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The Vatican Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) publishes its 2025 Annual Report, confirming the robustness of the Vatican’s oversight system in preventing and combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Report also highlights strengthened relations with counterparties and key international bodies. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-04/supervisory-financial-information-authority-asif-annual-report.html

Meeting with a delegation of the German Archdiocese of Cologne, Pope Leo XIV encourages the Church in all countries to offer mutual support for other dioceses and to bear witness to the truth in charity. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-audience-german-archdiocese-cologne.html

As he accepts the ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ award from the Catholic Theological Union, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago warns that “conflicts mediated through screens” risk reducing human lives to “data points rather than persons.” Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/cardinal-cupich-blessed-peacemakers-award-ctu-gamification-war.html

Meeting in Cyprus for their Spring Plenary Assembly, the bishops of the European Union call for renewed diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to end violence in the Middle East and beyond, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for dialogue and reconciliation. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/comece-appeal-europe-peace-global-conflicts.html

During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV recalls various highlights from his recent Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea from April 13 to 23. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-general-audience-apostolic-journey-africa-peace.html

Following a request from His Beatitude Patriarch Polis III Nona, Pope Leo XIV has agreed to grant ecclesiastical communion, “an expression and bond of full communion with the Apostolic See, in common service to unity in the Church and the building up of the Body of Christ.” Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-pope-ecclesiastical-communion-chaldean-patriarch-nona.html

The Holy See’s Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale, inspired by the life and work of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, is presented at the Holy See Press Office. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-04/venice-biennale-holy-see-hildegard-of-bingen-silence-art-sound.html

Since the start of the war in Sudan, the United Nations has documented more than 5,700 serious violations against children across Sudan, affecting at least 5,100 children, with over 4,300 killed or maimed. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/darfur-s-children-trapped-in-a-humanitarian-catastrophe.html

The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, warns that restrictions on girls’ secondary education could affect more than 2 million by 2030, with dire consequences for the country’s health, workforce, and future economic growth. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2026-04/over-1-million-girls-in-afghanistan-denied-right-to-education.html

Meeting for the first time with the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholics and Anglicans to proclaim Christ to the world together, working to overcome any differences and challenges. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-audience-archbishop-sarah-mullally.html

Archbishop José Bettencourt, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, speaks to Vatican News about Pope Leo’s recently-concluded Apostolic Journey across Africa. He says that the Pope’s visit was an opportunity to “touch the joys and the sorrows of the body of Christ in this part of the world”. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-africa-equatorial-guinea-cameroon-jose-bettencourt-joy.html

Organizers of the World Youth Day 2027 name five patron saints whose lives reflect persecution, migration, and social struggle, presenting them as guides for young people preparing for the global gathering. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/seoul-names-world-youth-day-2027-patron-saints.html

As he prays the Regina Caeli, Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to trust the Lord, and warns against letting ourselves be deceived by 'thieves' who seek to destroy our joy by leading us astray. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-at-regina-caeli-don-t-let-thieves-rob-your-joy-and-peace.html

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and ordains ten new priests, inviting them to grow in communion with their parish communities and ensure that the Church remains welcoming to all people. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-ordains-new-priests-and-calls-them-to-be-channels-of-life.html

Talks on ending the US and Israel's war with Iran are due to resume this weekend in Pakistan. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2026-04/us-iran-talks-to-resume-in-pakistan.html

Pope Leo XIV urges European People’s Party lawmakers to reject ideology, rebuild trust with citizens, and pursue a form of politics rooted in the common good by seeking unity over conflict. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-to-european-people-s-party-politics-must-return-people.html

At the conclusion of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Visit to four African countries, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM, expressed pride, hope, and optimism about the outcome of the Pope’s visit, suggesting the Pope Leo's message was prophetic and served as a call to the conscience of those in power on the continent to consider the future of young people. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/cardinal-ambongo-reflects-on-pope-leo-s-apostolic-journey-africa.html

