Pope Leo XIII was known for his engagement with the profound social changes of the industrial revolution, especially through his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum.

His successor Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name, in part, because of his desire to address what he has called the next “industrial revolution” — developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) that “pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”

Though not yet announced by the Vatican, Pope Leo’s first encyclical of his pontificate will soon be released and is expected to address the ethical challenges AI poses and the profound consequences it may have for human work, social relations and the dignity of the person. 

As the world awaits further guidance on AI from the Holy Father, here’s a summary of some of the most important components of the Church’s response, so far, to the phenomenon of AI.

February 2020: Rome Call for AI Ethics

The Pontifical Academy for Life released the “Rome Call for AI Ethics” in 2020, and several major global tech companies, including Microsoft and Cisco, have since signed on to the pledge. The relatively brief document calls for the ethical use of AI guided by the principles of transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, and security and privacy. It notes that AI must serve all people without discrimination, avoid exploitation, and help people to develop their own abilities.

“As we design and plan for the society of tomorrow, the use of AI must follow forms of action that are socially oriented, creative, connective, productive, responsible, and capable of having a positive impact on the personal and social life of younger generations,” the pledge says.

January 2025: Antiqua et Nova 

The most in-depth guidance the Vatican has provided so far when it comes to artificial intelligence can be found in Antiqua et Nova, (“old and new”), a roughly 30-page document released under Pope Francis in January 2025.

The document contrasts humanity’s relational and truth-seeking nature with modern AI systems, which operate largely through pattern recognition and lack the creative, spiritual and moral dimensions of human thought.

Calling for a strong ethical framework to guide the development and deployment of AI, the document points out several potential pitfalls of AI development and insists that the technology must always respect and promote the intrinsic dignity of every human being. The development of AI should spur us to “a renewed appreciation of all that is human,” it adds.

May 2025: Address to the College of Cardinals

Pope Leo’s first public reference to AI came on his second full day as Pope, in a speech to the College of Cardinals:

“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”

June 2025: Message to the Second Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance

In his speech to a conference in Rome, Pope Leo noted that acknowledging and respecting what is uniquely characteristic of the human person, especially the welfare of children, is essential to the discussion of any adequate ethical framework for the governance of AI.

The way forward “entails taking into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually; it means safeguarding the inviolable dignity of each human person and respecting the cultural and spiritual riches and diversity of the world’s peoples. Ultimately, the benefits or risks of AI must be evaluated precisely according to this superior ethical criterion,” he said.

June 2025: Address to Participants in the Jubilee of Governments

In an address to political leaders, Pope Leo stressed that “our personal life has greater value than any algorithm, and social relationships require spaces for development that far transcend the limited patterns that any soulless machine can pre-package.”

The pontiff continued: “Our memory, on the other hand, is creative, dynamic, generative, capable of uniting past, present and future in a lively and fruitful search for meaning, with all the ethical and existential implications that this entails.”

July 2025: Message to the AI for Good Summit 2025

In a message delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, Pope Leo sent greetings to participants in the AI for Good Summit 2025. He reiterated that AI must be developed and used for the common good, ensuring it serves the interests of humanity as a whole.

“While AI can simulate aspects of human reasoning and perform specific tasks with incredible speed and efficiency, it cannot replicate moral discernment or the ability to form genuine relationships. Therefore, the development of such technological advancements must go hand in hand with respect for human and social values, the capacity to judge with a clear conscience, and growth in human responsibility,” the Pope said.

November 2025: Message to the Builders AI Forum 

In this message to a conference for builders of AI held at the Vatican, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to “all who, through research, entrepreneurship and pastoral vision, seek to ensure that emerging technologies remain oriented toward the dignity of the human person and the common good.”

Quoting Antiqua et Nova, Pope Leo noted that AI, like all human invention, springs from the creative capacity that God has entrusted to all people:

“The Church therefore calls all builders of AI to cultivate moral discernment as a fundamental part of their work — to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.”

November 2025: Message of the Holy Father Leo XIV to Participants in the International Congress of the Pontifical Academy for Life: “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine: the Challenge of Human Dignity” 

Addressing a medical conference, Pope Leo said that in order to ensure true progress in the medical field, it is “imperative that human dignity and the common good remain resolute priorities for all, both individuals and public entities.”

“It is easy to recognize the destructive potential of technology and even medical research when they are placed at the service of antihuman ideologies. … From this point of view, I consider your dedication to exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine to be of great significance,” the Pope said.

“If AI is to serve human dignity and the effective provision of healthcare, we must ensure that it truly enhances both interpersonal relationships and the care provided.”

November 2025: Audience with Participants in the Conference “The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

“Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI algorithms that can influence their decisions and preferences. It is essential that parents and educators be aware of these dynamics, and that tools be developed to monitor and guide young people’s interactions with technology,” Pope Leo said, addressing a conference on the welfare of children in the age of AI. Above all, minors need guidance in the use of AI through “daily, ongoing educational efforts,” he said.

Governments and international organizations have a responsibility to design and implement policies that protect the dignity of minors in this era of AI, he said. This includes updating existing data protection laws to address new challenges posed by emerging technologies, and promoting ethical standards for the development and the use of AI.

November 2025: Live Address to Young People at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis

Speaking via live link to thousands of young people, Pope Leo responded to a young man’s question about how to use AI responsibly, telling him it means “using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness. In your education, make the most of this time.”

“AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence. And don’t ask it to do your homework for you. It cannot offer real wisdom. It misses a very important human element: AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won’t stand in wonder, in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation,” the Holy Father said.

“So be prudent; be wise; be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships. Remember, AI can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world.”

December 2025: “Artificial Intelligence and Care for Our Common Home”

In this speech to a conference seeking to identify the risks, abuses and inequalities stemming from the unethical or unregulated production and use of AI, Pope Leo reiterated the importance of protecting young people’s “freedom of mind.”

“Artificial intelligence has certainly opened up new horizons for creativity, but it also raises serious concerns about its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, and capacity for wonder and contemplation. Recognizing and safeguarding what characterizes the human person and guarantees his or her balanced growth is essential for establishing an adequate framework for managing the consequences of artificial intelligence,” the Pope said.

January 2026: Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications 

In his first message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo warned that artificial intelligence and digital technologies can undermine human relationships and distort reality unless they are guided by responsibility and rooted in education. He cautioned against surrendering human judgment to algorithms and automated systems, particularly those built to maximize engagement on social media. 

“Our faces and voices are unique, distinctive features of every person. … Faces and voices are sacred,” the Pope said.

March 2026: Quo Vadis, Humanitas 

This document from the International Theological Commission, a body chaired by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by Pope Leo XIV. Addressing AI, the commission cautioned that forms of knowledge and calculation detached from embodied, situated human intelligence — and from relational knowledge passed down through generations via education — can become a threat to the true good of humanity. 

This article was originally published by The National Catholic Register, a news service of EWTN News, and has been adapted for and updated by EWTN News English.

