Vatican

Pope Leo meets Rubio amid growing tensions with Trump over Iran

Rubio met Pope Leo at the Vatican amid growing tensions after Trump repeatedly criticized the pontiff over his opposition to the Iran war.

|ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they meet at the Vatican, May 19, 2025.
A combination picture shows Pope Leo XIV addressing Algeria's political leaders at the cultural centre of the Great Mosque of Algiers (Djamaa El Djazair), where he criticized violations of international law by "neocolonial" world powers, in Mohamadia, Algiers, Algeria, April 13, 2026.

Pope Leo dismisses latest Trump attack, to meet with Rubio Thursday

Responding to Trump's latest attack later on Tuesday, Leo said he wanted to spread the Christian message by speaking about peace, but that people were free to criticize him.

|ByREUTERS
US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting on January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.

Iran war opens new rifts between Washington, Europe, the Vatican, and Israel

Disputes over Iran, Lebanon, NATO, and diplomatic legitimacy are testing the cohesion of the Western alliance.

|ByGIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE
Pope Leo XIV walks as he leaves the papal residence to head back to the Vatican, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, March 31, 2026.

'I like his brother more': Trump slams Pope Leo over Iran nuclear issue, left-wing policies

Trump added that Pope Leo "should be thankful," as the only reason he had been elected to the Vatican was "because he was an American" who would be able to "deal with President Donald J. Trump."

|ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

For the first time in 800 years, Saint Francis of Assisi’s remains to be presented

Free veneration slots require online reservation, as organizers prepare for a record influx of pilgrims.

OCTOBER 13, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Umbria, Italy.

Pope Leo to visit Turkey, Lebanon in November in first trip abroad

Leo had been expected for months to travel to Turkey for his first trip abroad, but the additional visit to Lebanon only emerged in discussions in recent weeks.

OCTOBER 7, 2025ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV holds a general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 17, 2025.

Top Vatican cardinal says Israel carrying out massacre in Gaza

Cardinal Pietro Parolin also called the October 7 attacks "inhuman and indefensible" and urged Hamas to free remaining hostages.

OCTOBER 6, 2025ByREUTERS
The Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin looks on at the end of the Rosary for Pope Francis at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), following the death of the pontiff, in Rome, Italy, April 22, 2025.

Pope decries 'unacceptable' plight of Palestinians in Gaza, urges truce

"I express my deep closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza," Pope Leo said.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV holds a general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 17, 2025.

Pope Leo's meeting with Herzog reveals Vatican's new diplomatic style

Leo, who became the first US pontiff when he was elected in May, takes an approach that is more muted than his predecessor Pope Francis.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2025ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV looks on, on the day of the weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican August 27, 2025

Italian teen made first millennial Catholic saint at youthful Vatican event

Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who died aged 15, learned computer code to build websites to spread his faith.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025ByREUTERS
Pope Leo XIV leads a Holy Mass for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who will become the first millennial to be made a Catholic saint, and Pier Giorgio Frassati, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 7, 2025.

Italian teen to become first millennial Catholic saint on Sunday

Carlo Acutis, who died aged 15, learned computer code to build websites to spread his faith. His story has drawn wide attention from Catholic youth.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025ByREUTERS
People walk past a tapestry hanging from the facade of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican depicting an image of Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian boy who will become the first millennial to be made a Catholic saint in a ceremony led by Pope Leo, as seen from Rome, Italy, September 4, 2025.

President Herzog presses Pope Leo XIV to help free Hamas hostages

“Tomorrow marks the 700th day since our brothers and sisters were kidnapped, 48 of whom are still in Gaza,” Herzog told the pontiff. “We must do everything to return them as quickly as possible.”

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025ByPESACH BENSON/TPS
President Isaac Herzog meets with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, September 4, 2025.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Meet Pope Leo XIV

President Isaac Herzog will visit the Vatican on Thursday to meet Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, focusing on hostages, antisemitism, and protecting Christians in the Middle East.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2025ByTPS, REUTERS
Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd for the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta (Liberty Square) in front of Palazzo Apostolico (Apostolic Palace) in the summer papal estate in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, July 13, 2025.

Grapevine, August 24, 2025: An OK Israeli

Movers and shakers in Israeli society

AUGUST 24, 2025ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
CULTURE AND Sport Minister Miki Zohar ponders his next move.