VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome on Friday, Nov. 6, for an apostolic journey to South America, his first visit there since his election as pope.

The trip will take him to three countries, including Uruguay and Argentina, and culminate in Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop for about 20 years.

Like most papal trips, this will be a mix of the pastoral and the political, featuring meetings with heads of state and other dignitaries; addresses to the local hierarchy, clergy, and religious; large outdoor Masses; youth vigils; and visits to Church-affiliated charitable institutions.

But this journey will be extraordinary in at least two ways. For one thing, it comes a little more than three weeks after Leo underwent surgery for lung cancer. His doctors have said he needs no further treatment, but his decision not to reduce his schedule, which features more than 40 public and private events, is nonetheless striking. The itinerary will take him to 14 cities and towns, including Cusco, Peru, which lies more than 11,000 feet above sea level.

The other distinctive aspect of the trip, which may help explain Leo’s determination to make it, is its highly personal nature. The pope will spend five of his 11 days on the continent in Peru, two of them in his former diocese of Chiclayo. The first U.S.-born pontiff, Leo is also a naturalized citizen of Peru, where he spent almost half of his 43 years as a priest before becoming pope.

Leo is the first pope in centuries to have served as a foreign missionary, and that experience is central to his identity. As he said upon arriving in Rome in 2023 to take up a new role as a Vatican official: “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.”

His return to his former mission field will highlight the history of his vocation, as he retraces key steps on his path to leadership of the Church.

According to Father Arthur Purcaro, a fellow Augustinian and companion of then-Father Robert Prevost in Peru, the future pope was changed by his experience in the country, where he encountered a new culture, served the poor amid great social turbulence, and “learned that the Church is for the world and we’re not self-referential.”

Returning now as pontiff, Leo “will be reaching out, to have the eyes of the world see somebody’s knocking at the door,” Purcaro said in an interview. “That perhaps might help people anywhere around the world understand that that’s part of what the mission of the Church is: to open our door, to embrace. … That’s part of who he learned to be and is. And I believe it’s part of why he’s going to these three countries now.”

Leo’s journey to his adoptive continent will also showcase diverse forms of evangelization that the Church practices today.

Catholic missionary work, strictly speaking, has traditionally been aimed at peoples and places where the Church is absent or not well established. But especially since the Second Vatican Council, the Church has increasingly spoken of mission more broadly to include, among other activities, “the new evangelization,” or efforts to revive the faith among baptized people who have drifted away from religious practice or who no longer identify as Catholic.

Such efforts are particularly relevant to the first country on Leo’s itinerary, Uruguay, one of the most secular countries in Latin America, where more than half the population has no religious affiliation and 28% are agnostic or atheist. Under a law dating to 1919, the state’s official calendar lists Christmas as “Family Day,” Holy Week as “Tourism Week,” the Epiphany as “Children’s Day,” and the Immaculate Conception as “Beaches Day.”

Evangelization in such an environment is “a very great challenge,” Bishop Milton Tróccoli of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas, president of the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, told “EWTN Noticias” in September. The local Church considers Uruguay “a mission country where we must proclaim the Gospel extensively,” Tróccoli said.

Uruguayan secularism reflects the influence of the French model of “laïcité,” and Leo’s approach to the matter could well echo his remarks on his last international trip, to France in September. There, in his speech to President Emmanuel Macron and other dignitaries, the pope argued that religious believers and institutions should have a role in public life.

In another echo of his visit to France, where he denounced the country’s recent legalization of assisted dying, Leo is also likely to criticize Uruguay’s recent legalization of euthanasia. (Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a human life for the purpose of relieving suffering. In assisted dying, a patient takes life-ending drugs himself under the guidance of a physician. Catholic moral teaching prohibits both practices.)

In Argentina, Leo’s visit will inevitably be seen in light of the memory of its native son Pope Francis, who never visited the country during his 12-year pontificate. Leo has vowed to continue his predecessor’s signature initiative of synodality, which seeks to give lay Catholics a greater voice in Church governance and teaching.

Francis said that “synodality is essentially missionary” and that mission is “always synodal,” suggesting that clergy, religious, and laypeople should listen to one another and work together in proclaiming the Gospel. At Leo’s meetings with the bishops of Argentina and Peru, a standard feature of papal visits, local teams responsible for implementing the synodal process will also be included, a sign of the importance that the current pope gives to the topic.

Although Pope Francis was known as an innovator, and even a disruptor of tradition, he was also a champion of popular piety, particularly devotion to the Virgin Mary. Pope Leo XIV will honor that practice on his upcoming pilgrimage to the Argentine city of Luján, home to a revered image of Mary that draws millions of pilgrims each year, and drew more than 2.8 million for a youth pilgrimage in October.

Leo’s visits to Uruguay and Peru will likewise include important Marian shrines: the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Uruguay and the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace in Peru. Leo will also crown an image of the Immaculate Virgin at the cathedral in his former diocese of Chiclayo.

According to Bishop Edinson Farfán, Leo’s successor as bishop of Chiclayo, popular piety is a “great ally” in facing one of the greatest challenges to Catholicism in Latin America today: competition from Pentecostal churches. “Popular piety reaches everywhere, especially peripheral areas,” where priests seldom visit but Pentecostals are well-established, Farfán told reporters at a briefing last month organized by the charitable organization Aid to the Church in Need.

The Peru leg of the pope’s trip will highlight an important element of evangelization: the practice of inculturation, or expressing Catholic teachings and forms of worship in terms of local cultures. A key figure in this tradition is St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, a Spanish missionary who served as archbishop of Lima from 1581 until his death in 1606 and who promoted the use of the Indigenous languages Quechua and Aymara in evangelization.

Pope Leo, who studied Quechua during his time in Peru, has a particular devotion to St. Turibius. Then-Father Prevost spent the night before his ordination as a bishop in December 2014 praying before a relic of the saint in a chapel in the town of Zaña. Now pope, he will return to the town, a historic center of Afro-Peruvian culture, on Nov. 14 for a closing celebration of the jubilee year marking the 300th anniversary of St. Turibius’ canonization.

During his visit to South America, the pope will visit centers of the Church’s charitable activity, a traditional concomitant of mission work, including homes for disabled people near Buenos Aires, Argentina, and for abandoned elderly people in Lima, Peru.

Leo will also engage in a form of outreach that has become especially urgent in recent years, following scandals over clerical sexual abuse. The Vatican has said Leo will hold some meetings with abuse victims during his time in South America. These could include people involved in the Sodalitium case. As bishop of Chiclayo, Leo personally assisted victims of abuse by members of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic organization suppressed by the Vatican in 2025.

The pope’s last full day in Peru before returning to Rome will be in some ways the most ambitious, and a dramatic illustration of the Church’s missionary efforts. In the morning, he will fly to Cusco in the Andean highlands, where he will meet representatives of popular Catholic devotion at an Inca archaeological site. A few hours later, he will meet missionaries and representatives of Amazonian Indigenous peoples and celebrate Mass in the rainforest. The difficulty of providing the sacraments to remote parts of the Amazon was a major theme of the Amazon Synod that Pope Francis called at the Vatican in 2019.

“The popeʼs presence will make us visible,” said Father David Farfán, a priest of the Diocese of Chiclayo (with no family relation to the bishop of the same surname). “It will draw attention to those places in the heartland of Peru — and indeed anywhere in the world — where communities have been forgotten, rejected, and left behind.”

Continuing a tradition begun by St. John Paul II in the late 1970s, Pope Leo XIV visited a cemetery outside the Vatican on Nov. 2 — the day the Catholic Church commemorates All Souls’ Day — to celebrate Mass and pray for those who have died.

“We have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist in this place of prayer and remembrance, of affection and hope. We offer it in suffrage for the faithful departed, particularly for those who rest here and for those whom each of us carries in our hearts,” the pontiff said during Mass celebrated on the central avenue of Rome’s Verano Cemetery.

The altar from which he presided over the celebration was flanked by a row of tombs. Located in the Tiburtino neighborhood, the cemetery, built in the 19th century during the Napoleonic era, is Italy’s second-largest civil cemetery and the largest in Rome.

The grounds, which include an area designated for non-Catholics, suffered severe damage during the Allied bombing of Rome in 1943 and were rebuilt in 1949.

Upon his arrival, Leo XIV placed a bouquet of white and yellow roses on the marble headstone of a randomly chosen grave belonging to an Italian family and bearing the name Antonia Coccia Nicolini.

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During his homily, the pontiff explained that the commemoration of the faithful departed, celebrated the day after the solemnity of All Saints, guides the prayer of the Church.