The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) addressed Pope Leo XIV this week with a statement of faith it called “the minimum necessary to be in communion with the Church.”

In an introduction to the “Declaration of Catholic Faith” — published May 14 on the society’s website — the SSPX said that for more than 50 years it has raised the issue of what it believes are “errors that are destroying Catholic faith and morals” but that the group has never received “any truly satisfactory response” from the Holy See.

The statement, signed by SSPX superior general Father Davide Pagliarani, said it "places this simple Declaration of Faith” into the hands of Pope Leo: “It seems to us to correspond to the minimum necessary to be in communion with the Church, to call ourselves truly Catholic and, consequently, Your children.”

The Vatican’s prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, issued a brief statement on May 13, warning that if the SSPX carried out the “schismatic act” of consecrating new bishops without papal mandate — as the group has announced it plans to do on July 1 — it will result in excommunications as established by canon law.

Fernández also said Pope Leo XIV is praying that the leaders of the SSPX “may reconsider the very grave decision they have made.”

In the society’s declaration following Fernández’s statement, it reiterates the teachings of the Catholic faith about the existence of only one faith and one Church, and that Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and men.

The declaration appears to reject a document issued by the DDF last year stating that “Co-Redemptrix” is not an appropriate way to describe the Virgin Mary’s participation in salvation because “it carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ.”

The SSPX said, “By divine decree, the Most Holy Virgin Mary has been directly and intimately associated with the entire work of Redemption; to deny this association — in the terms received from Tradition — is therefore to alter the very notion of Redemption as willed by divine Providence.”

The “declaration of Catholic faith” also appears to make oblique references to some of the theological questions contested by the SSPX, which are mostly tied to the interpretation of post–Second Vatican Council teaching, including God’s will regarding the plurality of religions; and the differing levels of assent required by various Vatican II texts and their interpretation.

For example, the society’s statement says the necessity to be a part of the Catholic Church to save one’s soul “concerns the whole of humanity without exception and embraces without distinction Christians, Jews, Muslims, pagans, and atheists” and that the mandate “to convert every man to the Catholic Faith, remains binding until the end of time and responds to the most absolute and most pressing necessity in the world.”

The declaration also says a couple living a “lifestyle” that includes “sins of impurity” should be helped to free themselves from sin and that the couple “can in no way be blessed — formally or informally — by ministers of the Church” — an apparent reference to Pope Francis’ 2023 declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which allows priests to offer private, nonliturgical blessings to same-sex couples.

Pope Leo XIV called for respect for human dignity in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking and reiterated his rejection of the death penalty, torture, and any degrading punishment in the face of a scourge that, he warned, “imperils the very future of our societies.”

In a May 15 audience with participants in the Second International Conference on the Fight against Drugs and Organized Crime in the OSCE region — dedicated to the “grave and urgent struggle against the scourge of illicit drugs” — the pope expressed his concern about criminal and drug enterprises.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) works to promote security, political cooperation, conflict prevention, and the protection of human rights in Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The May 14-15 conference was hosted by the Italian Parliament.

Leo stated firmly that the Holy See maintains that “the rule of law, crime prevention and criminal justice must advance together in unity."

Citing the Churchʼs social doctrine, the pope emphasized that “no truly just society can endure unless the law — and not the arbitrary will of individuals — remains sovereign."

Prevention as respect for human dignity

The Holy Father underscored that no one, regardless of power or status, “may ever claim the right to violate the dignity and rights of others or of their communities.”

Therefore, he insisted that preventing and responding to criminal activities “is closely interrelated with the respect for and protection of universal human rights.”

The pontiff appealed to the responsibility of society as a whole and reiterated that efforts must not fall solely on public authorities.

For this reason, he stressed that the Holy See supports every initiative that seeks “to establish an effective, just, humane and credible criminal justice system capable of preventing and countering the production and the trafficking of illicit drugs.”

He also emphasized that punishment cannot be the only response of the justice system, but that efforts must “embrace approaches marked by perseverance and mercy, aimed at the re-education and full reintegration of offenders into the fabric of society.”

He affirmed that respect for the dignity of every person “precludes the use of the death penalty, torture, and every form of cruel or degrading punishment.”

Education must begin in the family

Pope Leo also urged the development of comprehensive programs so that those “enslaved by addiction” may “rediscover and live anew the fullness of their God-given dignity.”

He highlighted that education “is key to prevention,” especially today in light of misinformation circulated on social media, where the risks of drugs are often trivialized. He indicated that education must begin in the family and be strengthened in schools.

The pope insisted that “preventing and countering organized crime is essential to building safe, just and stable societies.” He also recalled the members of law enforcement who have “sacrificed their lives or suffered injury in the courageous performance of their duties.”

At the conclusion of his address, Leo urged conference participants “to promote policies that truly serve the common good and the inalienable dignity of every human being.”

This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News’ Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Tawadros II, the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria, on May 15. The conversation marked the 13th Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics.

The Vatican said that the discussion between the two took place in a “cordial and fraternal atmosphere,” and that they expressed the mutual desire to “overcome any potential obstacles to the dialogue of faith and charity” between Catholics and Coptic Orthodox.

They also discussed the need to continue promoting peace efforts in the Middle East. In a letter to Tawadros to mark the anniversary, Leo stressed the importance of continued collaboration among Christians to promote peace in the Holy Land.

“At a time when our world is afflicted by so many conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, Christians must, more than ever, strive for full unity so that we may bear witness together to the Prince of Peace,” Leo wrote. “In doing so, we can be confident in the powerful intercession and example of the countless martyrs who have suffered for the name of Christ.”

The pope also praised the friendship between the Catholic and Coptic churches, which began over 50 years ago with the meeting of St. Pope Paul VI and Shenouda III. In his letter, he expressed his hope that ecumenical efforts would eventually lead to visible unity, recalling last yearʼs celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea.

“I am confident that the reflections undertaken on the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council will rekindle our desire to achieve the visible unity of the Church — a unity rooted in the one baptism that we profess in the Nicene Creed, and which, I sincerely pray, we shall attain,” Leo said.

Pope Leo XIV visited Rome’s public La Sapienza University on Thursday, the largest university in Europe and one of Italy’s most prestigious academic institutions, where he denounced the “great lie” he said is causing anxiety and depression among young people.

Speaking in the university’s Aula Magna after a brief moment of prayer in the “Divina Sapienza” chapel, the pope referred to the “spiritual malaise” affecting many university students and recalled that “we are not the sum of what we have, nor matter randomly assembled in a mute cosmos.”

“We are a desire, not an algorithm!” he stressed.

Leo XIV strongly criticized “the pervasive lie of a distorted system that reduces people to numbers, heightens competitiveness, and abandons us to spirals of anxiety.”

“For everyone there are difficult seasons,” he added. “Yet some may have the impression that they never end. Today this depends increasingly on the blackmail of expectations and the pressure to perform.”

