking way of speaking and acting. And so, once his presence becomes irksome because of his demands for honesty and his stern moral requirements, this “world” will not hesitate to reject and eliminate him.

Then there is the other possible response to Jesus’ question: that of ordinary people. For them, the Nazarene is not a charlatan, but an upright man, one who has courage, who speaks well and says the right things, like other great prophets in the history of Israel. That is why they follow him, at least for as long as they can do so without too much risk or inconvenience. Yet to them he is only a man, and therefore, in times of danger, during his passion, they too abandon him and depart disappointed.

What is striking about these two attitudes is their relevance today. They embody notions that we could easily find on the lips of many men and women in our own time, even if, while essentially identical, they are expressed in different language.

Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.

These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.

This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Savior. Therefore, it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).

It is essential to do this, first of all, in our personal relationship with the Lord, in our commitment to a daily journey of conversion. Then, to do so as a Church, experiencing together our fidelity to the Lord and bringing the Good News to all (cf. Lumen Gentium, 1).

I say this first of all to myself, as the Successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as Bishop of Rome and, according to the well-known expression of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, am called to preside in charity over the universal Church (cf. Letter to the Romans, Prologue). Saint Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city, the place of his impending sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: “Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body” (Letter to the Romans, IV, 1). Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena – and so it happened – but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.

May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.

CNA Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 08:40 am (CNA).

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Follow here for news and information about the 266th successor to St. Peter:

CNA Staff, May 9, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

On May 8, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV by the College of Cardinals as the 266th successor of St. Peter, making him the 267th pope and the first from the United States.  

Here are 14 things to know about Pope Leo XIV:

1. Robert Francis Prevost was born on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. 

2. His father was a World War II Navy veteran and school superintendent; his mother was a librarian who was very involved in parish life.

3. The new pope speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.

4. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977 before pursuing his religious vocation.

5. He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Augustinians in 1973 in Michigan. In 1977, he became a member of the Order of St. Augustine and took his solemn vows in 1981. 

6. He completed a master of divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and earned a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He went on to teach canon law in seminaries during his time in Peru.  

7. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot in Rome.

8. He served extensively in Peru from 1985 to 1998, working as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official. He was also part of the leadership of Caritas Peru, the Church’s charitable organization.

9. After being elected the head of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, he returned to the U.S. in 1999. He was elected prior general of the Augustinians in 2001 and then reelected in 2007, serving as head of the order until 2013.

10. Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator and then bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014 and 2015 respectively, and received episcopal consecration on Dec. 12, 2014, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Chiclayo.

11. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on Sept. 30, 2023. 

12. While serving the Church in Peru, Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2019 and then a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020. In 2023, Francis made him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. 

13. His episcopal motto — which is a bishop’s personal motto — is “In illo uno unum,” which means “In the one Christ we are one,” reflecting his commitment to unity.

14. Prior to becoming pope, he had an active X account — the first to have his own social media account before becoming pope.

Vatican City, May 9, 2025 / 04:57 am (CNA).

Just hours after being elected the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff, Pope Leo XIV has three appointments on his agenda: a Mass with cardinals, praying the Regina Caeli, and greeting journalists and media who covered the conclave.

According to Vatican News, Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass at 11 a.m. Rome time with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.

Then he will lead his first Regina Caeli, a Marian prayer recited especially during the Easter season, at Roman noon on Sunday.

Rather than leading the prayer from a window of the Apostolic Palace, as popes have customarily done on Sundays for the Angelus or Regina Caeli, he is scheduled to appear again at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, as he did after the “habemus papam” announcement on May 8.

On the following morning, the new pope will greet the journalists and media professionals who have been in Rome to cover the funeral of Pope Francis, the “sede vacante,” and the conclave.

After his election on May 8, the 69-year-old pope returned to the building where he has been living in Rome, the Palazzo Sant’Uffizio, a Vatican building housing the offices of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the apartments of some Vatican officials.

Photos shared on X by Xaviere Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, show Leo XIV greeting Becquart and taking a “selfie” with her and others during his surprise visit to the Palazzo Sant’Uffizio after he was announced as pope.

CNA Staff, May 8, 2025 / 15:52 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8 — the first pope from the United States. 

Smiling and waving while wearing more traditional papal garb than his predecessor — and appearing to hold back tears at certain points — Leo blessed the cheering masses assembled in St. Peter’s Square, proclaiming in confident Italian: “Peace be with you all!”

An Augustinian and a canon lawyer, Prevost spent over a decade ministering in South America before being called back to the U.S. to head the Midwest Augustinians and was later elected prior general of the Augustinian order, serving in that role for a dozen years. He later returned to South America after Pope Francis in 2014 appointed him bishop in Chiclayo, Peru. Francis later called him to Rome in 2023 to head the highly influential Dicastery for Bishops. 

