Pope Francis

100 days of Pope Leo XIV: Calm, controversy-free papacy takes shape

When Pope Leo XIV surprised tens of thousands of young people at a recent Holy Year celebration with an impromptu popemobile romp around St. Peter's Square, it almost seemed as if some of the informal spontaneity that characterised Pope Francis' 12-year papacy had returned to the Vatican. But the message Leo delivered that night was all his own: In seamless English, Spanish and Italian, Leo told the young people that they were the salt of the Earth, the light of the world. He urged them to spread their hope, faith in Christ and their cries of peace wherever they go. As Robert Prevost marks his 100th day as Pope Leo this weekend, the contours of his pontificate have begun to come into relief, primarily where he shows continuity with Francis and where he signals change. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that after 12 sometimes turbulent years under Francis, a certain calm and reserve have returned to the papacy. Leo seems eager above all to avoid polemics or making the papacy about ...

Pope Leo XIV: No tolerance for any form of abuse in Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV has said there should be no tolerance in the Catholic Church for any type of abuse sexual, spiritual or abuse of authority -- and called for transparent processes to create a culture of prevention across the church. Leo made his first public comments about the clergy sex abuse scandal in a written message to a Peruvian journalist who documented a particularly egregious case of abuse and financial corruption in a Peruvian-based Catholic movement, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. The message was read out loud on Friday night in Lima during a performance of a play based on the Sodalitium scandal and the work of the journalist, Paola Ugaz. It is urgent to root in the whole church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse - neither of power or authority, nor abuse of conscience, spiritual or sexual abuse, Leo said in the message. This culture will only be authentic if it is born of active vigilance, of transparent processes and sincere listening to .

Close aides see Pope Leo XIV as reformer on women's roles but with limits

Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis' pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops. But he also has said decisively that women cannot be ordained as priests, and despite having worked for years in Peru where women often lead church communities, seems noncommittal on whether women could ever serve in any ministerial capacity. Nevertheless, the women who have worked closely with Prevost in recent years have praised his leadership style, ability to listen and respect for their opinions. In interviews with The Associated Press, they say they expect that as pope, Leo will continue to promote women in church governance positions, albeit with limits. Maria Lia Zervino was among the three women Francis appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops in 2022 to review possible appointments. It was a job previously held by cardinals and bishops, an old boy's club that has ..

'Peace be with you all': Pope Leo XIV shares first post in Instagram debut

Pope Leo XIV made his Instagram debut with photos from his early papacy, quoting his Urbi et Orbi message: 'Peace be with you all,' continuing the Church's digital outreach

Pope Leo XIV urges journalist release, also backs free speech, press

Pope Leo XIV on Monday called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the precious gift of free speech and the press in an audience with some of the 6,000 journalists who descended on Rome to cover his election as the first American pontiff. Leo received a standing ovation as he entered the Vatican auditorium for his first meeting with representatives of the general public. The 69-year-old Augustinian missionary, elected in a 24-hour conclave last week, called for journalists to use words for peace, to reject war and to give voice to the voiceless. He expressed solidarity with journalists around the world who have been jailed for trying to seek and report the truth. Drawing applause from the crowd, he asked for their release. The church recognises 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 ma

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, Gaza; extends Mother's Day wishes

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church. I, too, address the world's great powers by repeating the ever-present call never again war,' Leo said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people below. It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his remarkable election as pope, the first from the United States. Then, too, he delivered a message of peace. Leo was picking up the papal tradition of offering a Sunday blessing at noon, but with some twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from the studio window of the Apostolic Palace, off to the side of the piazza, Leo went to the very centre of the square and the heart of the church. He also offered a novelty by singing the .

In first address, Pope Leo XIV warns AI is greatest threat to humanity

Pope Leo XIV pledged to continue church reforms and highlighted artificial intelligence as a major challenge to human dignity, fairness, and the future of work

Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass after historic election as pope

Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Mass on Friday after his historic election as the first North American pope, meeting with the cardinals who chose him to lead the Catholic Church and follow in Pope Francis' reform-minded footsteps. Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, surprised the world Thursday when he emerged on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, overcoming the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States. The 69-year-old wore the traditional red cape which Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013 and trappings of the papacy, suggesting a return to some degree of rule-following after Francis' unorthodox pontificate. But in naming himself Leo, the new pope could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Brother Leo was the 13th century friar who was a great companion to St Francis of Assisi, the late pope's namesake. Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, ...