The pope was welcomed upon his arrival by the university’s rector, Professor Antonella Polimeni, who accompanied him through the campus and during his visit to the exhibition “La Sapienza and the Papacy,” which explores the historical and cultural ties between the University of Rome and the Holy See.

That bond has not been without tension. In 2008, the university’s then-rector invited Pope Benedict XVI to inaugurate the academic year, but a heated controversy, driven by a small group of professors and students, ultimately derailed the visit. The German pope decided not to attend. The address he had prepared, published days later, argued that “the Christian message should always be an encouragement toward truth and thus a force against the pressure of power and interests.” The following Sunday, some 200,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square in a show of support.

The atmosphere Thursday was radically different. Students waited for Leo XIV outside the building, greeting him with enthusiasm and joy while chanting “Long live the pope.” Because of the large turnout, many had to remain outside and follow his speech on screens set up for the occasion.

Leo XIV did not mention the 2008 episode. In his address, he described a world “distorted by wars and by words of war,” warning against “a contamination of reason that, from the geopolitical level, invades every social relationship.”

Correcting the simplification that creates enemies

“It is a contamination of reason that, from the geopolitical level, invades every social relationship. The simplification that creates enemies must be corrected, especially in the university, through care for complexity and the wise exercise of memory,” he said.

“The cry of ‘never again war!’ of my predecessors, so in tune with the rejection of war enshrined in the Italian Constitution, urges us toward a spiritual alliance with the sense of justice that dwells in the hearts of young people, with their vocation not to close themselves off within ideologies or national borders,” he added.

In that context, the pope criticized the rise in military spending, particularly in Europe.

“Let us not call defense a rearmament that increases tensions and insecurity, impoverishes investments in education and health care, contradicts trust in diplomacy, and enriches elites that care nothing for the common good,” he said.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending rose for the 11th consecutive year in 2025, reaching a record $2.887 trillion. Europe accounted for a large share of that increase, with a 14% rise in arms investment, reaching $864 billion.

The Holy Father also warned about the risks of the use of artificial intelligence, both in military and civilian contexts, and urged vigilance so that its development does not “relieve human decisions of responsibility or worsen the tragedy of conflicts.”

“What is happening in Ukraine, in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, in Lebanon, in Iran describes the inhuman evolution of the relationship between war and new technologies in a spiral of annihilation,” he warned.

Faced with this scenario, the pope issued a direct appeal to young people: “Be a radical ‘yes’ to life! Yes to innocent life, yes to young life, yes to the life of peoples crying out for peace and justice.”

History does not fall hopelessly into the hands of death

Leo XIV also devoted part of his address to ecology, citing Laudato Si’, the 2015 encyclical of his predecessor Pope Francis.

“Beyond good intentions and some efforts in that direction, the situation does not seem to have improved,” he lamented, encouraging young people to “transform restlessness into prophecy” and not to give in to discouragement.

“Especially those who believe know that history does not fall hopelessly into the hands of death, but is always guarded, no matter what happens, by a God who creates life from nothing, who gives without taking, who shares without consuming,” he said.

The pope also criticized the “implosion of a possessive and consumerist paradigm” and encouraged university students to seek a “horizon of meaning” beyond immediacy.

“So little considered by a society with ever fewer children, you show that humanity is capable of a future when it builds that future with wisdom,” he told them.

He also emphasized the value of teaching, defining it as a form of charity “as much as helping a migrant at sea, a poor person in the street, or a despairing conscience.”

“It means always and in every case loving human life, valuing its possibilities, so that one can speak to the hearts of young people, not only to their knowledge,” he added.

For Benedetta Marchiori, a student at La Sapienza, the pope’s visit was a moment of encouragement.

“It gave so much joy, so much happiness, so much hope,” Marchiori told EWTN News. “It is truly beautiful to hear someone speak who really sees so many different situations every day and brings them back to us — reminding us that we truly have an active role in our own growth, through our study and through being truly centered. It is really beautiful.”

Chiara Clementoni, a medical student, said the pope’s address was “really encouraging.”

“The idea that we are not the sum of what has happened to us, but that through knowledge and study we can also build ourselves as people and open ourselves more to the mysteries that God has placed in nature, that God has placed in everything we can make the object of our study,” Clementoni said.

At the end of the meeting, the university gave the pope a reproduction of a stone from the Holy Sepulcher, where a team of La Sapienza archaeologists has been conducting excavations in the basilica in Jerusalem since March 2022.

The project, carried out in collaboration with the various communities that guard the site — the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarchate, and the Greek and Armenian churches — will make it possible for the first time to reconstruct the full stratigraphic history of the building, erected in the fourth century during the time of Emperor Constantine and his mother, St. Helena.

Ishmael Adibuah contributed reporting to this article.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News’ Spanish-language sister service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, as the third bishop of Venice, Florida, on May 13. The Capuchin Franciscan priest has been pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C., since 2018 and served for more than 20 years as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and Cuba.

The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, 76, who has reached the usual age of retirement after leading the diocese since 2007, after having first served for nine months as its coadjutor bishop.

Agüero, who was born in Fairfax, Virginia, on Dec. 15, 1964, entered the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin in 1987. He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1994.

With his consecration and installation, the bishop-designate will become the second active Capuchin Franciscan bishop currently leading a U.S. diocese, the other being Bishop Marc V. Trudeau, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles.

Agüero begins his new role in Florida after having served as a missionary for more than two decades. He served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea from 1994–2006 and in Cuba from 2007–2019.

According to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Agüero speaks Spanish and Tok Pisin (a Creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea) in addition to English.

The bishop-designate also holds several academic degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Borromeo College earned in 1987; masterʼs degrees in theology and divinity from Oblate College earned in 1992; and a licentiate in sacred theology from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., earned in 2007.

His most recent assignment has been pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. He belongs to the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh.

In an unexpected gesture as he was greeting people at the general audience in St. Peterʼs Square on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV stopped at the exact spot where, 45 years ago, St. John Paul II was shot in an assassination attempt.

Leo got out of the vehicle and remained in silence to pray before the white marble plaque marking the place where the Polish pope was struck by four gunshots fired by the Turkish gunman Ali Agca on May 13, 1981. Leo then knelt and touched the plaque before continuing his ride around the square.

The attack on John Paul II coincided with the anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal.

Days after the attempt on his life, while still recovering, John Paul II read the third part of the secret of Fátima, until then known only to the popes and later made public. Written by one of the seers, Sister Lucia, it describes the vision of the Holy Father “afflicted with pain and sorrow,” praying “for the souls of the corpses he met on his way.”

Pope John Paul II never ceased to express his gratitude to the Virgin Mary for saving his life. “One hand fired; another guided the bullet,” he said in an interview with the French writer André Frossard. After being discharged from the hospital and resuming general audiences in St. Peter’s Square following five months of hospitalization, he also said he had experienced “the extraordinary maternal protection which proved stronger than the deadly projectile.”

