Pope Leo XIV meets his closest collaborators for the exchange of traditional Christmas greetings. The Pope recalls his 'beloved predecessor' Francis and his encouragement to be a Church that is 'welcoming to all,' urging them consider the 'major ecclesial, pastoral, and social challenges' and to become a sign of peace for a world marked by conflict.

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In the traditional Christmas greeting to Vatican employees, Pope Leo invites them to learn simplicity and humility from Jesus’ birth this Christmas, and to ensure that this becomes the style of the Church.

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The fifth edition of the international kitesurfing event is set to take place on 7 February 2026 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, with the deadline for participation on 6 January. The competition aims to build on social, cultural, and humanitarian dimensions that convey a strong message of peace and fellowship, in addition to good sportsmanship and an exciting race in a stunningly beautiful part of the world.

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On 14 December 1975, on the eve of the conclusion of the Holy Year and ten years after the lifting of the mutual excommunications, Pope Paul VI unexpectedly bent to the ground to pay homage to the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

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In 1565, the Vatican was looking for a secret agent. It was shortly after the Council of Trent and the pope wanted to get the decrees of the Council to all the European bishops. What would be a simple errand in our day, was a dangerous assignment in the sixteenth century. The first envoy who tried to carry the decrees through territory of hostile Protestants and vicious thieves was robbed of the precious documents. Rome needed someone courageous but also someone above suspicion. They chose ...

Reflecting on the figure of Saint Joseph on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Pope Leo XIV recalls the virtues he lived of piety, charity, and mercy that educate the heart to encounter Christ and our brothers and sisters. As we await the birth of the Saviour, he encourages us to be "a welcoming manger, a hospitable home, a sign of God’s presence" and that all children may live in peace.

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Ukraine's president says the United States has proposed a format for peace talks that would place Ukraine and Russia at the same table, but he doubts such a meeting would bring real progress. Zelenskyy spoke as a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa in southern Ukraine killed at least eight people and wounded twenty-seven, while Ukrainian drones hit several Russian targets.

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Violence begets death and destruction, revenge begets hatred and pain. News and pictures from Gaza and other war-torn lands show the physical and moral suffering of the innocent and defenceless.

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U.S. forces launch missiles toward Islamic State positions in desert areas of eastern and northern Syria.

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Benedictine abbot and defender of the faith. Born in Canas, Navarre, Spain, circa 1000, he entered the Benedictines at San Millan de Ia Cogolla. King Garcia III of Navarre challenged him when he became abbot of the monastery, and Dominic refused to surrender part of the Benedictine lands to the crown. For this he was exiled, going to King Ferdinand I of Castile and Leon, who made him abbot of St. Sebastian Abbey at Silos, now called St. Dominic�s. Dominic reformed the abbey, built the ...