Pope Leo XIV smiles and waves from the popemobile while riding around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience Oct. 21, 2026. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) By Josephine Peterson, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Marriage requires more than physical attraction, Pope Leo XIV said in his first weekly general audience […]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets Pope Leo XIV during a meeting at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo Dec. 9, 2025. An Oct. 19, 2026, statement from the Vatican press office said Pope Leo spoke by phone with Zelenskyy, expressing hope that Ukraine and Russia will cooperate on humanitarian aid and evacuations for civilians in […]
Pope Leo XIV clasps his hands after leading the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 18, 2026, after being released from the hospital the previous day. Lead surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora said the pope’s recovery is progressing normally and that there is no medical reason to cancel his planned Nov. 6-17 trip […]
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass on the 10th floor at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital Oct. 16, 2026, following his cancer surgery Oct. 13. In his homily, the pontiff thanked the staff, doctors, nurses and orderlies for their daily work caring for the sick and, in particular, for what they have done for him. (OSV News photo/Vatican […]
Pope Leo XIV talks at a table with prelates and laypeople Oct. 7, 2026, after he opened the weeklong Vatican meeting of presidents of bishops’ conferences marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”). In his opening remarks, the pope spoke about the pastoral responsibility of the Church to find renewed ways […]
Images of Pope Leo XVI and other objects are displayed at the base of the statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital Oct. 15, 2026. Doctors treating Pope Leo XIV said Oct. 15 that tests show “good recovery of the operated lung” two days after his cancer surgery. The pope underwent surgery […]
Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago dressed as cardinals and a Swiss Guard walk in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 8, 2025. The group met Pope Leo XIV following his weekly general audience. As Pope Leo recovers from surgery Oct. 13, 2026, during which doctors removed his lower right […]
President Donald Trump walks as he attends a campaign rally at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport in Bullhead City, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2026. (OSV News photo/Evan Vucci, Reuters) President Donald Trump offered Pope Leo XIV his “best wishes” and “love” in a short interview with reporters Oct. 14, the day after the pope’s doctors announced that the […]
A woman prays with a rosary and a card portraying Pope Leo XIV Oct. 14, 2026, where the pope had surgery the previous evening to remove a lung nodule. The Vatican confirmed after the surgery that Pope Leo has lung cancer. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters) VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV is recovering as […]
A nun holds an image of Pope Leo XIV while praying with rosary as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, celebrates a Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2026, on the final day of the meeting in which the presidents of bishops’ conferences are marking the 10th […]