In 1982, St. John Paul II celebrated Mass in Fátima and consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On May 13, 2000, he beatified the shepherd children Francisco and Jacinta at the Portuguese shrine.

Pope Leo XIV touches the plaque marking the spot in St. Peter’s Square where St. John Paul II was shot in an assassination attempt on May 13, 1981. Leo stopped at the plaque during his own general audience on the feast of Our Lady of Fátima, May 13, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media ‘Mary, model of the Church’

Today, Leo XIV wanted to underscore that the attempt on John Paul II’s life was not fatal “thanks to the protection of Our Lady, as he himself confirmed in many ways.”

For this reason, he explained, he dedicated his May 13 catechesis to “the Virgin Mary, model of the Church” and to his predecessor, whose motto was “Totus Tuus.”

The pope thus continued his cycle of catechesis on the Second Vatican Council, pausing on the final chapter of the dogmatic constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Leo said Mary “is hailed as a preeminent and singular member of the Church, and as its type and excellent example in faith and charity.”

“Mary is the perfect model of what the whole Church is called to be: a creature of the Word of the Lord and mother of the children of God, begotten in docility to the action of the Holy Spirit,“ the Holy Father said. ”Furthermore, as she is the believer par excellence, in whom we are offered the perfect form of unconditional openness to the divine mystery within the communion of God’s holy people, Mary is an excellent member of the ecclesial community.”

He also explained that the Virgin Mary is the “woman who is the icon of the Mystery,” who was granted the grace to live “the extraordinary experience of becoming the mother of the Messiah.”

“In her, both God’s gratuitous election and her free consent of faith in him shine forth. Mary is therefore the woman who is the icon of the Mystery, that is, of the divine plan of salvation, once hidden and now revealed in its fullness in Jesus Christ,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV waves at crowds of people as he circles St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile before his weekly general audience on May 13, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News

In the Virgin Mary, he continued, there is also reflected “the mystery of the Church: in her, the people of God find the representation of their origin, their model, and their homeland.”

Model of maternal charity

In the mother of the Lord, the Church contemplates its own mystery, “not only because she finds in her the model of virginal faith, maternal charity, and the spousal covenant to which she is called but also and above all because in her she recognizes her own archetype, the ideal figure of what she is called to be,” Leo said.

The reflections contained in Lumen Gentium, he concluded, teach us to love the Church and to serve within her the fulfillment of the kingdom of God, which is coming and which will be fully realized in glory.

He invited the faithful to allow themselves to be challenged by the example of Mary, virgin and mother, with concrete questions: “Do I live my participation of the Church with humble and active faith? Do I recognize in her the community of the covenant that God has given me to respond to his infinite love? Do I feel that I am a living part of the Church, in obedience to the pastors given by God? Do I look to Mary as a model, an outstanding member and mother of the Church, and ask her to help me be a faithful disciple of her son?”

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

The Vatican’s doctrine chief warned Wednesday that the plan of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to consecrate new bishops without papal mandate will represent a schismatic act resulting in excommunication.

“This act will constitute ‘a schismatic act’ and ‘formal adherence to schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established by the law of the Church,’” said Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The cardinal’s brief statement quoted from St. Pope John Paul II’s letter Ecclesia dei, which the late pope wrote shortly after the society’s unlawful ordination of four bishops conferred by SSPX founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in June 1988.

Fernández went on to say that the Holy Father "continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the leaders of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X so that they may reconsider the very grave decision they have made.”

Under canon law, a bishop who consecrates another bishop without a papal mandate and the person who receives that consecration incur automatic excommunication.

The SSPX has declared it intends to proceed with illicit episcopal consecrations at its international seminary in Écône, Switzerland on July 1, in defiance of the Vatican’s warnings of schism.

The decision to proceed with the consecrations without papal approval was confirmed in a Feb. 18 letter penned by SSPX superior general Father Davide Pagliarani a week after his Feb. 12 meeting with Cardinal Fernández, during which the Vatican proposed a structured theological dialogue in order to avoid ecclesial rupture.

The SSPX, which exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, maintains doctrinal differences with certain teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly with regard to religious freedom and the Church’s approach to other faiths.

Cardinals Gerhard Müller and Robert Sarah, prominent supporters of the Traditional Latin Mass, have spoken out against the SSPX’s decision to defy the Vatican. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired archbishop of Hong Kong, has also urged the traditionalist group to avoid schism “at all costs.”

The proposed July 1 date for the episcopal consecrations coincides with the anniversary of the 1988 excommunication of SSPX founder Archbishop Lefebvre for consecrating four bishops without the permission of Rome.

The Society of St. Pius X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from EWTN News.

The Vatican has called on religious leaders around the world to take an active role in promoting peace and urged them not to become “complicit through silence or fear” in the face of those who fuel division and confrontation.

The appeal is contained in the message “Buddhists and Christians for an ‘Unarmed and Disarming’ Peace,” signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, secretary of the dicastery, for the Buddhist feast of Vesak.

In the message, addressed to the Buddhist community and published Monday, May 11, the Vatican said religious leaders “are called to be authentic partners in dialogue and true agents of reconciliation.”

The text stressed that a passive attitude is not enough. Together with all believers, it said, “we are invited to become artisans of peace — not passive observers but courageous witnesses capable of fostering encounter, healing wounds, and rebuilding trust.”

“As citizens and believers, we share a responsibility to promote peace, challenge injustice, and urge those in positions of authority not to inflame division but to pursue dialogue over confrontation,” the message said. “We must also guard against becoming complicit through silence or fear.”

A peace born in the heart

The message, issued for Vesak — which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha — reflected on the meaning of peace, defining it not merely as the absence of war but as “a gift that seeks to dwell within the human heart” and “a quiet yet powerful presence that enlightens and transforms.”

The message cited Pope Leo XIV’s words for the 2026 World Day of Peace: “Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal: While to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever.’”

Even when peace appears fragile, the Vatican message said, it “must be protected and nurtured.” It described this peace as “an unarmed and disarming peace that does not rely on force but flows from truth, compassion, and mutual trust.”

Facing the world’s shadows

The Vatican did not ignore the gravity of the current international context, marked by conflicts and growing tensions.

“We cannot ignore the shadows weighing upon the world,” the message said. “Wars, violence, rising ethno-religious nationalism, and the manipulation of religion continue to wound our common humanity.”

In response, the Vatican emphasized the irreplaceable role of religious traditions, which it said “can offer a vital contribution.”

“Goodness is truly disarming,” the message said. “It breaks the cycle of suspicion and opens paths where none seemed possible.”

Buddhism and Christianity converge

The message highlighted the deep harmony between Buddhist and Christian teachings on peace.

It recalled the Buddha’s teaching: “Hatred is never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.” It also cited Jesus’ command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” and his proclamation “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Both traditions, the document said, point toward “a peace that is lived — one that disarms hearts before it disarms hands.”

A concrete, daily commitment

The message concluded with a call to translate these principles into concrete action, noting that peace is “lived daily — in gestures of kindness, in patience, in the refusal of hatred and vengeance, and in the courage to hope.”

