The pope: head of the worldwide Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome
Pope Leo has been maintaining a weekly tennis routine as part of his Augustinian devotion to physical activity and interior life. Reports highlight his Castel Gandolfo retreats, Africa trip in April, and public message promoting sport as a tool for peace and personal growth, while colleagues note the stamina needed for his global duties.
Pope Leo XIV has celebrated Mass at Barcelona’s Sagrada Família and has blessed the newly completed 172.5‑metre Tower of Jesus Christ during a visit marking the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. The service has drawn thousands, including Spain’s king, queen and prime minister; the pope also said Christians cannot support war.
The Pope has urged leaders to show compassion toward migrants and refugees, stressing that dignity has no passport. He cites the Canary Islands and Arguineguin as symbols of a global conscience, calling for legal routes, cooperation against trafficking, and rescue funding. The remarks come as Europe tightens migration controls amid ongoing deaths at sea.
The pope’s Iberia charter has been grounded by a maintenance issue while returning from Spain. King Felipe VI personally escorts Pope Leo XIV to a different plane on the Canary Islands airstrip; the pope’s trip to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands continues to draw attention to migration and religious outreach.
Ultra-conservative Catholic group SSPX has announced plans to ordain four bishops in Ecône despite Vatican warnings. Excommunication for participants is set to follow, heightening tensions within the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV faces a decisive crisis over doctrinal unity.
EU proposals seek to extend temporary protections for Ukrainians in Europe, aiming to balance Ukraine’s defense needs with humanitarian duties. The plan could tighten rules on new arrivals while testing support for those returning home; rights groups warn of potential risks to displaced people.
Penguin Random House’s Image Books will publish Freedom Under Grace: Reflections on the Spiritual Tradition That Formed Me on Sept. 15. The book gathers Robert Prevost’s homilies and addresses from his years as prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, with notes on its spiritual and social implications for modern believers.
The pontiff has received the baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Pierzynski posted photos from the Vatican, confirming the moment when Leo XIV, then Father Robert Prevost, accepted the ball. The White Sox plan an Aug. 11 tribute with pope-themed hats as fans remember the team’s 2005 title.
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.
The Vatican has excommunicated four SSPX bishops and several priests for unauthorised ordinations, warning the faithful that adherence to the Society constitutes schism. The move escalates a long-running standoff with the traditionalist group and heightens tensions around Vatican II reforms and relations with Jews and other faiths.
This year’s class of “Great Immigrants, Great Americans” includes Citi CEO Jane Fraser, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Hernan Diaz and Cristina Rivera Garza, and fashion designer Gabriela Hearst. The newly renamed Andrew Carnegie…
Vance and Rubio are positioning themselves on Iran and Lebanon as White House and State Department deny any rift. Delegations led by Vance and Rubio have shaped recent talks with Iran, with a fragile ceasefire framework under close U.S. oversight.
SSPX plans to consecrate four bishops in Econe, Switzerland, defying a papal warning. The ceremony, timed to mark the 38th anniversary of a prior excommunication, has drawn international attention and raised questions about canon law, schism risks, and papal concessions made in the past.
The NHS is expanding an AI-driven triage tool across app users, directing patients to the right service and reducing wait times. Trials show a 29% drop in GP phone queue lines, and the program is part of a larger £10bn tech overhaul. Safety, privacy, and digital inclusion remain priorities as the rollout reaches 200,000 patients this year and all users by 2028.
President Donald Trump has publicly taunted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over a G7 photo, posting a meme that said "Restraining order needed" and repeating that she "begged" for a picture. European leaders have rallied to Meloni, and Washington is reviewing U.S. force posture in Europe after allies refused base access for strikes on Iran.
The United States is pursuing a coordinated approach to Iran-related talks as Vice President JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio push rival tracks on Middle East diplomacy. The White House is weighing frameworks to end the Iran war while negotiations over Lebanon and Israel shape the final agreement.