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

Mar 05, 2026 09:36

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Speaking to journalists outside the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo on the evening of March 3 Photo: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV concludes his annual spiritual exercises with some impromptu words about Christ and Communion

In a few unscripted minutes, the Pope managed to summarize the meaning of the week: a retreat grounded in Scripture, shaped by tradition, attentive to human frailty, and oriented toward hope. It was a conclusion that reflected the spirit of Lent itself—quiet, demanding, and ultimately centered on Christ

Feb 27, 2026 22:12

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV

From Africa to Spain via Monaco: this is Leo XIV’s global travel schedule for 2026

The schedule outlines three distinct journeys: a ten-day pilgrimage across four African nations, a one-day visit to Monaco, and a six-day trip to Spain that will culminate in the Canary Islands. Together, they form a carefully calibrated map of priorities that blends history, diplomacy, evangelization and social concern.

Feb 25, 2026 22:30

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV

Did Pope Leo XIV speak out against the Spanish party Vox, which is aligned with the Trump administration?

The episode underscores how quickly nuanced papal language can be refracted through national political debates—and how carefully episcopal conferences now feel compelled to guard the boundary between pastoral guidance and partisan interpretation

Feb 24, 2026 23:20

Covadonga Asturias

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV will visit Algeria, the land of Saint Augustine, according to local media: these are the dates given by the press

There is also a practical indication reinforcing the plausibility of the trip. The official calendar of Wednesday general audiences published by the Prefecture of the Papal Household does not list an audience for April 15

Feb 23, 2026 22:20

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Pope Leo XIV•Vocations

Pope Leo XIV to priests: no to homilies with Artificial Intelligence and the search for “likes” and “followers” on social media

The Pope also warned against a subtler distortion of priestly identity: the search for validation on social media platforms such as TikTok. The illusion, he suggested, is to believe that accumulating followers or “likes” means one is effectively evangelizing

Feb 23, 2026 21:16

Jorge Enrique Mújica