Far from being a utopia, the Vatican said, “peace is not an illusion or a distant ideal; it is a real possibility already placed within our reach, waiting to be welcomed and shared.”

With that spirit, the Vatican expressed hope that Buddhists and Christians may “increasingly become witnesses of this disarming peace — one that heals wounds, restores relationships, and opens new horizons for humanity.”

“May your celebration of Vesak be filled with serenity and joy, and may it inspire all of us to walk together on this path,” the message concluded. “We wish you a blessed and fruitful celebration of Vesak!”

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

VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig, a former apostolic nuncio, died Tuesday at the age of 79. He was born Feb. 3, 1947, in Unterems, Switzerland.

Tscherrig was ordained a priest on April 11, 1974. He later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1978, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

He served in Uganda, South Korea, Mongolia, and Bangladesh.

On May 4, 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular archbishop of Voli and apostolic nuncio to Burundi. He was consecrated the following June 27 by then-Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

On July 8, 2000, he was named nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Bahamas, and later also to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

On June 22, 2004, he became apostolic nuncio to South Korea and Mongolia.

On Jan. 26, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him apostolic nuncio to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.

On Jan. 5, 2012, he was transferred to lead the apostolic nunciature in Argentina.

On Sept. 12, 2017, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino. He was the first non-Italian to hold the post.

Pope Francis created him a cardinal of the Holy Roman Church at the consistory of Sept. 30, 2023, assigning him the deaconry of San Giuseppe in Via Trionfale.

On March 11, 2024, Tscherrig stepped down as apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino after reaching the age limit. He was succeeded by Archbishop Petar Rajič.

In May 2025, he took part in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.

At the time of his death, Tscherrig was a member of the cardinalatial commission of the Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank.

Pope Leo XIV expressed his “deep condolences” upon learning of Tscherrig’s death, Vatican News reported. In a telegram, the pope conveyed his thoughts to the cardinal’s family and to the diocesan community of Sion, where Tscherrig was incardinated, and recalled with gratitude his “faithful service as a papal representative in various countries and later as a member of several dicasteries of the Holy See.”

The pope said the late cardinal “acted generously” and “bore witness to love for the Church and for the successor of Peter.” He entrusted the soul “of this minister of the Gospel” to God, praying that he may “welcome him into the light that knows no sunset,” and invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary while sending his apostolic blessing to all those affected “by this sudden loss.”

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.

The Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), also known as the “Vatican bank,” closed 2025 with a net profit of 51 million euros, an increase of 55.5% over the 32.8 million euros recorded the previous year.

The institution, founded by Pope Pius XII in 1942 and staffed by just over 100 employees, thus consolidated a trend of sustained growth.

According to the annual accounts report published Monday, May 11, at the Vatican, the result was mainly due to improved operating performance amid favorable market conditions and active, disciplined portfolio management.

Net banking income rose to 66.3 million euros, compared with 51.5 million euros in 2024, while net interest income grew to 32.3 million euros. Net commission income remained stable at about 26 million euros.

The stronger results made it possible to approve a dividend of 24.3 million euros for the Holy Father, 76.1% more than the previous year, in keeping with the institute’s mission to support religious and charitable works.

Capital strength and asset growth

One of the most notable figures was the Tier 1 capital ratio, a key financial indicator that measures a bank’s financial strength and its ability to absorb losses while continuing to operate.

The report underscored the Vatican bank’s robust position, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 71.9%, reflecting an extraordinary level of solvency.

The figure means the bank covers 71.9% of its risk-weighted assets — loans and investments — with the highest-quality core capital, such as ordinary shares, reserves, and retained earnings. This places the institution among the strongest in the world in terms of capitalization and liquidity.

According to the results for the past fiscal year, the total volume of client assets managed by the IOR — including deposits, current accounts, managed assets, and securities held in custody — rose to 5.9 billion euros at year-end, 200 million euros more than the previous year.

The institute’s net assets also grew to 815.3 million euros, an increase of 83.4 million euros, while comprehensive income reached 97.2 million euros, up 25% year over year.

Investments aligned with Catholic social teaching

The IOR emphasized that all of its financial activity is carried out in full coherence with the principles of Catholic social teaching. All of its portfolio management strategies recorded positive returns in 2025, within an investment approach that promotes only options compatible with the Catholic faith.

In this context, the institute strengthened its offerings by combining its own capabilities with the collaboration of more than 11 international asset managers. In February, together with Morningstar, it also launched two new equity indexes designed as benchmarks for Catholic investments worldwide.

Clean audit opinion and change in presidency

The IOR’s financial statements — for an institution whose accounts are limited to Catholic institutions, clergy, Vatican employees, and embassies and ambassadors accredited to the Holy See — received a “clean” opinion from Deloitte & Touche and were approved April 28 by the Board of Superintendence and the Commission of Cardinals.

The fiscal year also coincided with a change in the institute’s presidency: Jean-Baptiste de Franssu ended his mandate after the approval of the financial statements and was succeeded by François Pauly.

With 115 employees and about 12,000 clients in more than 110 countries — all linked to the Church — the IOR reaffirmed its role as a financial instrument at the service of the Church’s mission under a model that combines prudent growth, security, and client focus.

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

On May 8, the Vatican issued a commemorative stamp marking the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV.

The stamp, issued by the Vatican City Postal and Philatelic Service, features a portrait of the Holy Father set against an image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, whose feast the Church celebrates on May 8. In the portrait, the Blessed Virgin looks down toward Pope Leo “as a sign of maternal protection,” Raúl Berzosa, the artist, explained.

In a statement to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Berzosa reflected on this work and also delved into the creative implications of artificial intelligence.

This new philatelic series marks another collaboration between Berzosa, who is from Málaga, Spain, and the Vatican, notable among which are his painting created for the commemorative stamp marking Pope Francis' 80th birthday in 2016 and the stamp dedicated to the golden jubilee of the pontiffʼs priestly ordination, produced in 2019.

Berzosa’s work includes the stamps for Easter released by the Vatican Philatelic Office in 2020, 2022, and 2024. In addition is the recent stamp dedicated to the composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, issued during the pontificate of Leo XIV.

The latest stamp will be priced at 1.35 euros ($1.59) and will have a limited print run of 45,000 copies. The stamps were printed by Bpost (Belgium) using four-color offset lithography.

AI ‘doesn’t live what it depicts’

“I believe that sacred art is not merely the final result we see; it‘s the product of reflection. The time and effort invested are what give it the artist’s personal imprint,” Berzosa noted when asked about the value and appropriateness of AI-generated Catholic imagery.

“I’ve seen AI-generated images that are very beautiful or striking, yet they convey the sensation of being images seen before. AI, of course, does not feel or experience what it depicts. The artist, by contrast, leaves something of himself in every work,” he pointed out.

