During their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit on May 15, the Catholic bishops of Pakistan met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to discuss the challenges, pastoral priorities, and future mission of the Church in Pakistan.
As the Catholic Church observed the 60th World Day of Social Communications on May 17, Leo XIV urged Catholics to ensure that technological progress and digital communication remain grounded in respect for human dignity and truth.
Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for mothers around the world during the Regina Coeli in St. Peter’s Square on May 10, calling on the faithful to remember especially those facing hardship.
On May 8, 2026, Archbishop Joseph Arshad, Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, announced that members of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference will undertake a visit to Rome and the Vatican City from May 11 to 16, during which they will also have a special meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV has received the first copy of the Italian edition of Free Under Grace, a volume containing his writings from his time as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, according to Vatican News.
The Holy See has warned that renewed reliance on nuclear deterrence, the modernization of arsenals, and the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military systems are driving the world toward a more fragile and dangerous security environment.
Pope Leo XIV on April 26 called for the peaceful and responsible use of nuclear energy, marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, according to Vatican News.
On the final full day of his Apostolic Journey in Africa, Pope Leo celebrated Mass, visited prisoners, and met with young people in Bata, ending the day with a vibrant encounter marked by song, dance, and heavy tropical rain, Vatican News reported.
On April 20, the eighth day of his Apostolic Journey in Africa, Pope Leo XIV travelled across Angola, moving between Saurimo and Luanda, the capital city, covering nearly 2,000 kilometres in a single day, according to Vatican News.
On April 19, the seventh day in Africa, Pope Leo XIV marked a deeply spiritual yet emotionally charged day in Angola, with two public events, both filled with large crowds, strong devotion, and urgent appeals for peace.
Pope Leo XIV met on April 17 with nine consecrated religious representing the National Conference of Major Superiors and more than 250 religious institutes serving in Cameroon, encouraging them to deepen their witness and collaboration within the Church, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV presided over a Mass attended by about 120,000 faithful at Japoma Stadium in the southwestern city of Douala, Cameroon on April 17, urging Christians to respond to hunger and suffering through sharing, solidarity, and faith, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV visited the Ngul Zamba Orphanage on April 14, the first day of his apostolic journey to Cameroon, encouraging children and caregivers with a message of hope and belonging, according to Vatican News.
The Catholic Church is advancing on women’s participation, but not all parts are moving at the same pace, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich said, highlighting what he described as “different speeds” across local Churches, Vatican News reported.
The Vatican has announced that the theme for the 2026 World Day of Migrants and Refugees will focus on children on the move, highlighting the Church’s call to protect and welcome the most vulnerable.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed three prominent Asian Church leaders to serve as members of the Dicastery for Communication, the Vatican body responsible for overseeing the Holy See’s media and communications ministry worldwide.
The President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to step away from escalating threats against Iran and pursue peaceful negotiation, amid growing global tensions, according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned recent threats against the Iranian people, describing them as “truly unacceptable” and renewing his call for peace amid growing global tensions.