Prevost, 69, was born on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago. He is of Italian, French, and Spanish descent. He studied at an Augustinian minor seminary in Michigan and later earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. 

He officially entered the Order of St. Augustine in 1978, making his solemn vows in 1981. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 1982 after studying theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. 

After being ordained, he earned a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas (also known as the Angelicum) in 1987. 

Prevost returned to Chicago for a short time in 1987, serving as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Midwest Augustinians (Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel). He was then sent to Peru, where he served the Augustinians in various capacities including as a regional ecclesiastical judge and teacher of canon law in the diocesan seminary for Trujillo, Peru, for 10 years.

After being elected the head of the Midwest Augustinians, Prevost returned to the U.S. in 1999. He was elected prior general of the Augustinians in 2001 and then reelected in 2007, serving as head of the order until 2013.

Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, and he was ordained titular bishop of Sufar that same year.

While serving the Church in Peru, Francis made Prevost a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2019 and then a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020. In 2023, Francis made Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. In that capacity, Prevost played a key role in the selection process for diocesan bishops around the world and in the investigation of allegations against bishops.

In 2023, Prevost spoke to Vatican News about what he considered to be the “portrait of a bishop.”

“We are often preoccupied with teaching doctrine, the way of living our faith, but we risk forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ and to bear witness to our closeness to the Lord,” he told Vatican News.

“This comes first: to communicate the beauty of the faith, the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus,” he added. “It means that we ourselves are living it and sharing this experience.”

Pope Francis made him a cardinal in a Sept. 30, 2023, consistory.

Vatican City, May 8, 2025 / 15:32 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV greeted the world for the first time on Thursday with the words “Peace be with you all.”

The 69-year-old new pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected the first pope from the United States on Thursday. A native of Chicago, Leo spoke in Italian from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, addressing the hundreds of thousands of people waiting in the square and streets below.

“Peace be with you all. Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, who has given his life for God’s flock. I too would like that this greeting of peace enters into your heart, reaching your families, and all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you,” Leo said in his opening lines.

The identity of the new pope was announced just over an hour after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The cardinal electors watched from balconies flanking the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica as Cardinal Dominique Mamberti declared in Latin: “Habemus papam!”

Minutes later, Pope Leo XIV appeared to enormous cheers from the excited crowd.

The peace of the risen Christ, he said, is a “disarming, humble, and persevering peace” that comes from God — a God who “loves us all unconditionally.”

He recalled his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who blessed Rome on Easter Sunday just hours before his death. “Allow me,” Leo said, “to follow that same blessing.”

“God loves us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him like a bridge to be reached by God and his love,” Leo said.

The pope asked those present to help the Church to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, working for unity and peace. He thanked Pope Francis and the cardinals who chose him to be the successor of St. Peter, history’s first pope.

The pope added that he wants to “walk together … as a united Church, always searching for peace, justice, and trying to always work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.”

Pointing out that he is a member of the Augustinian religious order, Leo paraphrased the words of his founder, St. Augustine, who once said in a sermon: “With you I am a Christian and for you I am a bishop.”

In a special greeting to the Catholic Church of Rome, of which he is bishop, Leo said: “We must learn together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive, like this square with its ‘arms’ open to all, everyone who sees our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”

Breaking off from Italian into Spanish, the pope greeted the people of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where he was bishop from 2015 until Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.

Speaking again in Italian, the pope said the faithful want “a synodal Church, one that looks always for peace, for charity, and to be close to those who suffer.”

Recalling the day’s feast day of Our Lady of Pompei, Pope Leo invited those present to pray a Hail Mary with him “for this new mission, but for the whole Church, for peace in the world.”

After the prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the new pope then bestowed his first apostolic blessing, “urbi et orbi,” on the city and the world.

Vatican City, May 8, 2025 / 12:11 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:09 p.m. Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the College of Cardinals had chosen a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the bells of the basilica began to toll, confirming the election of a new pontiff. The crowds gathered as word spread throughout Rome that a new pope had been chosen.

The new pontiff appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at approximately 7:25 p.m. local time, where Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the protodeacon of the College of Cardinals and prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, announced in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!”

(“I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope!”)

Before appearing on the balcony, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent time in the “Room of Tears,” a small chamber adjacent to the Sistine Chapel. This traditionally named room is where new pontiffs first don the papal vestments and have a moment of private prayer and reflection as they absorb the magnitude of their election to the Chair of St. Peter.

Following the announcement, Leo XIV addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square and those watching around the world, offering his first blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) as the new Roman pontiff.