The Spanish painter noted that we are witnessing “a flood” of AI-generated images and videos, some in fact created using the works of human artists. “I have seen my own paintings ‘come to life and move,’ and seeing them gave me a bittersweet feeling,” Berzosa shared.

“From what I’ve seen, AI typically generates whatever grabs the most attention: perfect faces, highly dramatic lighting, or visually stunning scenes, yet they all tend to look alike,” he commented.

The artist also noted that throughout centuries of Christian art history, “an infinite number of distinct artworks and styles” have emerged, something that today “stands in contrast to images created with AI.”

‘Human discernment remains fundamental’

Berzosa explained that religious images “are not merely decorative” but also serve as “a tool for evangelization.” This has been the historical function of images within Catholicism: to help the faithful draw closer to God and to the message of the Gospel.

“With AI, there is a risk of creating images that are overly artificial or hollow, where the sacred is transformed almost into fantastical imagery. I believe that, here and now, human discernment remains fundamental,” he noted.

“Technology can help, but human sensibility is needed to know which image is appropriate,” he added.

However, Berzosa clarified that AI can serve as a complementary tool for artists. “I don’t believe that technology is the enemy of art,” he said. “I think that artists have always used new tools,” he remarked.

“Often, viewing images — works of art as well as images created by AI — can be beneficial when seeking ideas; they can help in studying lighting or preparing compositions before beginning a work,” he noted.

The greatest obstacle, he continued, arises when technology completely supplants human skill and talent, the artist’s unique vision: “AI can create viable images, but ones that require subsequent interpretation by the artist. When used well, AI can be an important complement, a tool of its time,” he noted.

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

Pope Leo XIV said the principal threat facing both religion and science today is the denial of the existence of objective truth. He made this statement on May 11 during an audience granted to members of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, which supports the work of the observatory located in Castel Gandolfo.

“Today, however, science and religion face a different, and perhaps more insidious, threat: those who deny the very existence of objective truth,” the pontiff said.

During his address, he recalled that his predecessor Pope Leo XIII refounded the Vatican Observatory in 1891 in a context where science was beginning to emerge as a rival source of truth to religion. Because of this, he said, the Church felt the “urgent need to counter the growing perception that faith and science were enemies.” 

Exploitation of natural resources

“Too many in our world refuse to acknowledge what both science and the Church clearly teach: that we bear a solemn responsibility for the care of our planet and for the well-being of those who inhabit it, especially the most vulnerable, whose lives are threatened by the irresponsible exploitation of both people and the natural world,” Leo said.

He underscored that the Church’s commitment to “rigorous and honest science remains not only valuable but essential.”

The pope also highlighted the unique role of astronomy within this context. “It occupies a particular place in this mission,” he affirmed while emphasizing its capacity to evoke wonder and a sense of proportion in human beings: “It awakens in us both admiration and a healthy sense of proportion.”

“Contemplating the heavens invites us to view our fears and failures in the light of God’s immensity,” he noted.

However, he lamented, “this gift is today threatened” by light pollution.

“To paraphrase Pope Benedict [XVI], we have filled our skies with artificial light that blinds us to the lights God has placed in them — an eloquent image,” he suggested, “of sin itself,” citing a 2012 homily by the German pontiff.

Gratitude for scientific work

The pope expressed his gratitude to the scientists and benefactors associated with the foundation, whose work sustains the activities of the Vatican Observatory.

“Your generosity makes it possible for the Vatican Observatory to share the wonder of astronomy with students around the world and to offer workshops and summer courses to those working in Catholic schools and parishes," he said.

"Ultimately, it is your dedication that keeps the observatory’s telescopes and laboratories faithful to their original purpose: to be places where the glory of God’s creation is encountered with reverence, depth, and joy,” he added.

Finally, the pontiff exhorted them to “never lose sight of the theological vision that animates all of this."

“It’s not surprising that people of deep faith feel called to explore the origins and workings of the universe," he said. "The desire to better understand creation is but a reflection of that restless yearning for God that dwells in the heart of every human being."

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

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé discussed peace and strengthening relations with the Holy See in Rome over the weekend. The head of the transitional government was received by Pope Leo XIV on Saturday and then spoke with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

In a brief conversation with EWTN News, Parolin revealed that “we also talked about concrete initiatives regarding peace” with the prime minister, such as a conference on peace in Haiti, but “there is nothing in particular at the moment.” The secretary of state acknowledged that the local Church “is certainly active, helps, and contributes” on the ground.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state (center); Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé (right); and Cypriot Ambassador to the Holy See Georges Poulides, dean of the Diplomatic Corps (left), after the Mass for peace in Haiti at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Credit: Bohumil Petrík/EWTN News

“During the cordial talks,” the Holy See Press Office said in a release, both sides appreciated “good relations,” stressing the “valuable contribution that the Church offers to the country at this particular time.”

They touched upon “the socio-political situation and problems in the humanitarian field, migration, and security fields” while mentioning “the necessary contribution of the international community to face current difficulties,” the communiqué concluded.

Haiti is experiencing a multidimensional crisis. The country was struck by a devastating earthquake in 2010 and a subsequent cholera outbreak. In 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, and the security and political situation deteriorated. Armed gangs control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and there have not been general elections for a decade. The next general elections are scheduled for Aug. 30.

“We want to organize elections, ensure security, and move from receiving humanitarian aid to entering the commerce and market,” the prime minister said after the Mass for peace in Haiti, presided over by Parolin in the Basilica of St. Mary Major following the audience at the Vatican.

Fils-Aimé added that the audience with Pope Leo “was very emotional.” He appreciated “the exceptional relation with the Holy See,” highlighting that “the morale of the Catholic Church” is a “positive” factor in Haitian society.

“Looking at the current international situation,” Parolin said in his homily, “we can all recognize how much our world needs Godʼs presence and, therefore, the gift of peace.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin gives the homily at the Mass for peace in Haiti at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Credit: Bohumil Petrík/EWTN News

The Vaticanʼs secretary of state said that “peace is the first gift of the Resurrected” and so “we are called to bring Christʼs peace to the world.” Quoting St. Augustine, the prelate underscored that “peace is not a mere absence of war, as it has a profound significance and challenges all of us.”

He ended his homily with the hope that “peace may reign in Haiti forever.”

New embassy inaugurated near the Vatican walls

On Sunday, May 10, the prime minister and Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs Minister Raina Forbin inaugurated the new seat of the embassy of Haiti to the Holy See, located just off the Vatican walls.

“It is not just a simple change of address,” said the embassyʼs chargé dʼaffaires, Marie Guerline Janvier, adding that it shows “a political will to strengthen traditional and privileged relations with the Holy See.”

In this way, Haiti hopes to increase its visibility at the Holy See and to facilitate dialogue and collaboration.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday appointed Bishop Steven J. Lopes, bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, to also lead the Anglican ordinariate in Australia, effective immediately.

There are three personal ordinariates erected for former Anglicans who convert to Catholicism: the Chair of Saint Peter for the United States and Canada, Our Lady of Walsingham for the United Kingdom, and Our Lady of the Southern Cross for Australia.

