Vatican News

A view of the baldacchino underneath the central dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

What to watch for: Key moments taking place in Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass

May 17, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Sunday’s Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor... Read more

Pope Leo XIV smiles as a jubilant crowd joins in prayer on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

The meaning of Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass and taking possession of St. John Lateran

May 17, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor... Read more

Alessandro Tamburlani is the president and founder of the gym where Cardinal Robert Prevost worked out before becoming pope.

An athletic pope: Pope Leo XIV worked out regularly at this gym

May 16, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Omega Fitness Club is suddenly the most famous gym in Rome. Read more

Photograph of Pope Leo XIV released by the Vatican.

Here’s where you can download the official photo of Pope Leo XIV for free

May 16, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

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

Pope Leo XIV addresses more than 100 ambassadors in an audience on Friday, May 16, 2025, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV to diplomats: Peace and justice can be achieved by investing in the family

May 16, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Pope Leo XIV told the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See on Friday that peaceful and just societies can... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks to EWTN News in Oslo, Norway, on Jan. 17, 2025.

Cardinal Parolin doesn’t rule out Pope Leo XIV going to Nicaea

May 16, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Vatican secretary of state has not ruled out the possibility of Pope Leo XIV traveling to Nicaea to celebrate... Read more

Pope Leo XIV meets with the Brothers of the Christian Schools on May 15, 2025, at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV laments that today’s youth have to deal with ‘relativism’ and ‘superficiality’

May 15, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Leo XIV received the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, on May... Read more

Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd gathered on St. Peter’ s Square for the Regina Coeli on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV can accelerate ‘Leonine revolution’ in the Church, theologian says

May 15, 2025

By Kristina Millare

George Weigel held a public lecture at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas on the “10 Markers of a... Read more

Pope Leo XIV gives a blessing during a meeting with participants in the Jubilee of Eastern Churches on May 14, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.

All the saints and Church Fathers Pope Leo XIV quoted in his first week

May 15, 2025

By Courtney Mares

The Catholic Church’s first pope from the Augustinian order is already helping to educate the faithful through his deep knowledge... Read more

Dominican Father Thomas Joseph White reads the thesis of then-Father Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, titled “The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine,” which Prevost wrote while a student at Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in the early 1980s.

Future Pope Leo XIV’s doctoral thesis offers clues to his pontificate 

May 15, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to the rector of Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Leo XIV’s doctoral thesis has a vision... Read more

Pope Leo XIV walks in the corridor of the third loggia of the Apostolic Palace, where the papal apartment is located, on May 12, 2025, in Vatican City.

Pope Leo XIV expected to live in traditional papal apartment unused by Pope Francis

May 15, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The papal apartment, which is a series of rooms wrapping around the Vatican’s Sixtus V Courtyard, was the traditional home... Read more

Pope Leo XIV meets with the prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, on May 14, 2025, at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV, Ocáriz discuss process of revising Opus Dei’s statutes

May 15, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday briefly discussed the revision of Opus Dei’s statutes with the apostolate’s prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz. Read more

Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian tennis star Jannick Sinner on May 14, 2025, at the Vatican.

Love the Sinner: Pope Leo XIV meets tennis star at the Vatican

May 14, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

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

Pope Leo XIV gives the homily at Mass with the cardinale electors in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025.

Vatican creates official Instagram account for Pope Leo XIV

May 14, 2025

By Eduardo Berdejo

The Dicastery for Communication said “Leo XIV inherits the X @Pontifex accounts used by Pope Francis and previously by Benedict... Read more

A cropped version of the official portrait of Pope Leo XIV, published by the Vatican on May 10, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV embraces elements of Francis’ vision; some views still unclear

May 14, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

Prior to his elevation to the papacy, Leo XIV stayed out of the spotlight on certain reforms backed by his... Read more

Pope Leo XIV speaks to participants in the Jubilee of Eastern Churches on May 14, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV urges Eastern Catholics not to abandon war-torn lands

May 14, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I thank God for those Christians — Eastern and Latin alike — who, above all in the Middle East, persevere... Read more

Delegates at the 2024 Synod on Synodality participate in roundtable meetings on Oct. 10, 2024, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Synod leaders pledge obedience to Pope Leo XIV

May 13, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

As prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the now-Pope Leo XIV participated in both sessions of the assembly of the... Read more

Pope Leo XIV with his friend Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez on May 12, 2025, at the Vatican.

A priest friend of Pope Leo XIV shares memories of him in Peru

May 13, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

On Sunday, May 12, Pope Leo XIV made time in his busy schedule to welcome his friend Father Hugo Sánchez... Read more

Bishop Robert Francis Prevost was named prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops on Jan. 30, 2023.

10 countries Pope Leo XIV visited before becoming pope

May 12, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Here are some of the countries the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV has visited — or where he has been based... Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a press conference after a meeting of European leaders in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on May 10, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV, Zelenskyy hold first phone call about Russia-Ukraine war, Vatican says

May 12, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The Holy See Press Office confirmed on Monday that the two leaders had spoken after the pope expressed concern for... Read more