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Pope Leo XIV has underscored that war is never blessed by God, with the Vatican hosting a two‑day cardinal meeting to discuss the international scene, AI encyclicals, and listening to ordinary faithful. The Society of St Pius X (SSPX) plans four bishop consecrations in Switzerland, a move the Vatican labels schismatic, triggering an excommunication risk. Meanwhile, the pope advances a wider migration and global‑citizenship narrative during a mid‑summer Italian tour.
The Taong Putik festival, honoring St. John the Baptist, has grown in participation since the 1800s, with thousands of devotees smeared in mud and wrapped in banana leaves before dawn processions to the church.
The Vatican Museums have launched a five-year, $5.5 million restoration project for the Raphael Loggia, a pinnacle of Renaissance figurative art. The effort, supported by the World Monuments Fund and funded by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, will use laser cleaning and new sun-filtering glass as part of a broader preservation plan.
The Vatican has appointed Italian economist Alessandra Smerilli as head of the office for migrants, environment and development, succeeding Cardinal Michael Czerny. Cardinal Fabio Baggio is named pro-prefect alongside her. The move follows Pope Francis’ push to elevate women in the Holy See’s leadership, while traditionalists push back on further reforms.