The first day of Pope Leo XIV’s international apostolic journey to Africa concluded with an encounter with the Algerian community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers. The meeting in the Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Africa concluded the first day of the journey to Africa.

“It is with profound joy and fatherly affection that I meet with you today, you whose discrete and precious presence in this land is marked by an ancient heritage and by luminous witnesses of the faith,” Pope Leo said after listening to several testimonies.

“Your community has deep roots indeed. You are the heirs of a host of witnesses who gave their lives, motivated by love for God and neighbour. “I am particularly reminded of the 19 men and women religious who were martyred in Algeria, choosing to stand alongside this people in its joys and sorrows. Their blood is a living seed that never ceases to bear fruit.”  Pope Leo on Monday afternoon received the embrace of the Algerian Catholic community, present despite heavy rain. At the opening of the meeting, the pope knelt in adoration in front of a tabernacle containing the Eucharist.

“You are also heirs to a still more ancient tradition, dating back to the early centuries of Christianity,” he said in a speech delivered in French. “In this land resounded the fervent voice of Augustine of Hippo, preceded by the testimony of his mother, St. Monica, and of other saints. Their memory shines as a call to be authentic signs of communion, dialogue, and peace today.”

“To all of you, dear friends, and to those who are not able to be present but are following this meeting from afar, “I express my gratitude for your daily commitment to manifest the maternal heart of the Church.” The pope invited those present to reflect on three essential aspects of Christian life. “First, prayer. We all need to pray. … Prayer unites, humanizes, strengthens, and purifies the heart. Through prayer, the Church in Algeria sows humanity, unity, strength, and purity, reaching places known only to the Lord”.

 Turning to charity Leo emphasized that mercy and service are not merely practical assistance but places of grace and mutual growth. “After all, it is precisely love for their brothers and sisters that inspired the witness of the martyrs we have commemorated. In the face of hatred and violence, they remained faithful to charity even to the point of sacrificing themselves alongside many other men and women, Christians and Muslims. They did so without ostentation or fanfare, with serenity and steadfastness, neither falling into presumption nor despair, for they knew the One in whom they had placed their trust.

 Addressing peace and unity, Pope Leo recalled that this was the central theme of his visit “In a world where division and wars sow pain and death among nations, in communities, and even within families, your experience of unity and peace is a compelling sign. Together, you spread fraternity and inspire a deep longing for communion and reconciliation with simplicity and humility.”

“A considerable part of this country’s territory is desert, and in the desert, no one can survive alone. The hostile environment dispels any presumptions of self‑sufficiency, reminding us that we need one another, and that we need God. “When we acknowledge our fragility, our hearts become open to supporting one another and to invoking the One who can grant what no human power can ensure: the profound reconciliation of hearts and, with it, true peace.”

Before reaching the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, Pope Leo XIV stopped at the Great Mosque of Algiers and earlier at the centre of hospitality and friendship of the Augustinian Missionary Sisters in Bab El Oued. There, the pope paid homage to the memory of several religious sisters of this community killed during the civil war in the 1990s. After praying with the sisters and listening to the words of their superior, Leo XIV recalled the martyrs as a precious presence in the land and as a sign of the heart of Augustinian life: witness, even unto martyrdom. “Your presence here means a great deal,” the Holy Father said, recalling a previous visit and highlighting the legacy of St. Augustine in the region: promoting respect for the dignity of every person and affirming that it is possible to live in peace while valuing differences. Before departing, he thanked the sisters and encouraged them to persevere, recalling that the feast of the 19 martyrs of Algeria falls on May 8 – the day of his election. (EWTN news)

President Donald Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday evening, calling the pontiff “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy” in a lengthy post that appeared to be reacting to the Holy Fatherʼs recent appeals for peace and an end to war. In comments to reporters at Joint Base Andrews shortly afterward, Trump said: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. … I am not a fan of Pope Leo.” He added: “He’s a very liberal person.”

Trump accused Leo of being soft on Iran and criticized the pope’s opposition to U.S. military operations. “I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” the president wrote. He also criticized the pope for opposing the U.S. intervention in Venezuela that ousted President Nicolás Maduro in January. Leo has not said Iran should possess nuclear weapons. He has called the U.S.-Israel war in Iran “unjust” and on April 7 called Trump’s threat to destroy an entire “civilization” in Iran ‘truly un acceptable’. Trump also claimed credit for Leo’s election to the papacy in May 2025, writing: “He wasn’t on any list to be pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American.”

