Pope Leo | DD News

June 9, 2026 6:56 PM

Pope Leo lands in Barcelona on Spain tour focused on war and migration

Pope Leo on Tuesday arrived in Barcelona for the second stop of a week-long tour of Spain in which he has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis. Leo, who has adopted a more forceful tone recently against the direction of global leadership, also told Spain's parliament on Monday that the "moral greatness" of any country depended on how it treated migrants and other vulnerable populations. As in Madrid, Leo was greeted by large crowds as he arrived at Barc...

June 8, 2026 4:27 PM

Pope Leo warns Spain’s parliament the world is in ‘profound’ crisis

Pope Leo told Spain's parliament that escalating conflict, deepening polarization and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a profound crisis, in one of his most expansive political addresses yet on Monday. Leo, who has adopted a more forceful tone recently against the direction of global leadership, also firmly repeated his opposition to increased European military spending, urging politicians instead to end the wars ravaging the globe and help migrants. "The world i...

June 6, 2026 3:02 PM

Pope Leo arrives in Spain with migrants and polarisation in focus

Pope Leo arrived in Spain on Saturday for a week-long visit, his first to an EU country outside Italy, where he will inaugurate a new tower in Barcelona's famed Sagrada Familia basilica and meet migrants who braved dangerous Atlantic waters to reach Europe. The first American head of the Catholic Church is expected to draw large crowds on the June 6-12 trip, which also includes stops in Madrid, Montserrat Monastery and the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the west coast of Africa. Le...

June 3, 2026 11:48 AM

Pope Leo heads to Spain to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with migrants

Pope Leo heads to Spain on Saturday for a week-long tour, his first visit to an EU country outside Italy, which will culminate with the pontiff meeting migrants in the Canary Islands who braved dangerous Atlantic waters to enter Europe. Leo, who drew the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after criticising his anti-immigration policies, is expected to attract large crowds on the June 6 to 12 visit and will also be the first pope to address the Spanish parliament. The first U.S. pope's itinerar...

May 25, 2026 4:28 PM

Pope Leo urges world to ‘slow down’ on AI in fervent first manifesto

Pope Leo urged governments to slow down the development of AI systems in his first major document, released on Monday, warning that they spread misinformation, prioritise conflict and risk leading the world down a path of unending war. Leo, who has adopted a more forceful tone in recent months and has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after criticising the Iran ‌war, made a range of impassioned appeals to world leaders in the lengthy text, known as an encyclical. The first U.S....

May 18, 2026 5:22 PM

Pope Leo to issue first major work, addressing AI, on May 25

Pope Leo will release his first in-depth document, expected to address the rise of artificial intelligence and challenges to workers' rights, on May 25, the Vatican announced on Monday. The text, known as an encyclical, is also likely to decry the wars roiling the world, according to sources. It will be titled "Magnifica Humanitas" (Magnificent Humanity) and was formally signed by the pope on Friday ahead of publication, a Vatican statement said. Leo, the first U.S. pope, will take part in a ...

May 8, 2026 3:01 PM

Pope Leo, after Rubio meeting, asks God to inspire leaders to calm tensions

Pope Leo asked that God would inspire world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred in an address on Friday to mark his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church, a day after he met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican. Leo, who has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after criticizing the Iran war, asked worshippers to pray that global governments would turn away from violence. In a visit to Pompei, a modern city about 245 km (152 miles) south of Rome n...

May 8, 2026 11:49 AM

Pope Leo, Rubio commit to stronger ties, Vatican says, amid Trump tensions

Pope Leo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio jointly committed at a meeting on Thursday to improving relations between the Vatican and Washington, at a time when President Donald Trumph as repeatedly attacked the pontiff. Leo and Rubio "renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations," the Vatican said in a statement after the first meeting between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year, amid an atmosphere of tension with Washington. Leo, the first U.S. ...

May 6, 2026 9:20 AM

Rubio expects to discuss religious freedom with Pope Leo after Trump blasts pontiff

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday he expected to discuss Cuba and concerns over religious freedom around the world with Pope Leo during his visit to the Vatican on Thursday, after President Donald Trump took a fresh potshot at the pope for criticising the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See said earlier that Rubio and the pope would "have a frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue." "Nations have disagreements, and I think one...

April 22, 2026 4:34 PM

Pope decries inequality on whirlwind last day of Africa tour

Pope Leo used the last full day of his four-nation Africa tour on Wednesday to speak out against wealth inequality, urging believers to work to bridge the gap between rich and poor as he traversed oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. The pope, who has attracted the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after becoming more outspoken against war and despotism, was also due to visit a high-security prison that human rights groups say holds political prisoners in abusive conditions. Leo, the first U.S. pope, ...