Vatican News

Church can help sports by flexing values, strengthening human dignity, Pope says

Carol Glatz · February 6, 2026

In a letter released on the opening day of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Pope Leo XIV calls on the Catholic Church to recognize sport as an opportunity to offer human and spiritual guidance.

Pope Leo adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar

Carol Glatz · February 3, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has elevated St. John Henry Newman's feast day to the universal church calendar, to be celebrated Oct. 9. The British theologian, recently proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, will now be honored worldwide for his profound contributions to faith and intellect.

Pope welcomes new Marian mosaic, St. Rose of Lima statue in Vatican Gardens

Peru forever represented in the Vatican Gardens

Paulina Guzik · February 2, 2026

The Vatican Gardens welcomed a new Marian mosaic and a statue of St. Rose of Lima, both created by young artists from Peru, in a ceremony that clearly delighted Pope Leo XIV, who holds Peru in a special place in his heart.

Deadly violence in Minneapolis tied to ICE agents is 'unacceptable,' top cardinal says

Carol Glatz · January 30, 2026

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, condemned the deadly shootings by U.S. federal agents in Minneapolis, describing the violence as "unacceptable" and calling for non-violent solutions.

Olympics 2026: Pope calls for 'healthy competition' to unite people at Winter Games

Junno Arocho Esteves · January 30, 2026

In a message to the Archdiocese of Milan, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an occasion of solidarity and bridge-building between peoples and cultures.

All Christians must humbly, joyfully invite others to trust in God, Pope Leo says

Carol Glatz · January 26, 2026

All Christians are called to invite everyone to trust in Christ, who enlightens and consoles, Pope Leo XIV said.

Pope Leo evaluating Trump's invitation to join Board of Peace, Vatican's secretary of state says

Junno Arocho Esteves · January 21, 2026

Pope Leo XIV is currently evaluating an invitation by U.S. President Donald Trump to join his "Board of Peace," an international body chaired by the president to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza, the Vatican secretary of state said.

Pope Leo comforts families of victims of Swiss Crans-Montana tragic bar fire

Paulina Guzik · January 15, 2026

Pope Leo XIV met Jan. 15 with the families of victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire on New Year's night, which took the lives of 40 people and injured 116 in a Swiss resort tragedy.

Venezuelan Nobel laureate Machado asks Pope Leo for help in freeing political prisoners

Junno Arocho Esteves · January 13, 2026

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado asked for Pope Leo XIV's help in securing the release of political prisoners in the country following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Cardinals leave consistory with a clear vision from pontiff: 'A Church that cares'

At first consistory, pontiff shows his papacy will be one of continuity with the Gospel

Paulina Guzik · January 9, 2026

After an intense day of roundtable discussions, the "low-batteried" but "very pleased" cardinals wrapped the first historic extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV. They left the consistory with a clear vision of the new pontiff for "a Church that cares."