Vatican News

BARCELONA, Spain — Pope Leo XIV dedicated Tuesday morning to thanking the thousands of volunteers who helped organize his apostolic journey to Spain before heading to Barcelona to touch the ancient traces of the country’s deeply rooted Christian faith.At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia, whose construction began at the end of ... read more

Pope Leo XIV’s lunch with Spain’s bishops at the apostolic nunciature in Madrid offered a glimpse of the pope’s more informal and humorous side.Yago de la Cierva, who is overseeing the organization of the pope’s trip to Spain, said Leo broke the ice before blessing the meal with a comment that drew laughter from those ... read more

MADRID — Pope Leo XIV made history Monday by becoming the first pope to address Spain’s Congress of Deputies, delivering a forceful appeal to the country’s political class to defend human dignity and protect life “from conception to its natural end.”The June 8 address, given before about 700 guests amid tight security, drew a standing ... read more

MADRID — This cityʼs Movistar Arena became a kind of modern “Court of the Gentiles” on Sunday, where faith and contemporary art met to explore the mystery of the human person under the guidance of Pope Leo XIV.The gathering brought together leading figures from Spanish culture with an international profile, including actor Antonio Banderas. Sports ... read more

Madrid, Spain, June 7, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called on Spain to renew its historic Eucharistic faith, warning that the country’s centuries-old religious traditions must not become “a museum of the past to be visited” but remain “a school of faith from which to draw even today.”The pope made the appeal while ... read more

Pope Leo XIV was greeted by a spirit of youthful eagerness in Madridʼs Plaza de Lima on the evening of June 6, with many youth crying with emotion and others chanting: “This is the popeʼs youth!”The event brought together more than 600,000 young people, according to the authorities. Pope Leo XIV greets young people ... read more

An association of women working in the Vatican has welcomed the appointment of Maria Montserrat Alvarado as the new prefect of the Dicastery for Communication.“On behalf of the Women in the Vatican Association (DIVA), I would like to extend our warmest wishes to you on your new appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, ... read more

MADRID — Pope Leo XIV told government leaders in Spain on June 6 that he came to the country “to confirm, encourage and inspire a renewed loyalty of believers to the Gospel, as well as a deeper reconciliation and cooperation between the different forces of this Nation.”The Holy Father landed at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport ... read more

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Pope Leo XIV will visit Spain from June 6–12, making stops in Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Tenerife. This is the ninth time a pope has visited the country. John Paul II visited Spain five times and Benedict XVI traveled there on three occasions.During this trip, Pope Leo will take part in 20 official ... read more

Pope Leo XIV received members of German Catholic student associations at the Vatican on June 5, reminding them that they “represent Catholic values in society not as those who carry partisan flags but as representatives of the common good of humanity.”In his address in the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father also highlighted the ... read more

During the Jubilee of Youth, held in Rome from July 28 to Aug. 3, 2025, unforgettable scenes filled the Eternal City: young pilgrims singing hymns with guitars, praying quietly near the fountains, and recording videos to share their faith on social media.Among the thousands of young people who passed through the Holy Door of St. ... read more

Catholic universities should reflect “authenticity as true disciples of Christ” as they guide students’ desire for knowledge into a passion for the truth, Pope Leo XIV told university presidents from the United States on Wednesday.“As young men and women come to your colleges and universities looking to study a specific degree, oftentimes motivated by future ... read more

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of June is for the value of sports.“In times of war and extreme polarization, sport is one of the few things that bring us closer together,” the pope said in a video released on X on June 2.He added: “Let us pray this June that sport may ... read more

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment will take effect Nov. 1, 2026.Since 2023, Alvarado has overseen EWTN News’ global and multilingual news operations across television, radio, print, digital, and social media platforms. During her tenure, ... read more