“We turn to the heavenly Father so that the life of holiness and blessedness already enjoyed by so many of his sons and daughters may envelop the souls of those who sleep the sleep of peace,” said the pope, who wore purple liturgical vestments, a symbol of penance, prayer, and hope in the Resurrection.

He also emphasized that faith in Christ is illuminated “by the word that has been proclaimed and that strengthens our trust in God’s hands.”

The Beatitudes, the ‘self-portrait of Jesus’

About 1,500 people attended the celebration, according to figures provided by the Vatican.

Reflecting on the Gospel of the Beatitudes proclaimed during the Mass, Leo XIV said they constitute the “self-portrait of Jesus” and reveal the path to a fully realized life, both on this earth and in eternity.

“The risen Lord tells us: Blessed are those who live according to this path, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” he said.

An estimated 1,500 people attend Pope Leo XIV’s Mass for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed at Verano Cemetery in Rome on Nov. 2, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

He also observed that this message takes on particular force in a cemetery, which he described as “a threshold between this world and the next,” where faith enables believers to view death through the hope of the Resurrection.

In this context, he stressed that “faith in Christ tells us that our bond with the faithful departed has not been broken but transformed.”

‘The absurd violence of war’

The Holy Father also offered prayers for the deceased and made a special appeal for those suffering the consequences of armed conflicts.

He prayed that “the tears of so many mothers, so many children, and so many elderly people” would move the consciences of those who have the power to end wars.

Reflecting on the beatitude “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” he offered a special remembrance for those who have recently lost a loved one.

“At this moment we wish to pray for those who have recently lost a loved one, especially for those from whom a loved one has been taken by the absurd violence of war,” he said.

He then renewed his appeal for peace: “May the tears of so many mothers, so many children, and so many elderly people move the consciences of those who have the power to silence the weapons.”

Christian hope in the face of death

Speaking during the 800th anniversary year of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, Leo XIV recalled the praise the saint added to the “Canticle of Creatures” near the end of his life, when he referred to “Sister Bodily Death” and proclaimed blessed those who are found doing God’s will.

In his homily, the pontiff underscored Christian hope in eternal life and reaffirmed that God keeps forever those who have departed this world. Citing the Book of Wisdom, he recalled that the souls of the just are secure in the Lord’s hands and that “no torment shall ever touch them.”

Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of his predecessor St. John Paul II by celebrating Mass for All Souls’ Day at Verano Cemetery in Rome on Nov. 2, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

The pope explained that this promise of salvation lies at the heart of the Church’s prayer on All Souls’ Day, when the faithful entrust their loved ones to divine mercy so that they may attain full communion with God.

Leo XIV also invoked the words of the Book of Revelation, which proclaims that God will dwell forever with his people, as well as the promise of the Good Shepherd that no one can snatch his sheep from his hand.

The pope concluded his homily with a reference to Revelation and God’s definitive promise for humanity: the day when “death shall be no more, neither mourning nor crying nor pain,” because all suffering will have been overcome forever.

With this Mass, Leo XIV, as he did last year, continued a tradition promoted by St. John Paul II, who visited the same cemetery on 12 occasions for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Pope Benedict XVI also celebrated a Mass at the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, located next to the cemetery, though without visiting its graves.

Pope Francis, for his part, maintained the custom of celebrating the All Souls’ Day Mass in various cemeteries throughout Rome during his pontificate.

In addition to Monday’s celebration, Leo XIV is scheduled to preside on Thursday, Nov. 5, at St. Peter’s Basilica, one day before departing on his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, at a Mass offered for the cardinals and bishops who have died during the past year.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ROME — Notre Dame defeated Villanova in the D1 college basketball season openers on Sunday, Nov. 1, with final scores of 74-72 for the men’s game and 99-75 for the women’s. The Eternal City Tip-Off games, held in Rome, pitted two schools with “shared faith-based traditions and championship pedigrees” against each other in the historically Catholic capital of Italy.

Fans, students, faculty, staff, and alumni from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame filled Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport, a massive arena that seats more than 11,000, to cheer on their men’s and women’s teams in a matchup that was inspired by Pope Leo’s election as the first American pope. After a weekend of welcome receptions, tourism opportunities, and scheduled events, including a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a papal audience, energy in the stadium was high before the men’s tipoff at 3:30 p.m. local time.

Before the game, Villanova fans confidently expected a Wildcat win: Tom McKernan, a Villanova alumnus from Philadelphia, joked: “We’re not playing [Notre Dame] in football, so I think we have the upper hand. We definitely have more crowd support today, so I’m looking for a big Villanova win.”

Fans watch as Notre Dame plays Villanova in the D1 college basketball season opener, with a final score of 74-72 for the men’s game in the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome on Nov. 1, 2026. | Credit: Abby Strelow/EWTN News

But while Notre Dame trailed Villanova for most of the men’s game, they came back with a minute left, pulling ahead for a score of 72-70 after Logan Duncomb’s three-point shot. After a suspenseful final minute, the Fighting Irish secured the game, upsetting the Wildcats by two points. Notre Dame fans erupted into cheers and chants of “Let’s go, Irish!” as Villanova’s much larger fan section sat in shock.

The Fighting Irish win came as a surprise for even Notre Dame fans, since the Wildcats came into the weekend with a few advantages: Besides boasting a storied basketball program, their fan presence in the stadium outnumbered Notre Dame’s supporters by a staggering majority. Most importantly for Villanova, however, was feeling that the pope was on their side: Pope Leo XIV, who graduated from the university in 1977, jokingly told both teams on Saturday that while “the pope doesn’t take sides… Prevost has another opinion.”

But whichever team Pope Leo was rooting for, fans of both sides were thrilled to see the pope during this weekend’s events, with Wildcats and Fighting Irish alike emphasizing that a visit to the Vatican was what made the Eternal City Tip-Off truly special.

Allen and Joanne Herda, parents of a Notre Dame senior from Dallas, said that when they bought their tickets for the game in Rome, they “knew that it would be a pilgrimage.” And while the Herdas were excited to cheer on their basketball team, they said the real main event of the Eternal City Tip-Off was the papal audience Oct. 31.

During the audience, Joanne was able to shake Pope Leo’s hand as he exited the audience hall, a moment she recalled with excitement.

“You got a reflection, a shock of gentleness and peace,” she said. “For me, [this weekend] has been otherworldly and extremely spiritual. I never dreamt that I would have touched the Holy Father, and we went to Mass this morning, and that was so spiritual too. … It’s hard to find the words.”

Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the Eternal City Tip-Off taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media

Father Francisco Carrillo, a priest from Mexico City who lives in Rome while studying for his master’s degree in biblical theology, was invited to the game by friends who are Villanova alumni. “For today, I’m a Villanova fan,” he said. But like the Herdas, Carrillo described the events of the weekend as more than simply a basketball game, calling them “providential.”

He said: “The first time that there’s an American pope, and that he studied in a Catholic university in the States, and then the fact that they organized this NCAA game here in Rome for the pope… it’s a huge event, not only on a human level but also spiritually.”

Second win for Notre Dame

The weekend got even better for the Irish when the women’s game ended in a second victory for Notre Dame — this time more expected. The Indiana school is known for having a higher-ranking women’s basketball team than its men’s team, in large part due to senior guard Hannah Hidalgo, who is expected to be a top lottery pick in the 2027 WNBA draft. Hidalgo contributed 32 of Notre Dame’s 99 points against Villanova.

Notre Dame fans celebrated their second win of the night with cheers as the buzzer sounded, the culmination of a victory that was more than just a basketball win: Opening the college basketball season with a triumph in the storied city of Rome, just kilometers away from Pope Leo, was a once-in-a-lifetime feeling for the excited Notre Dame teams, fans, and students present.

Notre Dame fans, sporting jerseys with “Forza Irish” (“Go Irish” in Italian) on the back, watch the Notre Dame and Villanova women’s teams play at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome on Nov. 1, 2026. | Credit: Abby Strelow/EWTN News

Hidalgo’s parents, Tamara and Orlando Hidalgo, were thrilled with Notre Dame’s season opener win. And while watching their daughter play will always be reason enough for them to travel around the world, Tamara commented that their experience in Rome has been “spectacular” for more reasons than basketball.

“I was actually taken to the prison where Paul was held,” she said. “For me, it was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime [experience]. It really touched my heart to know that I’m standing right above where he wrote the Book of Timothy. So I’ve had a phenomenal experience.”

For Villanova, the evening certainly held a fair share of disappointment from the basketball loss. But despite inevitable regret at the games’ outcome, Wildcat fans won’t be going home despondent.

Linda Hodgson, a Villanova alumna who was at the game with her daughter, shared her mixed feelings after the game: “[I’m] very disappointed. What else can I say? We were really expecting a Villanova win, especially with the pope’s blessing,” she said.

