For the first time, a pope (Leo XIV) will receive the U.S. Medal of Freedom: here’s what you need to know

Mar 17, 2026 17:34

ZENIT Staff

The National Constitution Center has chosen Pope Leo XIV as the recipient of its 38th annual Liberty Medal

Analysis Opinion•Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Vatican Diplomacy

Vatican questions “preventive” war in Iran as Leo XIV intensifies diplomatic calls for peace

In an interview with Vatican media on March 4, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, offered one of the most detailed assessments yet of the crisis

Mar 08, 2026 07:10

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV•Vatican Diplomacy

An Italian: this is the Pope’s new ambassador “to” Donald Trump

Archbishop Caccia, 68, has served as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations since 2019, and succeeds Cardinal Christophe Pierre, 80, who has held the post since 2016

Mar 07, 2026 23:08

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Local Church•Pope Leo XIV•Vatican Diplomacy

The Middle East, the spread of war, and the position of the Pope and the Catholic Church

As the Middle East faces the prospect of a broader regional war, the Vatican’s hope remains that diplomacy — not missiles — will ultimately shape the future of the region.

Mar 05, 2026 09:36

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Pope Leo XIV•Vatican Diplomacy

Pope Leo XIV, the US-Iran war, and a forceful call in a Middle East on the brink of the abyss

The reverberations are being felt most acutely by Christian minorities already living on fragile ground

Mar 02, 2026 09:06

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Vatican Diplomacy

Outgoing Chilean president asks Pope to intervene in US blockade of Cuba

By turning to Pope Leo XIV, Boric is betting that moral authority can help unlock political space. Whether Rome will step beyond general appeals into more active engagement remains uncertain

Feb 20, 2026 11:25

ZENIT Staff

Confirmed: The 4th Mediterranean Meeting will take place in Barcelona with the Pope in attendance

Their meeting with the Pope, held in the Apostolic Palace, lasted about an hour and centered on preparations for the next major milestone: a gathering of Mediterranean bishops scheduled for June 9–12 in Barcelona. It will be the fourth such assembly, following earlier encounters in Bari (2020), Florence (2022) and Marseille (2023), and will revolve around a single, urgent theme—peace