Separatist leaders in Cameroon’s conflict-hit English-speaking regions have announced a temporary ceasefire ahead of the Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV, describing the visit as a moment of “profound spiritual importance” for the country. In a statement issued on April 13, the Ambazonia Governing Council declared a three-day “Safe...
American Pope
United States (US) President Donald Trump has sparked fresh global controversy after posting an AI-generated image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, deepening tensions with Pope Leo XIV. The development came shortly after Trump reacted angrily to the Pope’s renewed call for peace in the Middle East and criticism of...
US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV, saying he is “not a big fan” of the American pontiff following the pope’s appeal for peace amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The 70-year-old pope had urged world leaders to halt violence during a vigil at St....
Pope Leo XIV told reporters Monday morning that he was unafraid of the Trump administration, hours after President Trump lashed out at the pontiff on social media. Responding to questions by reporters aboard the papal plane to Algeria on Monday, Pope Leo XIV said: “I think that the people...
Pope Leo XIV on Monday arrived in Algeria, marking a historic moment as the North African nation welcomed a sitting Catholic pontiff for the first time. The Pope touched down to an official reception, waving warmly as he began the opening leg of his African tour, a visit expected...
There has been widespread excitement within Nigeria’s Catholic community following the appointment of Bishop Matthew Kukah by Pope Leo XIV as a Member of the Council of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at Vatican City. The appointment was conveyed in an official letter signed by the Vatican...
Pope Leo XIV on Monday received Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado in the Vatican, without disclosing details of the meeting. Machado has been touring Europe. She reappeared publicly in December after spending 11 months in hiding to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in...
Pope Leo XIV has called on senior Catholic leaders across the world to listen more closely to victims of clerical sexual abuse, warning that the Church continues to carry deep wounds caused not only by abuse itself but by the failure to hear and welcome survivors. Pope Leo XIV...
Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Christmas at the Vatican by reviving the tradition of offering Christmas Mass on Dec. 25 in St. Peter’s Basilica, something no pope has done since 1994. The Christmas celebrations — which will be marked by the closing of the Holy Doors —...
On Tuesday evening, Pope Leo visited a concert organised by the Pontifical Paul VI School in Villa Barberini. After the concert was over, the Pope offered his blessing to the children and their families, encouraging them to pray together and to open their hearts to recognise God’s presence. The...
Pope Leo XIV began the third day of his first Apostolic Journey to Türkiye with a quiet yet deeply symbolic stop at one of Istanbul’s most treasured landmarks—the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, revered worldwide as the “Blue Mosque.” The Pontiff entered the 17th-century masterpiece without ceremony, choosing instead a moment...
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican for high-level discussions centered on the Middle East crisis and renewed efforts toward peace in the region. According to a statement released by the Holy See, the discussions were described as “cordial”, with both leaders reaffirming...
By CALLISTUS OFFOR, Abuja- Pope Leo XIV has expressed his deep sorrow over the recent terrorist attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where over 40 Christians were brutally killed during a prayer vigil. The Pope’s statement came after the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)...
Pope Leo XIV has delivered a powerful message of peace at his last general audience before the summer break, expressing concern over developments in Iran, Israel, and Palestine. In St. Peter’s Square, he urged the warring sides to “reject the logic of bullying and revenge” and choose a path...
Pope Leo XIV has expressed his prayers for the victims of the tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, where 10 students and a teacher lost their lives. During his weekly audience at the Vatican, the Pope said, “I would like to express my prayers for the victims of the...
By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja- Following the historic inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese shared insights on the global significance of the event and its implications for Africa. Reflecting on the presence of world leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at...
Pope Leo XIV again called for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip and for hostilities to end at his first weekly audience on St Peter’s Square in Rome. “I renew my appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the...
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday returned to Abuja after attending the inauguration of the 267th Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, in Rome, Italy. The President who arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 6.50 p.m. was received by senior government officials. The President had...
U.S. Vice President JD Vance was received by Pope Leo XIV on Monday for a private audience, at the end of his visit to Rome. The head of the Catholic Church met Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican. This was followed by a meeting...
By DAVID IORJA, Abuja- President Bola Tinubu, the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass on Sunday in Rome. The presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued via his X (formerly Twitter)...