But, Hodgson added, “it was great meeting the pope. It was fun walking around Rome and seeing all the landmarks and coming to the basketball game. It was a great trip.”

For Hodgson and the other Villanova fans, the Eternal City Tip-Off loss may have been disappointing, but the weekend remained an amazing opportunity to be present in Rome for a historic visit to the Vatican, a competitive matchup with another Catholic school, and a chance to experience the excitement of basketball in the context of the faith.

In a statement to EWTN News before the game, Notre Dame president Father Robert Dowd, CSC, described the weekend as an expression of “shared commitment” to Catholic higher education between the universities, saying: “[W]e are united in our deep devotion to our faith and appreciation for the power of sport to elevate the human spirit.”

His hope that the matchup would deepen “a spirit of joy and communion” between Notre Dame and Villanova echoed the words of Pope Leo, who said on Saturday that “the members of two teams, even when they have a competitive rivalry, are certainly not enemies” and encouraged the “fraternity, solidarity, and peace” that athletics can promote.

And while Notre Dame has the scoreboard as proof of its victory, the moments of fraternity, joyful competition, and prayer shared between both schools during the Eternal City Tip-Off weekend made the season opener a historical moment for Notre Dame and Villanova alike.

Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that holiness is a calling for everyone, not an achievement reserved for a select group, as he reflected on the Solemnity of All Saints during his Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square.

“The Solemnity of All Saints, which we celebrate today, invites us to share in the joy of that countless family of men and women who, following the Lord Jesus, have made their lives a gift to God and to their neighbors,” the pope said.

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Spe Salvi, Leo said the saints, along their different paths to holiness, “have longed for ‘the ocean of infinite love.’”

The pope noted that the Church celebrates not only canonized saints on Nov. 1 but also “the countless others who have not been formally recognized but are known to God.”

“It is indeed true that it is impossible to count this multitude of brothers and sisters, and not just in numerical terms,” he said. “Holiness, in fact, cannot be reduced to any calculation, for such is the good that all the saints have spread around them in the world.”

Leo said the saints brought forth “actions and choices of love that transcend the calculations of greed and the arrogance of evil, which at times seems to prevail.”

“The saints are the most beautiful and powerful sign of the Kingdom of God that is coming — or rather, as Jesus teaches us, is already among us,” he said.

The pope emphasized that the multitude of saints includes people “from the most diverse backgrounds, cultures and walks of life.”

“Holiness is not a privilege reserved for a few, but a universal vocation that speaks to each of us where we live,” Leo said.

“This is the hope-filled message of today’s feast: God sees the good that we do not see, knows stories that we do not know and reaches hearts to which we have no access.”

He entrusted the faithful to the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying that she would accompany them “along the path to holiness, so that we may never grow weary of fostering peace, both in the most important situations and in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.”

Pope recalls newly beatified Georgia martyrs

After the Angelus, Leo recalled the beatification the previous day in Savannah, Georgia, of Pedro de Corpa and four companions, Franciscan friars killed in odium fidei, or “in hatred of the faith,” in 1597.

“Originally from Spain, they responded generously to the Lordʼs call to evangelize the peoples of the Americas, even to the point of giving their lives,” the pope said. “Let us invoke the intercession of these martyrs for all missionaries of the Gospel.”

Leo also spoke about a recent humanitarian operation to assist civilians in Oleshky, expressing hope that cooperation between the parties involved would lead to further steps toward peace.

“I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian act possible, will strengthen the desire for dialogue and lead to new concrete peace initiatives,” he said.

The pope then highlighted the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, calling the first Olympic event held on the African continent “a sign of hope coming from the world of sport.”

He also noted that the Friars Minor will hold a Mission with the Poor in Rome from Nov. 8–15.

“I congratulate the sons of Saint Francis who, through this initiative, are placing the poor at the center, as the Lord Jesus did and as Saint Francis of Assisi did,” Leo said.

Finally, ahead of the Nov. 2 Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, the pope announced that he would celebrate Mass at Rome’s Verano Cemetery.

“During these days, let us feel united in the Communion of Saints with the immense family of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us on our earthly pilgrimage,” he said, “and let us pray for the departed, especially those whom no one remembers.”

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

ROME - Pope Leo XIV welcomed around 7,000 team members, students, and fans from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame at the Vatican Saturday morning, the day before both schools’ men’s and womenʼs teams will kick off the college basketball season in a historic doubleheader.

Fans of all ages packed into the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall in Rome for an audience with the pope, who is himself a Villanova graduate.

Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media

“Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we oftentimes heard, ‘Go Irish!’” Pope Leo told the crowd. “But as you all know, Prevost graduated from Villanova. So, the pope doesn’t take sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” he added, to cheers from the Villanova supporters.

The Nov. 1 event, called the Eternal City Tip-Off, will open the 2026-27 college basketball season for the Division 1 teams. Organized as a collaboration between Fox Sports, On Location, and Players Era, inspiration for the event came from Leo’s election as the first American pope.

Leading up to the Sunday games, supporters of both universities — including alumni, faculty, staff, students, and fans — were able to participate in a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica along with the papal audience.

Father Peter Donohue, OSA, president of Villanova, and Father Robert Dowd, CSC, president of Notre Dame, began the audience by addressing the pope on behalf of their universities. Four student-athletes from each school then presented the pope with gifts, including commemorative basketballs, jerseys, and a special prayer for athletes written by the late Holy Cross Father Theodore Hesburgh, a past president of Notre Dame.

Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo drew laughs and cheers from the crowd when he began to dribble the basketball offered by Villanova team representatives.

The pope then addressed the gathered fans, speaking about a “vision of sport” proposed by the Catholic Church centered on “the dignity of the human person, on his or her integral development, on education, and on relationships with others.”

He pointed out that the games will take place on the feast of All Saints’ Day, saying that the occasion was a valuable reminder “that God calls everyone to be a saint. … We are invited, therefore, to ensure that every aspect of our lives, including our athletic endeavors, will help us to love God and our neighbor.”

Pope Leo emphasized the importance of sport as “a concrete means of bringing people together,” particularly in an age “marked by the distance that can be created by technology.” He added, “Sport is a medicine for both body and spirit when it is practiced well.”

Ambrose Weidmann, an architecture student from the University of Notre Dame studying abroad in Rome, attended the papal audience with his friends. “It was great to hear each school’s president’s viewpoint on sports, school, and faith, and even better to hear the Holy Father’s comments on sports and especially our universal calling to sainthood,” he said.

Eric Heinz, who was at the audience with his wife and two sons — one of whom graduated from Villanova, the other from Notre Dame — echoed Weidmann’s sentiments.

“I think it’s really great to have so many people that you know [in the room],” he said, citing the thousands of supporters from both universities who filled the hall. “It’s really attributed, I think, to the love of not just their schools, but Pope Leo, and having an American as the pope. … Everyone’s in a great mood about it.”

Shannon Murphy and Gabriel Alvarez, sitting a few rows down from the Heinz family, had already planned on a trip to Rome for their honeymoon, but when they saw that the dates lined up perfectly with the Eternal City Tip-Off weekend, they were thrilled.

“We put it on the calendar, and the minute they went for sale we were refreshing [the page] to get the best tickets we could that were available… we’re very excited,” said Murphy, who is a Villanova alumna. She added that sharing both an alma mater and the Catholic faith with Pope Leo made seeing him “pretty great.”

Before the papal audience, fans had the chance to attend a special morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia and concelebrated by the presidents of both universities.

During the homily, Perez praised the discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice of the student-athletes, quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to remind the faithful that sport is a model for the spiritual life, and offering Mary as a model of this excellence: “She played the game of life, the game of grace, in such a beautiful, powerful, profound way,” he said, offering Mary’s humility and service as an example of “true greatness.”

Weidmann commented that the Vatican events on Saturday tied basketball and Catholicism together in an “ideal connection” between faith and sports, and even served as a means of evangelization.

“I know a few of my peers who are atheist or agnostic, but went to the papal audience and Mass today and got to hear the voice of the Church calling to them through the Word of God and the pope’s words, which I thought was a really great way to expose more people to our faith,” he said.

Villanova and Notre Dame will face off on Sunday beginning with the men’s basketball game at 3:30 pm CET (9:30 am EST), which can be viewed on Fox. The women’s game, aired on FS1, will follow at 6:00 pm CET (12 pm EST).

Pope Leo XIV emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) can never replace the human person and that AI regulation must continue.

“Machines are tools, not persons,” Leo said in his address.

The pontiff held a private audience on Friday with participants in a meeting on “The Future of AI: A Dialogue Between the Vatican and the Scientific World on the Development and Applications of Intelligent Technologies” at the Vatican. The Pontifical Academy for Life and the Future of Life Institute organized the one-day conference.