 He added: “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” The post on Truth Social came hours before Leo was scheduled to depart Monday for an 11-day trip to four African countries and one day after the pope presided over a globally broadcast prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said he was “disheartened” by Trumpʼs public attack on Pope Leo XIV, defending the pontiff as the vicar of Christ who speaks for the Gospel and the care of souls. “I am disheartened that the president chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” Coakley said. “Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the pope a politician. He is the vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

The president said he preferred the pope’s older brother, Louis Prevost, a Port Charlotte, Florida, resident who has described himself as a “MAGA type.” “I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA,” Trump wrote. Trump also criticized Leo for meeting April 9 with David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for President Barack Obama, calling Axelrod “a loser from the left.”

The Vatican has previously confirmed the audience but did not disclose what was discussed. Trump also posted an image that commentators said depicted him as Jesus Christ, wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while admirers look on and eagles and military jets fill the sky above an American flag.

The public clash comes after weeks of growing friction between the White House and Catholic leaders since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb 28.

 Pope Leo’s appeals for peace intensified over Holy Week, culminating in Saturday’s vigil, where he denounced a “delusion of omnipotence” and warned that “the holy name of God” was being “dragged into discourses of death.” At a special Mass for peace held in Washington on April 11, Cardinal Robert McElroy argued that the current war fails to meet the strict criteria of just war theory, particularly in light of civilian suffering and the risk of disproportionate harm. The Vatican has not yet publicly responded to Trumpʼs post. The pope is expected to arrive in Algiers on Monday. (EWTN news)

The vice president said Trump removed the AI-generated image because “a lot of people weren’t understanding his humour.

Vice President JD Vance on Monday defended President Donald Trumpʼs decision to post and later delete an AI-generated image that critics said depicted the president as Jesus Christ, calling it a joke that people misunderstood. “I think the president was posting a joke and, of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren’t understanding his humour in that case,” Vance told publically. “I think the president of the United States likes to mix it up on social media,” Vance added. “And I actually think thatʼs one of the good things about this president, is that he is not filtered.” Earlier Monday, the president told reporters at the White House that the image depicted him as “a doctor” and “a Red Cross worker,” not as Jesus, as many understood it. He added: “Only the fake news could come up with that one.”

 “I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with the Red Cross as a Red Cross worker there, which we support,” Trump said. The apparently AI-generated image, posted to Trumpʼs Truth Social account on Sunday evening on Orthodox Easter, showed the president in a white robe and red sash. Both hands emitted a golden light, with one resting on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed. The American flag, the Statue of Liberty, military jets and floating human figures in the sky filled the background. The post contained no caption. Trump shared the image shortly after publishing a series of posts attacking, calling the pontiff “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy” over his opposition to U.S. military operations in Iran. He now-deleted drew swift backlash from across the political spectrum, including from prominent conservative and Christian commentators who are typically supportive of the president. The post was deleted later on Monday.

Vance — a Catholic convert — also addressed the broader friction between the White House and the Vatican. “When it comes to the disagreements with the Vatican, look, weʼre going to have disagreements, from time to time,” Vance said. “I think itʼs a good thing actually that the pope is advocating for the things that he cares about.”

He added: “We can respect the pope. We certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican. But weʼre also going to disagree on substantive questions from time to time. I think thatʼs a totally reasonable thing. It isnʼt particularly newsworthy.”

Pope Leo XIV, speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday, responded to the controversy: “I have no fear neither of the Trump administration nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel,” The President of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, said he was “disheartened” by Trumpʼs remarks about the pope, calling Leo “the vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.” It is not the first time a Trump social media post depicting himself in religious imagery has caused controversy.

In May 2025, the president posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope shortly after the death of Pope Francis. That post drew condemnation from Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Vance at the time dismissed that controversy as well, saying he was “fine with people telling jokes.” (EWTN news)

Two college students in the United States have developed a new artificial intelligence platform inspired by Catholic teachings, aiming to offer a faith-based and responsible approach to technology.

The platform, called Acutis AI, was created by brothers Peter and Thomas Cooney, students at the University of Dallas and Baylor University. The initiative seeks to provide answers rooted in Catholic morality, helping users find guidance they can trust.

The developers said they were concerned that many existing AI platforms present morally sensitive issues in a neutral way that may not align with Church teachings. They also warned that such tools can lead to dependency, especially among young users who may become emotionally attached to AI companions.

To address these concerns, Acutis AI has been built using key Church documents, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Summa Theologica. The platform is designed to answer questions on faith and morals based on these sources, while general questions are handled through broader searches.

The platform also includes parental control features, allowing families to monitor usage, set time limits, and receive alerts about sensitive topics. This is intended to help parents guide their children in using technology responsibly.

The brothers believe artificial intelligence can be a helpful tool if used wisely, especially in education, such as creating study guides or quizzes. However, they stressed that AI should never replace critical thinking or real human relationships.

Inspired by Carlo Acutis, the project aims to show how technology can be used to serve faith and bring people closer to God.