The programmes for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Naples and Pompeii on May 8, 2026, the first anniversary of his election, have been released. They include the celebration of Mass in Piazza Bartolo Longo, participation in the traditional noon supplication to the Virgin of Pompeii, and the veneration of the relics of San Gennaro in Naples. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/programme-published-for-pope-leo-s-visit-to-naples-and-pompeii.html

At the Basilica of Saint Bartholomew on the Tiber Island, Cardinal Kurt Koch recalls the Armenian martyrs and today’s persecuted Christians. Their shared witness, he says, strengthens hope for unity through an “ecumenism of blood.” Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/cardinal-koch-aremenian-martyrs-persecuted-christians-liturgy.html

Pope Leo XIV bids farewell to Equatorial Guinea and, with it, all of Africa, as he celebrates Mass in Malabo Stadium, the final event of his 11-day Apostolic Journey to four African nations. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-bids-farewell-to-equatorial-guinea-and-with-it-africa.html

As he celebrates the final Mass of his Apostolic Journey to four African nations, Pope Leo XIV encourages the Church in Equatorial Guinea to carry on “the mission of Jesus’ first disciples with joy," highlighting the importance of allowing Scripture to reveal the meaning of our lives. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-mass-malabo-equatorial-guinea-word-of-god.html

On the last full day of his Apostolic Journey across Africa, Pope Leo celebrates Mass at the continent's second-largest church, tells prisoners that "no one is excluded from God’s love”, and watches as the young people of Bata dance in the rain. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-africa-journey-bata-mongomo-young-prison-hope.html

The Pope will preside over the Mass with the priestly ordinations on Sunday, April 26, which is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Two days earlier, there will be a prayer vigil at St. John Lateran. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-ordain-8-priests-of-diocese-of-rome-st-peters-basilica.html

One day after Pope Francis' passing, Pope Leo XIV makes a special visit during his last full day in Equatorial Guinea to an educational institution in Mongomo named after the late pontiff which works to help young people develop technological skills. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-visits-pope-francis-technical-school-equatorial-guinea.html

On the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in Mongomo, and urges Christians to proclaim the Gospel and build a future of hope and reconciliation for their resource-rich land. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-mass-mongomo-equatorial-guinea.html

A musical oratorio marking the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death will be performed in Mdina, Malta, with proceeds supporting a Church-run home for persons in need. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/concert-in-malta-to-remember-pope-francis.html

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, here are four Catholic ministries helping couples carry the cross of infertility.

The new animated series depicts the same stories from the books, including episodes on St. Patrick, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and the Holy Family.

The pontiff urged the country to overcome old divisions, reject corruption, and help young people recover hope.

The Young Professional Catholics of Toronto brings together ambitious individuals navigating careers and personal growth, all while remaining rooted in shared Catholic values.

The Holy Father will spend several days in Angola before finishing his trip in Equatorial Guinea.

The pontiff urged the country to reject exploitative models of development and place the common good above particular interests.

En route from Cameroon to Angola, the pope said his mission in Africa is pastoral and rejected suggestions that his recent remarks were aimed at President Donald Trump.

Memories of Algeria’s independence struggle stirred by pope’s visit, Catholic film on dating makes splash in Vietnam, Kenyan bishops make plea for marriage, and more in this week’s world news roundup.

As the pope’s brother, you have to take it “day by day because you never know, in a sense, what each day is going to bring,” John Prevost said.

Pope Leo XIV boards the papal plane at the end of his Apostolic Journey to Angola and flies to Equatorial Guinea, which is the final leg of his 11-day visit to four African nations. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-concludes-angola-visit-flies-equatorial-guinea.html

A roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

At an open-air Mass, the pontiff urged solidarity, civic responsibility, and special care for the poor.

Pope Leo XIV will visit Angola from April 18–21 as part of an 11-day African tour and will include stops in Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo.