AI cannot be given human rights or personhood

During the meeting, members of the Vatican Commission on Artificial Intelligence and scholars discussed ongoing concerns as AI continues to develop.

Noting this concern in his address, the pope warned against efforts to grant AI technologies rights and legal status comparable to those of human beings.

“Today, some propose granting these systems rights, or even legal personhood,” Leo said. “Such an approach risks obscuring human responsibility and leaving those who suffer harm to confront a faceless entity.”

A group photo with Pope Leo XIV and the participants of the meeting “The Future of AI: A Dialogue Between the Vatican and the Scientific World on the Development and Applications of Intelligent Technologies.” The pontiff met them in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on Oct. 30, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Drawing on his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Leo explained that the future of AI technologies depends on the choices made today, choices he hopes will promote the dignity of the human person.

“As a technology developed by human beings, its future depends on the choices we make,” Leo said.

“A reliable system that serves the human person is of greater value than one that is exceptionally powerful but whose consequences cannot be adequately foreseen or controlled.”

Earlier in October, Leo explained the difference between classical art and AI-made art, saying there is an “ontological difference” that exists “even before an aesthetic one.”

Vatican AI leadership and calls to stop super-development

Several conference participants, according to an Oct. 30 press release, expressed hope in the Vatican’s leadership on AI ethical issues. One of those was Max Tegmark, a physicist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“With strong moral leadership, the Vatican can help steer AI development onto a better pro-human path,” Tegmark said.

Others called for an end to the super-development of AI amid fears that AI is making humans obsolete.

“We must turn aside from this trajectory before it is too late and pursue other trajectories,” said Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, adding that if AI developers succeed in super-development, “there’s a good chance that every human being will die.”

Pope Leo XIV has approved a reform of the disciplinary rules governing personnel of the Roman Curia, introducing new safeguards for employees facing proceedings for serious misconduct, including the possibility of legal representation and a longer period in which to submit their defense.

The changes were approved by the pontiff on Oct. 19 through a “Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi,” a Latin expression referring to a decision or provision approved by the pope following an audience granted to a curial official or ecclesiastical authority.

The document is signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, and amends Articles 62 §3, 68 §2, and 68 §4 of the Regulations for Personnel of the Roman Curia.

Changes to the role of the disciplinary commission

The reform introduces a clarification to article 62 §3 to define more precisely the responsibilities of the Roman Curia’s Disciplinary Commission.

The new wording states that the commission shall act in determining certain disciplinary sanctions, “with the exception of suspension for a period of up to 30 days.” As a result, shorter suspensions will no longer require the commission’s involvement, while more serious sanctions will continue to be examined by the body.

The change means that, when an employee commits an offense, the head of a dicastery may now impose a sanction directly, including suspension from work for up to 30 days. Beyond that threshold, the Disciplinary Commission must be involved to assess the appropriateness of the sanction.

Previously, even suspensions of less than 30 days required review by the Disciplinary Commission. Under the new rules, such review is necessary only for suspensions exceeding 30 days.

Another significant change concerns proceedings that could result in a lengthy suspension or dismissal.

Until now, the regulations provided employees with 10 days to submit their explanations after receiving notice of the alleged violations.

The new rule maintains that deadline for ordinary cases but introduces an additional safeguard for more serious situations. Specifically, when the alleged conduct is considered by the head of the department to be “liable to result in a suspension exceeding 30 days or dismissal,” the employee will be granted “15 days to present his or her defense.”

Right to legal assistance

The reform also explicitly incorporates the employee’s right to legal assistance in the most serious disciplinary proceedings.

The new text states that the employee may present a defense “making use, if appropriate, of a lawyer chosen from among the members of the Corps of Lawyers of the Holy See or the Register of Lawyers of the Roman Curia.”

This is a significant innovation within the Curia’s internal regulations, as it expressly provides for legal representation when the potential sanction could involve a lengthy suspension or termination of employment.

Obligation to inform the employee

The amendment to article 68 §4 also establishes new notification requirements for heads of Vatican departments and institutions.

When the head of an entity considers that a “suspension exceeding 30 days or dismissal” is warranted, he or she must forward the case file to the Roman Curia’s Disciplinary Commission and inform the employee “of the measure adopted and of the possibility of making use of his or her own lawyer” from among those authorized under the regulations.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Italian Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa and Salesian Sister Elena Massimi, a professor of liturgy and sacramental theology at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, as the new undersecretaries of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

The appointments mark a leadership change at the body responsible for overseeing the Catholic Churchʼs synodal process. They follow the departure of Sister Nathalie Becquart, who had served as undersecretary since February 2021.

In recent years, Becquart became one of the most prominent figures in the synodal process initiated by Pope Francis and continued by Leo XIV. She was also the first woman to have voting rights at an assembly of the Synod of Bishops, a milestone in the Churchʼs recent history.

A Jesuit deeply involved in the synodal process

Costa, the new undersecretary, was born in Genoa in 1967 and entered the Society of Jesus in 1992. Trained as a sociologist, he earned a diploma of advanced studies in political and moral sociology from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris.

Costa is well known in Italian Church circles. From 2010 to 2021, he served as editor of the journal Aggiornamenti Sociali, and from 2007 to 2025, he chaired the San Fedele Cultural Foundation in Milan.

He has been closely involved in the synodal process, serving as special secretary for both the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated to young people in 2018, and the 16th Ordinary General Assembly on synodality, held from 2021 to 2024.

Until now, he had served as a consultor to the General Secretariat of the Synod.

A liturgy expert

Alongside Costa, the pope appointed Sister Elena Massimi, a member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, also known as the Salesian Sisters, as undersecretary.

Born in Rome in 1975, Massimi made her perpetual profession in 2009 and earned a doctorate in theology, specializing in pastoral liturgy, from the Santa Giustina Institute of Pastoral Liturgy in Padua, Italy, which is affiliated with the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm.

She currently teaches liturgy and sacramental theology at the Pontifical Salesian University, serves as president of the Italian Association of Professors and Scholars of Liturgy, and oversees music for the liturgy at the National Liturgical Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

Her appointment strengthens womenʼs representation in one of the Roman Curiaʼs most important bodies and brings recognized academic and pastoral expertise in liturgy to the synodal leadership team.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

A conference in Rome this week examined how the Church addressed totalitarian regimes in the 20th century.

The conference “The Holy See in the Face of Totalitarian Systems in the 20th Century: New Perspectives and Research Directions” was held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from Oct. 28–29. Over the two days, scholars discussed how the Vatican responded to oppressive governments, particularly from the time of Pope Pius XII to the Second Vatican Council.

The Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation and the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences, which organized the event, also presented a new exhibit at the Gregorian on the 1966 celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland in 966.

Totalitarianism: Temptation to be like God

As reported by Vatican News, the conference opened with a keynote address from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who warned nations against asserting themselves in the place of God.

“[Totalitarianism] arises from the human temptation to want to ‘be like God,’ to control how humanity lives and thinks, and to impose one’s own ideological convictions on it,” Parolin said.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks at the conference “The Holy See in the Face of Totalitarian Systems in the 20th Century: New Perspectives and Research Directions,” at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Dariusz Skrzyniarz/Instytut Pamięci Narodowej

He also criticized the tendency of countries to elevate the state and certain constructs in place of religion.

“By elevating social class, race, or the state to the altar in God’s place, [totalitarian regimes] sacralized their ideological concepts and created political religions, with their own ‘liturgies,’ prophets, martyrs, and ethical norms,” Parolin added.

A new exhibit commemorating the 1966 celebration of the Baptism of Poland in A.D. 966 was launched at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News Pius XII’s Vatican and the Nazi regime

Among the topics discussed at the conference was the Holy See’s stance under Venerable Pius XII toward Nazi Germany during the Second World War, including the Holocaust.

Parolin maintained that Pius XII condemned wars in a way “that would not provoke even greater persecution” and that he displayed “a diplomacy of charity on an unprecedented scale.”

Others at the conference described the Church’s stance during this period as “sustainable.”

Pope Pius XII and Adolf Hitler. | Credit: Everett Historical/Shutterstock

“I would say that the Church, and the Holy See in particular, did what it considered possible and sustainable during the periods we have discussed, just as it does today,” said Father Nicola Spinato, a theologian from Padua, Italy.

“The Holy See and the Church are not simply political actors competing within the political arena. Their role is pastoral and ecclesial,” Spinato added.

Vatican totalitarian resistance under Vatican II and John Paul II

During the conference, several participants presented on the influence of the Second Vatican Council on the Holy See’s vocal resistance to totalitarian regimes.