Bishop Juan Ignacio Liébana of Chascomús has encouraged young people to enter politics with honesty, humility, and a strong commitment to the common good. In a message addressed to youth, the bishop described politics as “one of the noblest tasks” and a form of charity at its highest level.

He explained that politics is about serving people, promoting justice, and caring especially for the most vulnerable. He said those entering public life must be people of integrity who do not misuse the hopes and dreams of others.

The bishop outlined important qualities for future leaders. He said they should live simple lives, stay rooted in spiritual values, and regularly reflect on their actions. He advised politicians to remember their promises and examine their conscience often to remain faithful to their mission.

He also stressed the importance of humility, warning leaders not to become proud or self-centered. Instead, they should be ready to admit mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and focus on serving others rather than personal gain.

The bishop encouraged politicians to maintain balance in life by spending time with family, enjoying simple moments, and staying close to ordinary people. He warned against the attraction of luxury and power, which can distance leaders from reality.

He also highlighted the need for honest companions and wise advisors who can guide and correct leaders when needed. Finally, he reminded young people that politics is not for money or fame, but a true vocation of service dedicated to building a better society.

The Cuban government granted pardons to over 2,000 prisoners – including young people, women and people over the age of 60 – in light of Holy Week.

The Cuban government announced that it has granted pardons to 2,010 detainees ahead of Easter, after already releasing 14 prisoners less than a month ago.

This is a “humanitarian and sovereign gesture” taking place “within the context of the religious celebrations of Holy Week,” the government stated in an official announcement broadcast on Cuban television.

Although neither the list of detainees nor the reason behind the decision has been provided, the statement specifies that those receiving the pardon have served “a significant part of their sentence” and have “shown good behavior in prison.”

Among the group are “young people, women, people over 60 years of age,” as well as “foreign nationals and Cuban citizens residing abroad,” the document explains.

The Cuban government, under pressure from Washington – also linked to the oil embargo – emphasized that the announced pardon would be “the fifth” granted since 2011. Since then, 11,000 people have reportedly benefited from such measures. (Vatican News)

As the U.S.-Israeli ceasefire appears to hold in Iran, UNICEF outlines the ongoing danger and impact this war has and will continue to have on children as they “bear the brunt of the conflict.”

In the wake of the two-week cessation of attacks agreement between Israel, the U.S., and Iran, UNICEF is ramping up its aid to help the tens of thousands of children impacted by the conflict. Since the war started, more than 1,100 children have been reported injured or killed in the violence—including 200 killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, 4 in Israel, and 1 in Kuwait.

As UNICEF, the UN organization explains, in a statement, how important bringing “hope to Iranian children and families who have endured immense suffering.”  “Even as the skies fall silent again and the attacks come to an end, the impact of the violence on children will have lasting consequences and must not be underestimated,” the UNICEF statement reads.

Every single child who lost their life is remembered by the United Nations Children’s Fund, which expresses deep sorrow for everyone affected—”children who should have felt safe in their homes, their communities, and their classrooms, learning, growing, and dreaming.” UNICEF also shares that they keep the families, communities, and everyone whose lives have been forever changed in their thoughts.

From the start of the conflict, UNICEF has maintained its active mission in Iran, working together with its partners, offering aid to children and families in need of physical and mental health services and psychosocial support.

The organization has deployed pre-positioned medical supplies, mobile health units, primary healthcare tents, and emergency health kits with the goal of regaining access to essential services for communities impacted by the conflict. It also continues to provide vaccines and psychosocial support to children and local groups.

UNICEF reports that children are ‘bearing the brunt of the conflict’ now and going forward. Their lives which were meant to be safe and free have changed into living under constant fear and uncertainty. Access to basic needs is limited. The Iranian Ministry of Health and the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) report that with 442 health facilities damaged around the country,  about 10 million people—including 2.2 million children—have been prevented from receiving essential care.

Pope Leo XIV releases the theme for the 2026 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which focuses on the need for pastoral care for minors on the move.

The Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees will focus this year on minors on the move, recalling the duty to welcome each one of them as the Gospel teaches us. “Even just one of these children” is the theme that Pope Leo XIV has chosen for 112^th day, which will be marked on Sunday, 27 September 2026.

The decision was announced by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The title is a reference to Matthew 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” “With this choice, the Holy Father intends to express the Church’s concern for minors directly involved in migration, recalling the duty to welcome each one of them as the Gospel teaches us. Dicastery also notes that this “is not the first time that the Popes have spoken authoritatively on this issue, but the current migration situation presents new challenges that seriously threaten the rights and dignity of the youngest among us and require urgent and effective responses. Therefore, this is not a matter of discussing numbers or percentages, because ‘even just one’ has the highest value.”