After the Vatican halted the sainthood cause of Father Walter Ciszek, a proponent of his cause said the suspension “does not diminish the enduring spiritual value” of Ciszek’s witness.

Special services for student with disabilities will resume in Chicago Catholic schools, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced.

The bishop of Savannah, Georgia, looks forward to “welcoming many visitors” this fall for the upcoming beatification of the 16th-century Jesuit missionaries known as the “Georgia Martyrs.”

The Fearless Congress organizers explain how mature, virtuous men are urgently needed to help build a better society.

The Holy Father will stay in Cameroon one more night before traveling to Angola on April 18.

Tomorrow, 21 April, on the first anniversary of the passing of Pope Francis, a Rosary and a Mass -- which will be broadcast live on Vatican News and Vatican Radio -- will be celebrated to remember the late Pope at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Also to mark the anniversary, a documentary recalling Pope Francis' life will be released. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/celebrations-in-memory-of-late-pope-francis-santa-maria-maggiore.html

The ambassador said he seeks to focus on what unites Trump and Leo as bishops continue to call for peace.

The pope said the protection of the vulnerable “challenges the conscience of the Church and measures its ability to express authentic care.”

Pope Leo XIV visits the elderly at a care home in the Angolan city of Saurimo, and recalls that the quality of a nation is seen in how it cares for the weakest. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-angola-saurimo-elderly-care-home-forgiveness.html

Vincent Ambrosetti had accused songwriter Bernadette Farrell and Oregon Catholic Press of copyright infringement against his 1980 hymn “Emmanuel.”

Leo also addressed artificial intelligence and invited the students to be pioneers of “a new humanism in the context of the digital revolution.”

St. John Paul II and Pope Leo XIV both studied at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

The military branch will commit to “individualized reviews” of service members and mandate religious accommodation training for leadership roles.

Ambassador Brian Burch described the situation in Nigeria as a “conflict between radical Islamic groups and Christians because of their faith.”

Why do popes make visits to Islamic mosques, courting controversy and criticism by taking part in events at holy sites of another religion?

Vice President JD Vance asked the Vatican to “stick to matters of morality” amid Pope Leo XIV’s Iran war concerns. Catholic theologians say war and other public policies are “matters of morality.”

The loss of an $11 million contract threatens care for unaccompanied minors, according to Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami.

Archbishop Anthony Randazzo announced the project weeks before departing for the Vatican, calling it “a commitment to the faithful of today and for future generations.”

The pope celebrated Mass in French in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, during the second leg of his trip in Africa.

The fire rendered one of the two retreat houses inoperable. Although the repair costs are not yet known, the severe damage requires the building to be rebuilt.

Father Greg Schlarb will accompany priests across the Diocese of Phoenix as part of a novel plan to ensure priests are healthy — spiritually, physically, and mentally.

“A decade into Xi Jinping’s Sinicization campaign and nearly eight years since the 2018 Holy See-China agreement, Catholics in China face escalating repression” researcher Yalkun Uluyol said.

During Mass in Kilamba, Pope Leo XIV insists that Jesus is alive, is risen, and walks beside Angolans, and notes that if all the faithful welcome the Lord and His presence in their midst, their nation - that has seen much suffering - can be graced with a blessed and peaceful future. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-at-mass-in-kilamba-angola-19-april-2026.html

Caracas Auxiliary Bishop-elect José Gómez reminded Venezuelans that they “possess the capacity, through the grace of God and with the solidarity of their brothers and sisters, to overcome” suffering.

Numbers of U.S. young men and women who frequently attend religious services have increased, Gallup data shows.

Pope Leo encourages Italy's Catholic University of the Sacred Heart 'to be an interpreter of the Gospel in the educational and cultural sphere, in constant dialogue with the Church’s Magisterium' in the message he sent for the '102nd Day' of the Catholic University which was sent on the Holy Father's behalf to Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, President of the Giuseppe Toniolo Institute for Higher Studies. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-sends-message-to-102nd-day-for-catholic-university.html

The president downplayed his public criticism of Leo while falsely claiming that the Holy Father said Iran “can have a nuclear weapon.”