Spinato presented on how the Church, through the council, formulated its opposition to racism and all forms of discrimination.

“The confrontation with the totalitarianism and racism of the 20th century contributed to the development of the Church’s social teaching,” Spinato said.

Others noted St. John Paul II’s influence on Vatican diplomacy, particularly in Poland and Latin America.

The Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia has a side chapel dedicated to St. John Paul II. | Credit: Courtney Grogan/EWTN News

“John Paul II actively intervened to end dictatorships and to promote the return to democracy. From April 1-6, 1987, he visited Chile — a trip that would change the country’s history,” Gianni La Bella, a member of the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences, said.

“Following John Paul’s pilgrimages to Poland in 1983 and 1987, efforts began to overcome the crisis. His influence and laws guaranteeing religious freedom paved the way for Poland and the Holy See to restore full diplomatic relations on July 17, 1989,” Father Albert Warso, a professor at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, said.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, acknowledged the challenges of the Vatican-China deal on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event with journalists in Rome, the British diplomat responded to questions regarding the agreement, Pope Leo XIV’s health, and calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

The full text of the 2018 agreement between China and the Holy See has never been made public. Under the publicly understood terms of the agreement, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments in China and may reject candidates proposed by Beijing. The Holy See, for its part, agreed not to appoint bishops without the Chinese government’s prior approval.

As reported by Reuters, Gallagher said that, regarding the agreement, its imperfections were visible.

“Itʼs not easy, the dialogue is not easy,” Gallagher said. “The imperfections of the agreement are ⁠evident, but ​there is a commitment to persevere in dialogue ... and that is what will ​continue to happen.”

He also answered questions regarding a potential visit from Leo to the U.S., saying that it could happen “in the not too distant future.”

Regarding the pope’s Oct. 13 surgery and subsequent recovery, Gallagher described it as a “bit of a game changer” and a revelation of the pope’s mortality, as with every human being.

“[The pope] is a poor mortal like the rest of ​us,” Gallagher said.

In August, Gallagher traveled to Russia to discuss the country’s ongoing war with Ukraine with senior officials. He told journalists that he did not believe the Vatican was involved in discussions of the ceasefire between the two nations.

Mercedes-Benz, the German luxury automaker, celebrated nearly 100 years of producing the popemobile — the pope’s personal vehicle.

To mark the occasion, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Mercedes-Benz executives on Wednesday. That same day, the exhibit “A Century of the Popemobile” opened at the Vatican Museums, featuring the first popemobile, gifted to Pope Pius XI in 1930, and the one in which St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981.

Evolving transportation for the successors of Peter

In his address to Mercedes-Benz, the pope praised the company for its enduring partnership with the Vatican and reflected on how papal transportation — from St. Peter to the present — has evolved.

“Over the decades, the Popemobile has evolved from a means of transportation into an instrument of encounter, enabling the pontiff to draw closer to the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations,” Leo said.

Pope Leo XIV addresses the executives of Mercedes-Benz during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

“In this way, your work has helped facilitate the Church’s mission of reaching out to people and bringing a message of faith, of hope, and of charity to the world.”

The pope also encouraged them to direct their innovations toward a more sustainable world, placing their "technological innovation at the service of human dignity, care for creation, and the common good.”

Carriages, the ‘sedia gestatoria,’ and modern transport

Papal transportation has evolved since the late Roman Empire, when popes were carried on the “sedia gestatoria” — ornate, ceremonial thrones carried by 12 footmen during processions and major liturgical celebrations.

Pope Pius XI used the Nürburg 460 Pullman, made by Mercedes-Benz, as the first official automobile to transport the pope. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Vatican Museums

From the late 19th century onward, popes increasingly chose modern forms of transportation, with Blessed Pius IX using the first papal train in 1859. The Nürburg 460 Pullman, made by Mercedes-Benz and given to Pope Pius XI in 1930, was the first official automobile used to transport the pope.

The Fiat 1107 - Nuova Campagnola, in which St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News

The word “popemobile” was first used to describe a custom-made Lincoln Continental for St. Paul VI’s 1965 visit to the United States. Popes since St. John Paul II have used the popemobile, with Mercedes-Benz adapting future models for security since his 1981 shooting.

A duty to ensure the pope’s safety

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the exhibit “A Century of the Popemobile,” the Mercedes-Benz executives spoke with EWTN News, reflecting on the near-century-long partnership with the Vatican.

Marc Langenbrinck, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Italy, described the partnership as a privilege, especially as a Catholic.

“[This day] is just simply the most beautiful day of my career because I am Catholic and I believe, and for me it is something which is a project of a lifetime,” Langenbrinck told EWTN News.

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Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz, explained the security and accessibility measures implemented in the popemobile.

“Well, first of all, a vehicle has to move safely, comfortably, but also safely in terms of traffic and accident risks,” Breitschwerdt said to EWTN News. “It has to be safely conceived and executed in terms of the current modern risks you face if you are in big crowds.”

Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz, at the exhibition “A Century of the Popemobile” at the Vatican Museums on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News

“So we have armored versions; we have the secured glass Popemobiles, which are very, very sophisticated,” Breitschwerdt added.

Breitschwerdt, in a speech for the exhibit launch, also said that no Mercedes-Benz employee is ever allowed to sit on the pope’s seat in the Popemobile.

“There is a strict rule that no one — not even the mechanics who maintain the vehicles or our CEO — is allowed to sit in the popeʼs seat,” Breitschwerdt said.

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass on Nov. 2 for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed — also known as All Souls’ Day — at the Monumental Cemetery of Verano, the oldest and largest cemetery in Rome.

According to the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, which announced the event on Oct. 27, the Eucharistic celebration will begin at 4 p.m. local time in this historic Roman cemetery, which preserves evidence of a necropolis dating back to the first centuries of Christianity and includes the Catacombs of St. Cyriaca.

The celebration will form part of the traditional commemorations the Church dedicates to the faithful departed during the first days of November. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Holy Father will offer prayers for the deceased and impart the apostolic blessing over the graves.

It will not be the first time a pope has presided over this celebration at Verano Cemetery. Pope Francis celebrated All Souls’ Day Mass there in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In subsequent years, he chose other significant locations, including the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo within the Vatican in 2022 and Rome’s Laurentino Cemetery in 2025.

The commemoration at Verano Cemetery will open the pope’s public liturgical schedule for the months of November and December. Among the events already announced are a Mass for the repose of the souls of the cardinals and bishops who have died during the past year, scheduled for Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.

He will also celebrate nine Masses and preside over a number of prayer services during the apostolic journey he will make to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.

Back in Rome, on Nov. 18, Leo XIV will celebrate a 5 p.m. Mass marking the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica. On Dec. 8, at approximately 4 p.m., he will lead the traditional act of veneration of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna.

Pastoral visits to Rome parishes

In November and December, Pope Leo will also visit five parishes in the Diocese of Rome, something he also did earlier this year during the season of Lent.

As bishop of Rome, during each of the afternoon visits, the pontiff will meet with parishioners, learn about the ministries in the parish, and celebrate Mass. Each church is from one of the five geographic divisions of the diocese.

On Friday, Nov. 27, he will visit Sant’Andrea delle Fratte in the city’s historic center. On Nov. 29, the first Sunday of Advent, the pope will travel to San Carlo da Sezze, which is west of Rome, in the direction of the coast.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, he will go to Sant’Eligio, in the east part of Rome; on Sunday, Dec. 13, the feast of St. Lucy, he will visit a parish named for the Italian saint in the western part of Rome; and on the Sunday before Christmas, Dec. 20, he will go to San Roberto Bellarmino in the north.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

When Pope Pius XI ordained six Chinese priests as bishops in St. Peterʼs Basilica on Oct. 28, 1926, he had picked each of them himself from lists sent from China.

A century later, bishops in mainland China are appointed under a controversial agreement the Holy See made with Beijing in 2018. Its text has never been published.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticanʼs secretary of state, defended the deal in a 2022 interview. New bishops, he said, were being ordained under a procedure “that leaves the pope the final and decisive say.” He called the results “small achievements” but “important steps toward the progressive healing of the wounds inflicted on ecclesial communion by the events of the past.”

Human Rights Watch said in 2025 the Vatican had never exercised its veto. Critics who spoke to EWTN News say the Chinese Communist Party now has a role in choosing bishops.

‘Spiritual colonies’

On the seventh anniversary of his own episcopal ordination in 1919, Pope Pius XI spoke of his joy at seeing the first “bishops of the native Chinese clergy” consecrated in Rome.

