Accompanying his repeated calls for an end to war, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the recitation of the Holy Rosary on May 30 in the Vatican Gardens, with each decade dedicated to people impacted by war—from families torn apart to medical personnel and volunteers.

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As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran enters its fourth month, the Israeli military launches more strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing scores of people and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

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After the initial signing in July 2025, the agreement between the Holy See and Italy to build an agrivoltaic plant in the Vatican’s Santa Maria di Galeria area enters into force. The project aims to provide the Vatican City State with renewable energy.

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In an audience with members of the Italian Episcopal Conference at the conclusion of their 82nd General Assembly, Pope Leo urges a “focus on the essential” and keeping the priority on the Gospel, which “awakens us” in today’s world “marked by complexity.”

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Martyr of England. She was born Margaret Plantagenet, the niece of Edward IV and Rich�­ard III. She married Sir Reginald Pole about 1491 and bore five sons, including Reginald Cardinal Pole. Margaret was widowed, named countess of Salisbury, and appointed governess to Princess Mary, daughter of Hemy VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon, Spain. She opposed Henryâ��s mar�­riage to Anne Boleyn, and the king exiled her from court, although he called her â��the holiest woman in England.â�� When her ...

Before travelling to the northern Italian city of Rimini on August 22, Pope Leo XIV will also visit the Republic of San Marino.

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Father Franco Semeraro tells Vatican News how Pope Leo XIV came to the aid of his brother, Fr Diego, after he felt faint on May 27 at the end of the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.

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Pope Leo XIV encourages the Dicastery for Evangelization to assist Catholic communities throughout the world in their efforts to respond to the crisis of spiritual poverty among young people.

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In an interview with Vatican News, the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich, says Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical 'Magnifica humanitas' recognizes that "new technology has the potential to overtake our capacity to control it, and the Pope is giving us a wake-up call to seize this moment with urgency."

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Amid renewed tensions between the Vatican and traditionalist Catholics over the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo XIV defended Church reform as a legitimate process that adapts to current needs while remaining rooted in authentic tradition.

During his May 27 general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said authentic renewal of the liturgy is acceptable and encouraged when the Church first engages in careful theological and pastoral study and then makes sure that “any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing." 

"In a particular way, I encourage everyone to respect the texts and norms of the liturgy with openness, humility, trust in God’s greatness and with sincere fidelity to ecclesial communion," he said in his address to English speakers.

His remarks came weeks after the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X announced plans to move forward with ordaining new bishops without papal approval, despite warnings from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that such an act would be schismatic and carry automatic excommunication for the members involved in performing and receiving the consecrations.

In a May 13 statement published by the dicastery's prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández warned that "this action will constitute ‘a schismatic act’" and that "formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established by the law of the Church."

Founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X has long opposed several teachings and reforms associated with Vatican II, particularly regarding the liturgy, ecumenism and religious liberty. Earlier this year, the group announced plans to consecrate bishops without papal authorization July 1, a move that would deepen its rupture with Rome.

In February, SSPX Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani, who resides at the society's headquarters in Switzerland, met with Cardinal Fernández, but the society later reaffirmed its intention to proceed with the consecrations.

Addressing French-speaking visitors during the general audience -, the pope prayed  that "a liturgical renewal, faithful to the authentic tradition, may consolidate ecclesial communion and the full participation of the faithful."

Throughout his general audience catechesis, Pope Leo repeatedly framed liturgical reform as part of the Church’s living tradition rather than a break from the past.

Quoting Pope Pius XII and the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, "Sacrosanctum Concilium," the pope said the Church "grows, matures, develops" while safeguarding the integrity of doctrine. He also reiterated the council’s call to preserve "sound tradition" while remaining open to "legitimate progress."

The pope said changes within the liturgy had taken place throughout the Church’s history in order to help the faithful participate more fully in the Paschal mystery and to allow the Church’s worship to become embodied within different cultures throughout history.

"Today, this energy must be renewed in continuity with the authentic and living Catholic tradition, that is, in accordance with a dynamic aimed at introducing believers to the fullness of the truth," he said.

Citing Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Leo said tradition and progress should not be viewed as opposites, recalling Benedict’s image of tradition as "a river" that carries its source within itself while continuing to flow forward.

At the same time, the pope stressed that any reform within the Church must be approached carefully and with ecclesial authority. Referencing "Sacrosanctum Concilium," he said reforms should only occur when "the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them" and after "careful theological, historical and pastoral" study.

"I therefore urge all those called to prepare the celebration of the divine mysteries, in particular

priests who exercise the ministry of liturgical presidency, to always uphold that respect for the texts and regulations of the liturgy which springs from an inner attitude of openness and trust in God, manifesting humility before His greatness and sincere fidelity to ecclesial communion," he said.