Who is Leo XIV? first American elected as Pope of 1.4 bn roman catholics

A 69-year-old Leo has been elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, following the death of Pope Francis last month

Pope Leo XIV has criticised Trump, Vance policies in social media posts

Elected as the Catholic Church's first global leader to hail from the United States, Pope Leo XIV is in a new job that will have many crossovers into politics a realm not entirely unknown to the Chicago-born priest, whose social media history includes sharing criticism of Trump administration policies and of comments by Vice President J D Vance. President Donald Trump has wished the new pope well in his role, calling Leo's election "such an honour for our country". But it comes days after Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope amid days of official mourning for Pope Francis. That act raised eyebrows at the Vatican and was denounced by former Italian Premier Romano Prodi as indecent political interference in matters of faith. And last month, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the end of a half-century of partnerships with the federal US government to serve refugees and migrant children, saying the "heartbreaking" decision ...

Pope Leo XIV's name choice shows his commitment to social justice

Pope Leo XIV's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice which is very much in line with the late Pope Francis' global ministry. I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XXIII. Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He criticised both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. The name is a deep sign of commitment to social issues," said Imperatori-Lee. I think this (new) pope is saying something about social justice, by choosing this name, that it is going to be a ...

New Pope Leo XIV led Augustinian order devoted to poverty, service

Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first US pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, previously led a Catholic religious order. Prevost, 69, who chose the name Pope Leo XIV, was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, which was formed in the 13th century as a community of mendicant friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation. The requirements and ethos of the order are traced to the fifth century St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity. The Order of St. Augustine has a presence in about 50 countries, according to its website. Its ethos includes a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others. A core value in their rule is to live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God. A religious order is a community of Catholics which can include priests, nuns, monks and even lay people dedicated to a particular type of mission and ...

US Cardinal Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV, first American pontiff

Ahead of the conclave, some cardinals called for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, while others said they wanted to turn back the clock and embrace old traditions

White smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals election of a new pope

White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled Thursday after cardinals elected the 267th pope to lead the Catholic Church on the second day of their conclave. The crowd in St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted Viva il papa! after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky at 6:07 pm. Waving flags from around the world, tens of thousands of people waited to learn who had won. The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words Habemus Papam! Latin for We have a pope! from the loggia of the basilica. The cardinal then reads the winner's birth name in Latin and reveals the name he has chosen to be called. The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impar

Black smoke at the Vatican: What do the Papal voting colours mean?

Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signalling no pope has been elected yet as the conclave began its first round of voting to choose Pope Francis' successor

Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel, signals no pope chosen in first vote

Black smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church. The smoke billowed out at 9 pm Wednesday, some four hours after 133 cardinals solemnly entered the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy and formally opened the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis to lead the 1.4 billion-member church. With no one securing the necessary two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, the cardinals will retire for the night to the Vatican residences where they are being sequestered. They return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning.

Cardinals begin conclave to elect new pope with faithful seeking direction

The papal conclave will begin with a single ballot on the first day and then four rounds of voting each day afterward until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote

Pope Francis's last gift: Popemobile to become health clinic for Gaza

One of Pope Francis's popemobiles, used during his visit to Bethlehem in 2014, is being refitted with everything needed for frontline care in Gaza strip

Pope Francis leaves tough legacy behind, key challenges await successor

While Pope Francis accomplished a lot in his 12-year papacy, he left much unfinished business and many challenges for his successor from the Vatican's disastrous finances to the wars raging on multiple continents and discontent among traditionalists about his crackdown on the old Latin Mass. When the conclave's cardinals finish casting their ballots under Michelangelo's frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel, the 267th pope will have to decide whether to continue Francis' policies, tweak them, or abandon them altogether. Will he prioritize migrants, the environment and the social justice policies that Francis championed, or give precedence to other issues? Among the challenges facing the new pope: The role of women Francis did more to promote women to leadership positions in the Vatican than any pope before him, and his successor will have to decide whether to continue that legacy, accelerate it or back down and change course. The issue isn't minor. Catholic women do much of the

Donald Trump shares AI-generated image of himself as pope, faces backlash

Donald Trump posts AI image of himself as pope, days after joking he'd like the role; faces backlash for being 'disrespectful' following Pope Francis' death