“Unlike the situation in China today, the 1926 consecrations of Chinese bishops were intended to give China native bishops, not to separate those bishops from the Holy See,” Anthony E. Clark, a professor of Chinese history at Whitworth University and a lay Dominican, told EWTN News.

Missions in China operated under a French protectorate at that time. Father Frédéric-Vincent Lebbe, a Vincentian who arrived in China after the Boxer Rebellion, said the missions had created “spiritual colonies” instead of living Churches. He was an early advocate for indigenizing the Chinese Church.

The concern was shared in Rome: Benedict XV, who issued the 1919 apostolic letter Maximum Illud, “wanted to remove European nationalism from the Chinese Church and empower Chinaʼs Catholics to cooperate with the pope in governing their own local community,” Clark told EWTN News.

Seven years later, Pope Pius XI put building up a native clergy “before everything else” in Rerum Ecclesiae.

Fenggang Yang, a Purdue University sociologist who directs its Center on Religion and the Global East, said the 1926 consecrations came “in a time of rising Chinese nationalism that targeted Christianity as a foreign religion under the protection of imperialist European countries.”

“Chinese leadership strengthened the Church’s claim to belong within Chinese society. However, the Catholic Church made the adjustment too little and too slow,” Yang told EWTN News.

By 1948, Fides figures show, only 14 of Chinaʼs 139 bishops were Chinese, but 2,690 of its 5,780 priests were.

From 1949 to 2018

After the communist victory of 1949, Pius XII rejected a “national” Church in Ad Sinarum Gentem and in 1958 condemned the first ordinations of bishops without a papal mandate in Ad Apostolorum Principis. Catholics were divided into registered and unregistered, or “underground,” communities, which Benedict XVI famously called to reconciliation in his 2007 letter.

Under Benedictʼs successor, Pope Francis, the Holy See and Beijing signed a “provisional agreement” on appointing bishops on Sept. 22, 2018. The deal was renewed three times, in 2020, 2022, and, for four years to October 2028, in 2024.

The Holy Seeʼs case

The deal sought “only to attain the Churchʼs specific spiritual and pastoral aims,” including “to reestablish and preserve the full and visible unity of the Catholic community in China,” Pope Francis wrote in 2018.

In a Fides essay, Father Paul Han, a mainland Chinese priest, wrote that the agreement “established a workable framework” and “avoided the long-standing divisions” between “public” and “underground” communities.

The process has not always run smoothly. In April 2023, Chinese authorities transferred Bishop Joseph Shen Bin from Haimen to Shanghai, informing the Holy See but without involving it in the decision as the agreement provides, Vatican News reported.

Pope Francis appointed Shen three months later, having “decided nevertheless to rectify the canonical irregularity” for the “greater good of the diocese,” Parolin said. Such a way of proceeding, the cardinal added, “seems to disregard the spirit of dialogue and collaboration” between the two sides.

During the 2025 sede vacante, official assemblies “elected” two candidates; the successor to Pope Francis, Leo XIV, approved both that August.

More recently, on Oct. 15, Father Ignatius Ding Zuyao was consecrated bishop of Haimen, the see Bishop Simon Zhu Kaimin led from 1926, after Leo approved his candidacy under the agreement. He is the 19th bishop selected under the deal.

‘Nominate’ and ‘choose’

Father Gianni Criveller, a PIME missionary and editorial director of AsiaNews who opened a centenary conference in Taipei this month, said “the situation of 1926 and today are quite different.”

In 1926, he said, the issue was “to overcome the resistance by many quarters, including foreign missionaries in China, to allow local clergy to govern their churches.” Archbishop Celso Costantini, the Holy Seeʼs first apostolic delegate to China, and Pius XI also “were able to overcome the French interference.”

“I am afraid now the interference comes from China authorities: In spite of the agreement in 2018 between the Vatican and China, the freedom for the Catholic Church is quite limited in China,” Criveller said. “The pope can nominate the bishops, but he can hardly choose them. And the nomination by the pope is not acknowledged during the ceremony of consecration of the bishops.”

“I am not in position to offer advice to the pope,” the missionary added. “I respect any popeʼs decision, and I understand that the Holy See seek dialogue and agreements. My point is that the agreement does not bring the benefits that we all hoped for. The freedom for Catholics in China is less than before.”

The critics' case

Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute said Beijingʼs “Sinicization” policy means “Catholic teaching and evangelization must conform to Chinese Communist Party doctrine.”

“Pope Leo should support the Catholic underground in China, as the Church has done in other regions,” Shea said.

She warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping “seeks control over all civil society, including the Catholic Church.”

“Things have changed in China under communist rule,” Yang said. “The secret agreement since 2018 has pressed underground Catholics to go above ground, so that no new underground bishops have been consecrated.”

Some underground bishops who came above ground were then stripped of their episcopal functions, and some died without replacement, he said. “Therefore, the underground Catholic communities are in disarray.”

Meanwhile, Yang said, the China Catholic Patriotic Association “has strengthened its power over all Catholics in China” while implementing the partyʼs Sinicization policy.

People ask how Chinese the countryʼs Catholics are, he noted. “Another question people also ask is: How Chinese is the Chinese Communist Party [CCP]? Is the CCP primarily Chinese or primarily communist?”

“Over the next two years, Pope Leo XIV should set out the criteria and conditions for the renewal of the Sino-Vatican Agreement,” said Benedict Rogers, senior director at Fortify Rights.

“These criteria should include the release of all imprisoned or detained Catholic bishops, priests, and laity, including the release of Hong Kongʼs pro-democracy activist, 78-year-old Catholic and British citizen Jimmy Lai, currently serving a 20-year sentence,” Rogers told EWTN News on Oct. 27.

“The agreement should not be renewed if these criteria are not met.”

Toward 2028

Replying on behalf of Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong, the dioceseʼs communications office told EWTN News on Oct. 28 that he “is happy to see it moving forward,” citing this yearʼs “steadily increasing number” of episcopal ordinations, “all approved by the Holy Father.”

“In the short term, I will continue the policy that the Holy See has followed for some years now,” Leo XIV said in a 2025 interview.

“In the long term, I donʼt pretend to say this is what I will and will not do,” he added.

Pius XI told the six new bishops: “Please come to Rome more often, as traveling is getting easier,” Criveller recalled. “The pope said that in 1926! After 100 years, Chinese bishops cannot freely travel to Rome.”

Clark agreed. “Chinaʼs faithful wish they could return to 1926, when Chinese bishops were free to travel to Rome, meet the Holy Father, and be more integrated in the universal Church that they espouse,” he told EWTN News.

This month, two mainland bishops attended a Vatican meeting convened by Leo XIV.

VATICAN CITY — Continuing his catechetical series on the pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful not to live their faith with a spirit of “opposition” or “hostility towards the world,” while underscoring that a mature and responsible synthesis between faith and culture constitutes “a necessary condition for persevering in the Christian vocation.”

“The constitution Gaudium et Spes reminds us not to live the faith in a spirit of opposition or hostility towards the world, culture, and its human expressions,” the pontiff said during the general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 28.

He then cited a passage from the document that exhorts believers to “live in very close union with the other men of their time and [to] strive to understand perfectly their way of thinking and judging, as expressed in their culture.”

Before arriving at the platform set up in St. Peter’s Square, the pope spent about 15 minutes riding through the area in the popemobile. During the ride, he blessed around a dozen children who were brought to him from among the crowd.

Pope Leo XIV blesses a child during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News A more credible witness

Leo XIV also stressed in his catechesis that a mature synthesis between faith and culture is “an essential requirement for bearing witness to the faith before the world and communicating it to others in a credible manner.”

The second chapter of the second part of Gaudium et Spes is devoted precisely to culture and its relationship with the Christian faith. In this context, the pope recalled that the Catholic Church “has always been concerned with accompanying the preaching of the Gospel with the establishment of schools of every kind, aimed at advancing the human, cultural, and spiritual formation of men and women across the five continents.”

The conciliar text, the pontiff noted, upholds the need “to direct teaching towards a certain unity of knowledge,” while recognizing that changing living conditions may make this more difficult.

According to Leo XIV, Christians are the first who “must strive to bring about this unity of wisdom, first and foremost within themselves.”

“Although they have received from revelation the answers to the great questions of existence, they are not thereby exempt from patient intellectual and cultural formation,” he warned.

On the contrary, he added, human and scientific knowledge must “go hand in hand with the substance of their faith, which must be continually deepened with age and in accordance with their level of study.”

The pope emphasized that the various manifestations of culture contribute to opening minds to the perennial questions on the meaning of the world and of human existence, “thus preparing people to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He also explained that “the relationship between faith and culture finds its primary foundation in the Incarnation.” For this reason, he said, faith is “an incarnate reality, interwoven with the culture in which it is immersed.”