The Holy Father will ultimately spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and then Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa.

The exhibition by the Dicastery for Culture and Education features the work of contemporary artists in various fields, inspired by the life and spiritual legacy of St. Hildegard of Bingen.

The bomb threat was determined to be “unsubstantiated,” according to law enforcement.

The pope urged Cameroonians to reject resignation and obey God over “earthly ways of thinking.”

At a peace gathering in Bamenda’s Cathedral, the pope praised interreligious solidarity and urged a “true conversion” away from war.

A series of events will take place in 2027 marking the centenary of the birth of the late pope, honoring his legacy and his extensive contributions to the fields of philosophy and theology.

On the first day of his trip to Cameroon, the Holy Father appealed to authorities to invest in young people calling youth the nation's "greatest asset and a key to its future."

Nearly 50 lawmakers, including Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, are urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to make the change.

The Holy Father spent several days touring Algeria and meeting with Catholics and religious leaders before heading south to the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé.

The exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua pointed out that the wounds suffered today will be a reminder of a painful past, but like the wounds of the risen Christ will be made glorious.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol has stood in the community for over 130 years.

A wide array of speakers including actors, lawmakers, and advocates will read the Bible from beginning to end to celebrate American faith ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“Wherever there is misery, suffering, or injustice, God is present,” the pope said in a meeting with orphaned or abandoned children in Cameroon.

Presiding over the Mass in Yaoundé concluding his visit to Cameroon, Pope Leo encourages everyone to persevere in the peace of Christ, which is always with them to help them through life's tumult and tribulations. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-peace-of-christ-calms-life-s-storms-shows-way-forward.html

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, have taken issue with the pope’s Gospel teaching on peace.

The second stop on Leo’s Africa trip is Cameroon, a country marked by conflict, yet whose civil society is ready to begin again.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly is asking Catholics to pray for the pope and the president, as President Trump again criticized Leo’s comments about the Iran war.

Reflecting on the visit to Algeria, the pope described it as “a wonderful opportunity to continue building bridges and promoting dialogue.”

Two priests told EWTN News how addiction and spiritual dryness nearly ended their ministries — and how they found their way back.

“The peace we experienced throughout the entire process of his illness and his death was no ordinary peace,” Virginia Pérez de Santana said. “I know it because we were enveloped by God.”

The pope shared lunch with the local Augustinian community after visiting Hippo’s ruins and a home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Algerian government has “shut down, over the course of the last nine to 10 years, almost 50 churches across the country,” Kelsey Zorzi said.

After concluding the first leg of his African apostolic journey in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV travels on Wednesday to Cameroon.

As part of an ongoing reorganization due to a priest shortage and declining numbers of churchgoers, the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, announced the parishes that will no longer hold weekend Masses.

“What is clear, is that no other state on earth is even attempting to do what the Holy See is trying to do,” Alexander John Paul Lutz, a Helsinki Commission policy fellow, testified.

Homan, a Catholic, commented after President Trump denounced Pope Leo XIV.

The People of Hope Museum offers personal stories of Catholic Charities workers, an immersive poverty‑simulation experience, and interactive data displays.

The Holy Father is scheduled to visit four African countries throughout mid-April.

Pro-lifers call the win “a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to speak our minds peacefully in a law-abiding way without fear of our own government.”

The editor of the Spanish editions of Messori’s books shared in an interview with ACI Prensa some key insights into Messori’s work and life, including the secret behind his heroic love for the Church.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami decries that services provided by the Catholic Church for unaccompanied minors will be forced to shut down after the US government strips its funding. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-04/archbishop-wenski-laments-us-aid-cut-for-local-catholic-charity.html

At the Basilica of St. Augustine, the pontiff urged Christians to bear witness through “simple gestures, genuine relationships and a dialogue lived out day by day.”

