Vatican

Pope Leo XIV accepts resignation of Spanish bishop accused of abuse

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday accepted the resignation of an ailing Spanish bishop who is under church investigation for allegedly sexually abusing a young seminarian in the 1990s, the first known time the new pontiff removed a bishop accused of abuse. A one-line statement from the Vatican said Leo had accepted the resignation of Cadiz Bishop Rafael Zornoza, 76. It didn't say why, but Zornoza submitted his resignation to the pope last year when he turned 75, the normal retirement age for bishops. It hadn't been accepted, though, until the El Pas newspaper reported earlier this month that Zornoza had been recently placed under investigation by a church tribunal. The daily, which since 2018 has exposed decades of abuse and cover-up in the Spanish Catholic Church, said Zornoza was accused of abusing a young former seminarian while he was a young priest and directed the diocesan seminary in Getafe. The report, quoting a letter the former seminarian wrote to the Vatican over the summer, said

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 ...

First millennial saint Carlo Acutis to be canonised Sept 7, says Pope

Pope Leo XIV on Friday set September 7 as the rescheduled date to canonise the Catholic Church's first millennial-era saint Carlo Acutis. Leo made the announcement during a meeting of cardinals, known as a consistory, to set the dates for a handful of new saints. Acutis' canonisation was originally scheduled for April 27, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Acutis was 15 when he died in northern Italy in 2006, after a short bout with leukemia. He has become enormously popular especially among young Catholics who have been flocking to his tomb in Assisi. While he enjoyed regular pastimes for his age hiking, video games, and joking around with friends he also taught catechism in a local parish and did outreach to the homeless. He used his computer skills to create an online exhibit about more than 100 eucharistic miracles recognised by the church over many centuries. His tomb in Assisi has become a pilgrimage site especially during the 2025 Holy Yea

Can American pope bring US-style fundraising to fix Vatican finances?

As a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost was often on the lookout for used cars that he could buy cheap and fix up himself for use in parishes around his diocese. With cars that were really broken down, he'd watch YouTube videos to learn how to fix them. That kind of make-do-with-less, fix-it-yourself mentality could serve Pope Leo XIV well as he addresses one of the greatest challenges facing him as pope: The Holy See's chronic, 50 million to 60 million euro (USD 57-68 million) structural deficit, 1 billion euro (USD 1.14 billion) pension fund shortfall and declining donations that together pose something of an existential threat to the central government of the 1.4-billion strong Catholic Church. As a Chicago-born math major, canon lawyer and two-time superior of his global Augustinian religious order, the 69-year-old pope presumably can read a balance sheet and make sense of the Vatican's complicated finances, which have long been mired in scandal. Whether he can change the financial .

Pope Leo XIV declares 'I am Roman!' as he formally becomes bishop of Rome

Pope Leo XIV declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final ceremonial steps cementing his role as the bishop of Rome. The first American pope formally took possession of the St. John Lateran Basilica, which is Rome's cathedral and seat of the diocese, with an evening Mass attended by Roman priests and faithful. He then took the popemobile for a visit to St. Mary Major, where he prayed before Pope Francis' tomb and an icon of the Virgin Mary beloved to many Roman faithful. In his homily, Leo said he wanted to listen to them in order to learn, understand and decide things together. One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Roman to a vicar. Sunday's ceremonies at the St. John Lateran and a stop at St. Mary Major basilicas follow Leo's visit last week to the St. Paul Outsid

Pope Leo XIV urges aid in Gaza, end to hostilities in first public address

Pope Leo XIV called Wednesday for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the heartbreaking toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy. I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly and sick people, he said. The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly ...

Chicago suburb-area town planning to seize Pope Leo XIV's childhood home

Dolton, a town near Chicago, plans to seize Pope Leo XIV's childhood home via eminent domain and work with the Archdiocese to preserve it as a historic site, officials said in a letter Tuesday

JD Vance delivers Donald Trump's letter inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit US

US Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of US-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Vance gave the first American pope a letter from US President Donald Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying at some point, in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, The City of God" and "On Christian Doctrine, the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it. As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you, Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts. Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian Peace is a fragile flower,

Tens of thousands flock to Vatican for Pope Leo XIV's installation ceremony

Tens of thousands of people streamed into St. Peter's Square early Sunday to inaugurate Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, joining presidents and princes in celebrating history's first American pope with a formal installation ceremony that blends ancient ritual, evocative symbols and a nod to modern-day celebrity. Starting at dawn, civil protection crews in neon uniforms funnelled pilgrims into quadrants in the piazza while priests and patriarchs hurried into St. Peter's Basilica to get ready for the Mass. US Vice President JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died, paid his respects at the Argentine pope's tomb upon arriving in Rome late Saturday and was heading the US delegation honouring the Chicago-born Leo. Leo will start the day by taking his first tour through the piazza in the popemobile. The open-topped vehicle has become synonymous with the papacy's global reach and mediatic draw, used at home and abroad to bring popes close to their flock. I

JD Vance, Marco Rubio to attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass on May 18

Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope. Vice President Vance is the first Catholic convert to serve as Vice President, as per White House

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

HRW urges new Pope to review 2018 China deal to protect religious freedom

Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, said the new Pope should push for fresh negotiations with Beijing to protect the religious freedom of Catholics in China

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

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, ...

PM Modi conveys felicitations to Pope Leo XIV from people of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to Pope Leo XIV, and said India remains committed to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further shared values. Robert Prevost was elected on Thursday as the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church. Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV. "I convey sincere felicitations and best wishes from the people of India to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His leadership of the Catholic Church comes at a moment of profound significance in advancing the ideals of peace, harmony, solidarity and service," Modi said on X. India remains committed to continued dialogue and engagement with the Holy See to further our shared values, he said. The Holy See, also known as the Apostolic See or See of Rome, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City State.

How white Sox fan 'Bob' beat the odds to become first American pope

When Leo XIV spoke to crowds from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, his first message was against all forms of division and war

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 ...