In this sense, he noted that faith is also required “to become culture,” that is, “to reach the person in their living environment, made up of human words, traditions, religious meaning, art and poetry, thought and science.”

To illustrate this idea, the Holy Father quoted St. John Paul II: “A faith that does not become culture is a faith not fully accepted, not entirely thought out, not faithfully lived.”

The Christian faith and a particular culture

Leo XIV also insisted that faith can be embodied in any culture because “it does not identify itself with any of them in a specific way.” In this way, he explained, the Church draws from the various cultures “all that is good, beautiful, and true” in order to embody and transmit the message of the Gospel.

Finally, he recalled that Gaudium et Spes urges the international community to ensure that everyone has access to fundamental cultural goods “by overcoming illiteracy and the lack of education.”

He also stressed that “it will belong to all to acknowledge and favor the proper and necessary participation of women in the cultural life.”

In his greetings to Italian-speaking pilgrims, the pope noted that only a few days remain before the solemnity of All Saints, which the Catholic Church celebrates on Nov. 1. He invited the faithful to contemplate “this immense multitude of men and women” who have attained holiness and who stand before the Church as a “prophetic sign of the life to come.”

The Holy Father emphasized that eternal life “already begins in the commitment and Christian witness of earthly life,” encouraging believers to live the Gospel faithfully in their daily lives and to allow themselves to be inspired by the example of the saints.

On Nov. 2, the pontiff is scheduled to celebrate a Mass for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed at the Monumental Cemetery of Verano, the oldest and largest cemetery in Rome. The Eucharistic celebration will begin at 4 p.m. local time in this historic Roman cemetery, which preserves evidence of a necropolis dating back to the first centuries of Christianity and includes the Catacombs of St. Cyriaca.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The pope’s personal security, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, has lengthened its training for new recruits amid increased concerns over optics in an age when everything can be filmed by anyone with a cellphone.

“For us it is very important to realize that the world is watching us,” Sergeant Major Marco Radovinovic, a guard for 12 years, told EWTN News.

He said training for guards of the world’s smallest and oldest active military force focuses on quickly stopping potentially dangerous people without “being brutal or over the top.”

The Swiss Guard “are the first line of defense of the Vatican State,” Radovinovic recalled, noting that even a seemingly normal interaction with someone can suddenly become “physical without any warning.”

The Monadnock Defensive Tactical System learned by Swiss Guards is based on different forms of martial arts and adapted for modern security needs. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Pontifical Swiss Guard

He emphasized the importance of good training on how to handle a wide array of situations in an appropriate manner.

“Being discreet is also a means to protect the guard himself, not only [in] … the physical fight, but also for the people around us that take photos and so on,” he said.

Viral videos and increased security concerns

The sergeant major noted that following the COVID-19 pandemic, which also coincided with a steep uptick in tourists to Rome, they have noticed “more and more weird behaviors in people.”

He said there has also been an increase in situations requiring them to put their training to practice at the various entrances to the Vatican City State.

Vatican gendarmes and a Swiss Guard remove a man from the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican after he shouted at Pope Francis during the general audience on Feb. 2, 2022. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Some of these security issues have been caught on video. In June, two PETA activists tried to hop a fence during Pope Leo XIV’s Wednesday general audience. The swift action of guards in response was caught on video.

In May 2023, a man in his 40s — described as being in psychological distress — attempted to storm a gate of the Vatican with his car before being stopped by Swiss Guards.

Multiple security incidents in St. Peter’s Basilica have also been caught on camera, some even going viral. The basilica has separate security personnel, including the gendarmes. While Swiss Guards were not present during the episodes in 2025 — they assist with basilica security during liturgies with the pope — it demonstrates the ability of these moments to go viral on social media.

520 years of papal protection

The Pontifical Swiss Guard was established by Pope Julius II in 1506. It is responsible for Vatican security together with the Vatican gendarmes, which were formed in 1816.

Each of the 135 members of the Vatican military takes an oath at the beginning of his service “to faithfully, loyally, and honorably serve the reigning pontiff and his legitimate successors, to devote myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing, if necessary, even my life in their defense.”

A Swiss Guard recruit holds a banner and raises his right hand while taking an oath to protect the pope, even at the cost of his own life, during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

The swearing-in ceremony usually takes place on or around the May 6 anniversary of the 1527 battle known as the Sack of Rome, when 147 guards lost their lives defending Pope Clement VII from the mutinous army of the Holy Roman Empire. In 2027, the Swiss Guard will mark the 500th anniversary of that battle, the deadliest event in its history.

Training to serve the pope

But before promising to serve and protect the pope, each new recruit goes through a rigorous training. In 2026, this training was expanded from two to three months.

“We noticed that there were a lot of things that we had to do with recruits, and two months wouldnʼt suffice,” explained Radovinovic, who has been responsible for the formation of new guards since February.

Sergeant Major Marco Radovinovic, a Swiss Guard responsible for the training of new recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard, speaks to EWTN News in the Swiss Guard barracks in the Vatican in October 2026. | Credit: Hannah Brockhaus/EWTN News

Young men who join the Swiss Guard — unmarried Swiss males between the ages of 19 and 30, at least 5 feet and 8 inches tall, and in good standing with the Catholic Church — start their training in Rome.

Now, instead of one month in Rome and a second month of physical training with police in Switzerland, recruits will have two months of formation at the Vatican.

“The first step is to come here” to the Vatican “to receive the equipment, the material, the introduction to life in the Vatican State,” the sergeant major said.

He pointed out that new guards are coming to live in a new country with a new language and a different way of doing things. They study Italian and learn how the Vatican works.

Then they spend a month doing martial training with the police in Switzerland, including self-defense, psychological training — like de-escalation tactics — and gun training as well as safe firearm handling.

New Swiss Guards undergo three months of training, including one month of physical and psychological training with police in Switzerland. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Pontifical Swiss Guard

Guards are trained in the Monadnock Defensive Tactical System, which is rooted mostly in Japanese and Okinawa martial arts, including jujitsu, judo, and karate.

Radovinovic explained that this security defensive tactic is “not as stylistic or … theatrical as judo. It’s more discreet, much more quick and efficient to block someone, to stop someone in a nonlethal way.”

Swiss Guards don’t carry guns and in general try to avoid the use of weapons.

“We are not trained for gunfights,” the sergeant major said. “Thatʼs why the emphasis of our training is especially physical contact.”

“It’s so important for us to have a good training, and especially also mental training, to know what to do in what situations,” he underlined.

Swiss Guards do not usually carry firearms but they learn how to safely handle guns during training in Switzerland prior to starting service at the Vatican. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Pontifical Swiss Guard

Radovinovic noted that with their training they hope to avoid the situations that one sometimes sees in international media, where during stops or arrests, six or seven law enforcement officers may block a single person.

“That can have a negative impact“ on the professional reputation of the Swiss Guard, he said.

“For us, certain techniques like wrist handling or arm handling, [are] very important. Once you do that and you immobilize someone, it can be very clean. It can be very fast. … The other person doesn’t suffer too much,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a little bit of suffering is needed, because it’s a physical contact. But in that way, we know that the guard can handle situations very quickly and very discreet and very efficiently.”

The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV will hold “several meetings” with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.

“During the days of the Holy Father’s upcoming apostolic journey to Latin America, several meetings are planned with people who are victims of abuse by members of the clergy and the Church,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

The Vatican also explained that these meetings “reflect the Pope’s desire to express his closeness to those who have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of this violence.”

However, the Vatican did not specify the number of meetings or how they were to be conducted. Its statement, however, emphasized that the popeʼs objective is “to work with [abuse victims] in building paths of healing accessible to anyone in need, and to ensure that the Church is a safe and spiritually healthy place that lives and proclaims the Gospel.”

The announcement of these meetings is not unprecedented. During his September visit to France, the Holy See Press Office also confirmed in advance the pope’s intention to meet with abuse victims at the Lourdes shrine. However, during his June visit to Spain, the Vatican did not announce in advance the meeting the pope held with victims at the apostolic nunciature in Madrid. The meeting was held privately and made public afterward.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV denounced all religious wars in a video message on Tuesday, marking the 40th anniversary of the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi, Italy.

“There is no such thing as a holy war: Only peace is holy,” Leo said in his message. “War can never be waged in the name of God.”

The pontiff, originally scheduled to travel to Assisi for the gathering, canceled his trip on his doctors’ advice, as he continues to recover from thoracic surgery performed on Oct. 13. The Vatican announced the cancellation on Oct. 23, adding that he would send a message for the event.

St. John Paul II established the International Meeting for Peace in Assisi in 1986 as an interreligious prayer service for peace during the Cold War.