Father Kenneth Anderson violated “a number of core archdiocesan policies,” Cardinal Blase Cupich told parishioners.

Organizers of the annual pro-life march in the Czech capital say police blocked access to Wenceslas Square and are considering a legal complaint.

Father Francis Alappatt, a trained doctor who later entered the seminary, helped shape one of Kerala’s largest hospitals and pioneered a statewide blood donation initiative.

The pontiff discussed the legitimate exercise of authority in a message to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

In a letter to the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which is meeting this week, Pope Leo XIV drew attention to Christ’s compassion for the sick and suffering.

After traveling approximately 695,000 miles over its 10-day trip around the moon, the Artemis II crew gave powerful reflections on their experience.

In a letter to the College of Cardinals, the pope said the exhortation remains “a significant point of reference” and urged renewed missionary boldness across the life of the Church.

The pontiff stopped at a care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“Endowed by Their Creator: Catholicism, the Declaration of Independence, and the American Experiment at 250" was co-hosted by The Catholic University of America and the University of Notre Dame.

In Algeria, the pope visited the archaeological site of the city where St. Augustine served as bishop.

The Polish Bishops’ Conference has established a working group with government ministries to prepare the country’s more than 10,000 parishes for a potential armed conflict.

The appeal, collected in most dioceses April 25–26, supports dioceses and eparchies that rely on outside assistance to sustain sacramental and pastoral ministry.

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

Religious Liberty commissioners met for their final scheduled meeting.

The Augustinian nuns were about to enter a Catholic chapel in Algiers when they were gunned down. Pope Leo previously visited their community in 2009 when he was prior of the Order of St. Augustine.

The bishops expressed concerns of reports that pregnant women in detention have miscarried and some nursing mothers have lost access to their children.

The U.S. has been restricting visas for religious freedom violators, a key State Department adviser said.

Three influential American cardinals spoke about the Church under Pope Leo XIV in an interview on “60 Minutes” that looked at rising conversions, patriotism, the Iran war, and immigration enforcement.

Today, April 16th, would have marked Benedict XVI’s 99th birthday. Looking ahead to what would have been the late Pope’s 100th birthday next year, the Joseph Ratzinger–Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation announces a year of initiatives to commemorate him. Read all   source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-04/centenary-of-benedict-xvi-initiatives-to-remember-pope-ratzinger.html

Politicians and faith leaders around the world condemned President Donald Trump’s comments about the American pontiff.

The meeting in the Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Africa concluded the first day of the pope’s journey to Africa.

President Donald Trump called Leo “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” in a lengthy social media post April 12 that drew response from U.S. bishops and elected officials.

The pontiff called for a world order that does not exclude the vulnerable and urged leaders to serve the common good.

Bishop Juan Liébana of Chascomús, Argentina, describes the ideal profile of a politician: a person of great virtue and integrity intent on building a better society.

At the Martyrs’ Monument in Algiers, the pope’s first message on Algerian soil was an appeal for peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development explained that the pope chose this title to emphasize the duty to welcome migrant and refugee children.

Pope Leo XIV kicks off his trip to Africa in the country of Algeria, which is home to a small but lively Catholic population.

Aboard the papal flight to Algeria, Leo said he is not a politician and will continue to preach the Gospel’s call for peace and multilateral dialogue.

The 10-day Africa trip will take the pope to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

Trump’s social media broadside and comments to reporters came as the pope prepared to depart for an 11-day trip to Africa.

Follow here for live updates of Pope Leo XIV’s journey to Africa from April 13–23.

"It is through the Eucharist that even our hands become ‘hands of the Risen One,'" the pope said.

His appointment comes following the resignation of Cardinal Raphael Sako, who submitted his resignation to Pope Leo XIV on March 9 amid a legal and financial scandal surrounding a former bishop.