Pope Leo will release a message a few weeks ahead of the World Day.

The origins of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees can be traced to 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Touched by the drama of millions of Italians who had migrated abroad since the beginning of the 20th century, Pope Pius X called on all Christians to pray for migrants.

A few months later, his successor Pope Benedict XV instituted the Day of the Migrant to spiritually and economically support pastoral work for Italian emigrants. In 1952, Migrant Day took on a broader and more international connotation, and Churches around the world were called upon to choose a date to celebrate the day during the liturgical year.

St. John Paul II was the first pontiff to issue, each year since 1985, a message drawing attention to some of the specific realities and difficulties of people on the move, calling the Church to action. In 2004, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People extended the day to refugees, calling it the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

At the behest of St. John Paul II, since 2005, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees has been celebrated by the Universal Church on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany.

On the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 14, 2018, Pope Francis announced that the day would be marked henceforth on the last Sunday of September. (Vatican News)

Addressing journalists in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV asks “all people of goodwill to always search for peace and to reject war,” calls for a return to the negotiating table to pursue peaceful solutions, and notes that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law.

“Search always for peace and reject war.” Pope Leo XIV renewed that appeal for peace in a brief statement on Tuesday evening to a group of journalists waiting for him outside Villa Barberini, the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. Against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the U.S. President’s threat to destroy “the whole Iranian civilisation” on Tuesday night if Tehran does not comply with a deadline set by the White House to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Pope said he wished simply to say, once again, “asking all people of goodwill to always search for peace and not violence, to reject war—especially a war which many people have said is unjust, which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything.”

“Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this is truly unacceptable! There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety.”

The Pope did not neglect to shine the light on the wide-reaching consequences of the conflict and said, “We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, and a situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world.”

Thus, Pope Leo urged, “Come back to the table. Let’s talk. Let’s look for solutions in a peaceful way.”

The Pope went on to remember all those who are being unfairly harmed in the conflict.”Let’s remember, especially, the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare—and to remind all that attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law, and that they are also a sign of the hatred, division, and destruction that the human being is capable of.”

The Pope reiterated that “we all want to work for peace. People want peace,” as he called on all people to do their part.

“I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved,” Pope Leo concluded, “to contact the authorities—political leaders, congressmen—to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence. Thank you very much.”

Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. 
(By Deborah Castellano Lubov, Vatican News)

Pope Leo XIV meets with a delegation of Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes who competed at the Milan-Cortina Games, and upholds the value of sport as a place of encounter and self-mastery.

Following the close of the Milan-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in mid-March, Pope Leo XIV met with the Italian athletes who participated in the world’s premiere sporting event. In his address, the Pope said the competition spread a “noble human, cultural, and spiritual message” throughout the world.

“Sport, when it is lived authentically, does not remain merely a performance,” he said. “It is a form of language, a story made of gestures, effort, waiting, falls, and new beginnings. “Athletes showcased their well-trained bodies but also their stories of sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance.

“In the Paralympic competitions in particular “we observed how limitation can become a place of revelation: not something that hinders the person, but something that can be transformed, even transfigured, into rediscovered qualities.” Pope Leo praised the athletes’ solidarity with the many men and women of their families and teams who supported their sporting journey.

Sport, helps mature character and requires a firm spirituality, as athletes learn to know their body without idolizing it and to govern their emotions. “Training the mind together with the limbs, sport is authentic when it remains human, that is, when it remains faithful to its first vocation: to be a school of life and of talent,” Sport teaches us that true success is measured in the quality of our relationships, mutual esteem, and shared joy.

Recalling his letter Life in Abundance, released ahead of the Olympic Games on February 6, 2026, Pope Leo said an abundant life achieves harmony between corporeality and interiority. He recalled the ancient tradition of the Olympic truce, saying its value rings true in our time marked by polarization, rivalry, and conflict “By your presence,  you made visible this possibility of peace as a prophecy that is anything but rhetorical: breaking the logic of violence in order to promote that of encounter.”

At the same time, he added, sport carries the temptation to win at all cost, even through doping, or to succumb to market forces that raise athletes to celebrity status or reduces them to an image or number.

Pope Leo thanked the Olympic and Paralympic athletes for their witness that it is possible to compete without hatred, win without humiliating others, and lose without losing one’s sense of self-worth.

“Sport, if lived well,” he said, “becomes a laboratory of reconciled humanity, where diversity is not a threat, but a richness.” Pope Leo XIV noted the presence of the Cross of Athletes, which he said gathers the prayers, expectations, hopes, fears, and sufferings of all athletes under the banner of the Risen Christ.

“I entrust you with a mission,” he said, “to continue ensuring that the human person remains at the centre of sport in all its expressions.”… (By Devin Watkins Vatican News)