The Vatican also announced on May 11 that Archbishop Anthony Randazzo — who was named prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts in March — has concluded his role as apostolic administrator of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, which began on July 1, 2023.

Each of the three Anglican ordinariates is a personal (non-territorial) jurisdiction, similar to a diocese but defined by people (those with an Anglican background who have entered full communion with the Catholic Church) rather than by strict geographical boundaries. Any Catholic may belong to or attend an ordinariate parish.

“As I conclude my time as apostolic administrator, I give thanks for the grace-filled growth of the Ordinariate [of Our Lady of the Southern Cross] and the faithful witness of its clergy and people,” Randazzo wrote on his Facebook page on May 11.

“It has been a privilege to serve the Ordinariate during this period of renewal and hope,” he said. “I am encouraged by the strong foundations laid and the emerging signs of vitality, and I remain confident that its mission will bear fruit well into the future.”

The Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross is based out of a suburb of Sydney. Randazzo was also the bishop of Broken Bay, Australia, from 2019 to 2026.

Lopes, who was ordained a bishop for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter in 2016, wrote to members in an email on May 11 that he has been privileged to come to know the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross over the years and to now “be its custodian for a while.”

Lopes has been appointed apostolic administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis,” which means “the see being vacant and at the disposition of the Holy See.”

Lopes, who is originally from California, has a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Ordained a priest in 2001, he served as an official at the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 2005 until his appointment as bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, of which the mother church and cathedral is in Houston.

The Vatican reaffirmed its support for the Anglican ordinariates in a document issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in March.

In “Characteristics of the Anglican Heritage as Lived in the Ordinariates Established Under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus,” the Vatican highlighted key characteristics of the Anglican patrimony as lived in the ordinariates, including a distinctive “ecclesial ethos” in which both the laity and the clergy participate actively in Church governance, and a focus on evangelization through beauty in worship, music, and art.

Pope Leo XIV called on Christians and Muslims to resist the growing danger of apathy in modern society, warning May 11 that the constant stream of images of human suffering can “dull our hearts rather than stir them” and urging believers to “transform indifference into solidarity.”

The pope made the appeal during an audience with participants in the eighth colloquium between the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, held under the theme “Human Compassion and Empathy in Modern Times.”

In his address in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father said compassion and empathy are essential for “what it means to live a truly human life.”

The pope noted that the Muslim tradition associates compassion with mercy, “as a gift bestowed by God in the hearts of believers,” and that compassion “always has its origin in God himself.”

Likewise, he said, the Christian tradition’s sacred Scripture “reveals a God who does not remain indifferent to suffering.”

“In Jesus Christ, this divine compassion becomes visible and tangible,” he said. “God goes beyond seeing and hearing by taking on our human nature in order to become the living embodiment of compassion.”

Following Jesus’ example, Leo said, Christian compassion “becomes a sharing in or ‘suffering with’ others, particularly the most disadvantaged.”

“For our traditions, human compassion and empathy are not something additional or optional but are a call from God to reflect his goodness in our daily lives,” the pope said.

Addressing Jordan’s Prince Hasan bin Talal, who was present at the audience, the Holy Father expressed appreciation “for the generous efforts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in welcoming refugees and assisting those in need in difficult circumstances.”

Leo lamented that “compassion and empathy are sadly in danger of disappearing today” in a society marked by technological advances that, in his view, “have made us more connected than ever before, but they can also lead to indifference.”

“The constant flow of images and videos of the hardships of others can dull our hearts rather than stir them,” he warned.

In the face of this reality, Leo said Christians and Muslims are called to a common mission: “to revive humanity where it has grown cold, to give voice to those who suffer and to transform indifference into solidarity.”

“Compassion and empathy can be our instruments as they have the power to restore the dignity of the other,” the pope added.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News’ Spanish-language sister service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday prayed for victims of growing violence in the Sahel, thanked the people of the Canary Islands for welcoming a cruise ship carrying people sick with hantavirus, and offered a special blessing for mothers during his Regina Caeli address in St. Peter’s Square.

Speaking after the Marian prayer May 10, the pope said he had learned “with concern” of increasing violence in the Sahel region, especially in Chad and Mali, which have been struck by recent terrorist attacks.

He assured his prayers for the victims and his closeness to those who are suffering, expressing hope that “every form of violence may cease” and encouraging efforts toward peace and development in the region.

The pope also marked the annual Coptic-Catholic Friendship Day, sending “fraternal greetings” to Pope Tawadros II and assuring his prayers for the Coptic Church. He said he hoped the path of friendship between Catholics and Copts would lead to “perfect unity in Christ, who called us friends.”

In Spanish, Pope Leo XIV thanked the people of the Canary Islands for allowing the arrival of the Hondius cruise ship with passengers sick with hantavirus. “I am happy to be able to meet you next month during my visit to the islands,” he said.

The pope also offered a Mother’s Day greeting, asking Mary, “the Mother of Jesus and our mother,” to intercede for all mothers, especially those living in difficult circumstances. “Thank you! May God bless you!” he said.

Before the Regina Caeli, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, in which Jesus tells his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

The pope said the words of Jesus free Christians from a misunderstanding: the idea that people are loved by God only if they keep the commandments.

“Our righteousness would then be the condition for God’s love,” he said. “On the contrary, God’s love is the condition for our righteousness.”

Jesus’ words, he said, are “an invitation to relationship,” not a form of blackmail or uncertainty.

The Lord commands his followers to love one another as he has loved them, Pope Leo said, because it is Christ’s love that gives birth to love in the human heart. Christ, he said, is the measure of true love: faithful, pure, unconditional, and without “buts” or “maybes.”

“Since God loves us first, we too can love,” he said. “And when we truly love God, we truly love one another.”

The pope said the commandments are not burdensome rules but “an order of life” that heals people from false loves and offers a spiritual path to salvation.

Because God loves his people, the pope continued, he does not leave them alone in life’s trials but promises the Paraclete, the Advocate, the “Spirit of truth.”

The Holy Spirit, he said, is a gift the world cannot receive while it remains attached to evil that oppresses the poor, excludes the weak, and kills the innocent. But those who respond to Jesus’ love find in the Holy Spirit an unfailing ally.

Pope Leo said Christians can always bear witness to God, who is love — not as an abstract idea, but as the reality of divine life, through which all things were created from nothing and redeemed from death.

Jesus, he said, shares with believers his identity as the beloved Son: “I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

This communion, the pope said, contradicts the work of the Accuser, “the father of lies,” who seeks to set humanity against God and people against one another. Jesus does the opposite, he said, saving his people from evil and uniting them as brothers and sisters in the Church.

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.

In recognizing the work of the Italian Association for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AISLA, by its Italian acronym), Pope Leo affirmed that “in the various situations of life — especially the difficult ones — no one should be left alone.”