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In his message, Leo highlighted a growing trend among nations to resort to armed conflict. He described the trend as a betrayal of the memory of those who lost their lives in wars during the last century.

“As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states,” Leo said, “‘the accumulation of arms strikes many as a paradoxically suitable way of deterring potential adversaries from war. They see it as the most effective means of ensuring peace among nations,’ thus betraying the memory of the 20th century and the senseless slaughter of millions of human lives.”

“Precisely in these times marked by a ‘culture of power,’ there is a need to cultivate the spirit of Assisi, which entails a rejection of the religious justification of war,” the pope added.

Since his election in 2025, the pope has often rejected all forms of religiously inspired violence. During his homily for Mass on Palm Sunday that year, Leo said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”

Assisi 40 years after John Paul II

Leo also paid tribute to St. John Paul II in his message and urged those gathered at Assisi to remember his call for peace.

Citing his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and paying tribute to St. John Paul II, Leo urged those gathered to continue promoting peace in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose 800th anniversary of death is this year.

“The path of Assisi calls religious leaders to foster a climate of dialogue amongst the faithful and within society, so that the language of arrogance may give way to the language of peace, negotiation, and understanding,” Leo said.

“May [God] make us unarmed instruments of his peace. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’”

Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III of England have bestowed honorary religious titles upon each other, the first time this has happened in 500 years according to the official website of the British Royal Family.

“With the gracious approval of His Majesty the King, the Dean and Canons of Windsor are delighted to announce that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has become Papal Confrater of the College of St. George at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor,” states the text published on Oct.23.

The announcement highlights that both leaders sought to underscore the ties between Christian traditions, within a global context marked by polarization and conflict.

“Mindful of the value of Christian unity, in an increasingly polarised and turbulent world, The King and The Pope have joined together in Christian brotherhood and, for the first time in half a millennium, are receiving religious titles which underscore what unites rather than what separates the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England,” the text notes.

The statement adds that this gesture represents “a visible sign of spiritual fellowship, ecumenical friendship and Christian fraternity.”

It also acknowledges the historical ties between the college and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and the Holy See, as well as the progress made in relations between the Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the Anglican Communion.

The text notes that October marks one year since the “historic state visit to the Holy See” made by King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla. On that occasion, the British monarch was received as a “royal confrater” of the papal basilica and abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. At that time, the Holy Father had already been invited to become a “papal confrater” of St. George’s at Windsor.

Just as there is already a chair for the King of England at the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, a similar chair for the pope will soon be unveiled in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor. It will be consecrated in the European autumn, alongside a “mosaic icon of Christ of Cefalù, gifted to His Majesty by His Holiness during the State Visit,” the statement concluded.

The historic 2025 meeting

On Oct. 23, 2025, Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III prayed together in the Sistine Chapel, marking the first time a pope and a British monarch have prayed together during a state visit to the Vatican.

During the visit, King Charles conferred upon the pope the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, while the pontiff bestowed upon the monarch the honor of Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Vatican’s Order of Pius IX, and upon Queen Camilla the distinction of Dame Grand Cross of the same order.

The connection of the King of England to the papal basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

Following the arrival in England of Roman missionary monks such as St. Augustine of Canterbury and St. Paulinus of York during the sixth and seventh centuries, Saxon kings including Offa and Æthelwulf contributed to the upkeep of the apostles' tombs in Rome.

Toward the end of the Middle Ages, the kings of England were recognized as “protectors” of the basilica and abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls; its coat of arms came to include the insignia of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious order in the United Kingdom. This tradition was interrupted by the Reformation and the centuries of estrangement that followed.

A new chair, bearing the royal coat of arms and the Latin inscription Ut unum sint (That they may be one), has been placed in the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for King Charles and his successors to use during future visits.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“It fills me with joy to return to the continent where I have lived through so many moments of my life,” Pope Leo XIV wrote on his X account on Oct. 26, confirming his upcoming trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which will take place in November.

“May this journey be an opportunity to open our hearts to one another, strengthen our communion as brothers and sisters, and renew our commitment to proclaiming the Gospel with joy,” the Holy Father wrote, nearly two weeks after undergoing lung surgery on Oct. 13.

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In addition, an Oct. 26 Vatican statement indicated that “Based on his current clinical status, as well as the results of the diagnostic tests and laboratory analyses performed, there are no contraindications that would prevent him from undertaking his upcoming apostolic journey to Latin America as planned.”

“The Pope is following medical recommendations with great care and diligence, and with a deep determination to continue serving the Church,” it added.

“In this respect, the Holy See Press Office confirms that the Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November 6-17, 2026, will proceed according to the program previously published,” the Vatican statement said.

“The Holy Father remains deeply grateful for the prayers and affection he has received from throughout the world and for the dedicated care of the medical professionals who have accompanied him during his recovery,” the statement said.

“Dr. Luigi Carbone confirms that the Holy Father’s recovery after the surgery continues, and the latest medical examinations attest to his good health,” the Vatican added.

“As previously reported, the surgical procedure was successful and without complications. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the condition was localized and that no further oncological treatment is necessary,” the Vatican stated.

The Vatican will step up its support for Ukraine ahead of the coming winter with a new humanitarian mission led by the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín.

“A very harsh winter is expected, and as Christians, as the Church, we cannot remain indifferent or passive. My journey is a mission of solidarity and closeness, a witness of love,” the archbishop confirmed to EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Archbishop Marín will travel to Ukraine from Oct. 27-30 on a visit “coordinated through the Apostolic Nunciature,” during which he will visit Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, and Fastiv.

The itinerary includes meetings with Latin-rite and Greek Catholic communities as part of the Holy See’s efforts to accompany a population that has been deeply affected by a war that will mark its fifth year in February.

“I want to understand firsthand the needs of the population and, above all, make present the concern and closeness of Pope Leo XIV. Ukraine is in our hearts, and through the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, in the name of the Holy Father, we seek to respond with concrete assistance,” he said.

The mission coincides with a collection drive organized among Vatican employees in collaboration with the Governorate of Vatican City State.

“The response has been magnificent. We have collected, above all, warm clothing, canned food, blankets, sheets, sleeping bags, and other garments,” Archbishop Marín explained.

Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Service of Charity. | Credit: Courtesy of Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín.

The supplies will be transported to Ukraine by road through the international TIR transit system and then distributed through local Church structures. Rome’s Holy Wisdom (Santa Sofia) Parish, the reference point for the Ukrainian Catholic community in Rome, has once again served as the operational hub where aid from various locations has been gathered before being sent to Ukraine.

The initiative is part of the broad network of assistance promoted by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity since the beginning of the war. In recent years, the Holy See has organized convoys carrying medicines, financial assistance for vulnerable families, and various relief projects, channeled through the apostolic nunciature and the local Churches.

Once in Ukraine, the aid will be distributed by the Church’s charitable structures in Kyiv.

“This aid collection effort has made us face our personal responsibility and has enabled a concrete response to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. I thank the Governorate of Vatican City for its cooperation, the employees of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity for their commitment in collecting and sorting the materials, and all the donors for their generous response,” Marín said, also asking people not to cease praying that the Lord may grant the gift of peace.

Intense diplomatic activity by the Holy See

The visit of the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity also comes at a time of intense diplomatic and humanitarian activity by the Holy See regarding the war in Ukraine.

From Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was recovering after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his right lung, the pope called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 16 to ask for “a ceasefire to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.”

According to the Vatican, the pontiff referred in particular to the “extremely grave situation” in Oleshky, a besieged city where approximately 2,000 civilians remain, surviving without access to drinking water or electricity.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian bishops’ conference, had also traveled to the city on a humanitarian mission.

The following Monday, back at the Vatican, the pope spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressly asked him to cooperate with Moscow in order to achieve a humanitarian truce in the city.

The pontiff’s diplomatic efforts bore fruit. As announced by Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, the ceasefire intended to facilitate the rescue of civilians trapped in Oleshky will begin on Oct. 27, according to Moscow.

Captured by Russian forces at the start of the war, the city has suffered for months from severe shortages of food and medical supplies. In order to leave the city, many residents have had to travel for miles along partially mined roads.

Against this backdrop, on Oct. 23 Pope Leo XIV received Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of Kyiv-Halych and leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in a private audience.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of Kyiv-Galicia and primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, at the Vatican on Oct. 23, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

During the meeting, according to Vatican News, the primate thanked the pontiff for the Holy See’s constant support for his country and requested the mobilization of the international Catholic community in view of what is expected to be an especially difficult winter for millions of people affected by the war.

In addition, during the meeting Shevchuk presented the pope with lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war so that the Holy See could pass them on to the Russian authorities in an effort to facilitate a prisoner exchange.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.