World News

Cameroonian first lady Chantel Biya looks on as Pope Leo converses with President Paul Biya before departing Cameroon on April 18, 2026. The Holy Father will spend several days in Angola before finishing his trip in Equatorial Guinea. ... read more

"Leo has started to shed the soft-spoken reputation, raising his voice with a newfound fervor to decry the corruption and violence plaguing much of the African continent in messages that have rippled worldwide," writes NCR's Justin McLellan. ... read more

Cameroonian First Lady Chantal Biya looks on as Pope Leo XIV embraces President Paul Biya before departing the country on Saturday, April 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV continued his apostolic journey in Africa on April 18, saying Holy Mass in Cameroon ... read more

Pope Leo XIV continued his apostolic journey in Africa on April 18, saying Mass in Cameroon before departing for Angola on the next leg of his visit. The Holy Father will spend several days in Angola before finishing his trip in Equatorial Guinea. This is his first papal trip to the continent. Here are some ... read more

Simone Risoluti Pope Leo XIV speaks at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, Angola, on April 18, 2026. President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço was in attendance, along with other dignitaries. The Pontiff urged the country to reject exploitative models of development and place the common good above particular interests. ... read more

Left to right: Steven Wagner, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Father Moses Iorapuu, and Ambassador Brian Burch speak at a conference on religious persecution in Nigeria on April 17, 2026, in Rome. Ambassador Brian Burch described the situation in Nigeria as a 'conflict between radical Islamic groups and Christians because of their faith.' ... read more

Pope Leo XIV with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, Angola, on April 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media LUANDA, Angola — Pope Leo XIV on April 18 called on Angola’s leaders and people to “remove the obstacles to integral ... read more

LUANDA, Angola — Pope Leo XIV on April 18 called on Angola’s leaders and people to “remove the obstacles to integral human development,” urging them to choose the path of the common good, resist exploitative interests, and preserve the hope and joy that, he said, remain among Africa’s greatest treasures.The pope spoke at the presidential ... read more

The decision about the Polish American priest who ministered for years in Soviet captivity "does not diminish the enduring spiritual value of his life, witness, and legacy," the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said.  ... read more

"Supper at Emmaus" (1648) by Rembrandt (1606–1669). [WikiCommons] Readings:• Acts 2:14, 22-33• Psa. 16:1-2,5,7-11• 1 Pet. 1:17-21• Lk. 24:13-35 I grew up attending a small Fundamentalist Bible chapel that believed the Lord’s Supper should be commemorated each week. Nearly every Sunday we took time to contemplate the death of Jesus Christ by ... read more

Simone Risoluti Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola, Saturday, April 18, 2026. 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 ... read more

Matteo Pernaselci Pope Leo waves to the faithful gathered for Mass at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on April 17, 2026. The latest TV picks include ‘Jesus Living in Mary.’ ... read more

"I primarily come to Africa as pastor, as head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany, all of the Catholics throughout Africa," the pontiff said. ... read more

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. Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola, Saturday, April ... read more

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Angola after a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Cameroon on April 18, using the short journey to reject suggestions that his recent remarks about war were aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump while reflecting on the pastoral focus of his African trip.In a brief in-flight press conference ... read more