His words were delivered during an audience with members of the association, which took place Saturday at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

The Holy Father stated that the work of AISLA “unites people experiencing an illness—along with their family members and caregivers—in a therapeutic alliance of great closeness and proximity that faithfully reflects the manner in which Jesus himself approached those who suffer.”

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects nerve cells in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord that control the movement of voluntary muscles. The disease causes motor nerve cells to deteriorate or die, rendering them unable to send messages to the muscles.

Over time, this leads to muscle weakness, spasms, and an inability to move the arms, legs, and body. The condition continues to worsen, and when the muscles in the chest area cease to function, breathing becomes difficult or impossible.

The Pope expressed that patients — with commitment, faith, and courage — “bear witness that the goodness and value of life are greater than illness,” and that the challenges it presents “can be faced together, transforming them into special and privileged opportunities to give and receive love.”

“Thank you for this! As prophets, you teach everyone the true value of life — and our world desperately needs this message!” Pope Leo said.

He strongly emphasized the closeness of the association’s members to the sick — something he considers “very important,” as healthcare requires presence “for the well-being of the person in their various dimensions: biological, psychological, and spiritual.”

“The Church deeply senses the value of this ‘closeness’: standing alongside people — wherever they are, in their homes — to offer support, not only in terms of care but also in terms of spirituality, paying special attention to the questions regarding the meaning of suffering — questions that cannot be left unanswered,” he underscored.

“In the various situations of life — especially the difficult ones — no one should be left alone; and volunteering, which unites people through generosity, powerfully embodies this value by fostering solidarity and respect, and by responding with gestures of care to the culture of waste and death,” he added.

Finally, he invited them to reflect upon the Passion of Jesus, who chose to experience it “as a time of trial, of physical pain and spiritual suffering,” standing in solidarity with humanity to the very end and demonstrating to them “that pain and suffering cannot halt love nor nullify the power of God.”

Augustiner Brewery delivers beer

On May 9, Pope Leo also received pilgrims from the Edith Haberland-Wagner Foundation and the Augustiner Brewery, who presented him with beer as a gift. This gesture allowed the Pontiff to offer two points for reflection.

Pope Leo XIV with pilgrims from the Edith Haberland-Wagner Foundation and the Augustiner Brewery, who presented him with beer as a gift. | Credit: Vatican Media

First, he highlighted the pilgrims' connection to the Augustinian Order, to which he himself belongs. In this regard, he recalled the impact of Saint Augustine on his own life — a figure who “reminds us that we all possess gifts and talents bestowed upon us by God, and that our purpose, fulfillment, and joy derive from offering them in loving service to God and to our neighbor.”

The Augustiner Brewery is the oldest brewery in Munich and the last to remain privately owned. Its history dates back to 1328.

“I hope, therefore, that your pilgrimage not only strengthens you in faith but also inspires you to continue serving your brothers and sisters, especially those most in need,” he affirmed.

Then, recalling Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, the Holy Father stated that man is called not only to care for creation, but also to “ensure that its resources are always used with wisdom and with a view to justice — an indispensable prerequisite for peace.”

“Therefore, upon returning home, I encourage you to continue contributing to the promotion of a just and effective approach to the care of creation, both in the professional and personal spheres, for the common good,” he concluded, imparting his blessing upon all present.

Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, prime minister of Haiti, a country which continues to suffer from a wave of violence and insecurity, was received by Pope Leo on Saturday.

Following the meeting, the Holy See Press Office reported that the discussions between the two men focused on “the good relations between the Holy See and Haiti” and “the valuable contribution that the Church offers to the country at this particular time.”

The meeting’s readout indicated that various current issues facing Haiti were also addressed during the meeting, including “the socio-political situation and challenges in the humanitarian matters, migration, and security” as well as “the necessary contribution of the international community in addressing the present difficulties.”

Following his meeting with the Holy Father, the prime minister was received by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Haiti’s ongoing turmoil

Haiti continues to experience a complex situation of violence and insecurity, particularly in the country’s capital of Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs operate freely, controlling a large portion of the region.

In the midst of this backdrop, which also affects the Catholic Church, general elections are slated to be held on August 30, 2026, to elect the new president, members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as mayors.

The last elections in Haiti took place in 2016 and were marked by controversy. Following that process, Jovenel Moïse assumed the presidency. Moïse was assassinated in 2021 and since then Haiti has spiraled into further political chaos and violence.

Given the situation, in February of this year Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of Anse-à-Veau-Miragoâne, the current vice president of the country’s bishops’ conference, anticipated that this year’s elections will neither be “transparent” nor “democratic.”

The Holy See emphasized the need to place human dignity at the center of migration policies during its May 6 address to the Second International Migration Review Forum being held at United Nations headquarters in New York.

In a statement, Monsignor Robert D. Murphy, interim chargé dʼaffaires of the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the U.N., explained that the Holy See’s approach “is rooted in the Gospel and developed in Catholic social teaching, with the God-given dignity of every human person at its core."

He articulated several priorities, among them the protection of the lives of migrants, family unity, and the impact of technology on migration processes.

The statement was part of the policy debate regarding the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM), highlighting key current and emerging challenges.

The obligation to protect lives

Regarding the protection of life, Murphy expressed his concern about the vulnerability of migrants on dangerous routes, pointing out that “protecting migrants’ lives is an obligation under international law, based on the fundamental right to life.”

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in search and rescue operations and of ensuring that the right to life “is never subordinated to any other interests.”

With regard to family reunification, Murphy noted that regular pathways for this purpose remain limited and called for greater efforts to promote family unity, including its integration into labor mobility schemes and ensuring access to education and healthcare, with particular attention to minors.

The Vatican representative also addressed the role of technological innovation, recognizing its potential to improve migration systems and make them “more predictable, accessible, and efficient,” as seen with advancements made in telemedicine, digital recruitment tools, and online consular services.

However, he warned of the risks associated with the use of surveillance technologies at borders, which, he said, “has raised concerns” within the Holy See “regarding potential human rights violations.”

In this context, he drew attention to the need to establish “adequate safeguards, robust oversight, and full respect for migrants’ right to privacy.”

Online recruitment systems

The priest also denounced the phenomenon of so-called “cyber-slavery,” a growing threat driven by criminal networks that exploit globalization and technology, which he characterized as “particularly disturbing,” noting that in these cases, victims are coerced into participating in criminal activities such as online fraud or drug trafficking.

These forms of violence, he noted, “are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves.”

In his conclusion, Murphy quoted Pope Leo XIV to underscore the human dimension of migration: “Every migrant is a person and, as such, has inalienable rights that must be respected in every situation. Not all migrants move by choice, but many are forced to flee because of violence, persecution, conflict, and even the effects of climate change.”

Based on this situation, the Holy See warned that the debate on migration governance must not be reduced to a technical exercise.

“Behind each objective of the GCM and policy effort stands the God-given dignity of migrants, demanding not only better governance but also solidarity, collective responsibility, and sustained efforts to ensure their protection and inclusion,” he pointed out.

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