Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The Pope delivered the message during a private meeting with senior French bishops at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France, on the third day of his four-day official visit to the country.
The Vatican’s dicasteries are major departments, each handling a specific area of the Church’s activities. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is responsible for a wide range of issues, including poverty, migration, healthcare, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance and human development.
Speaking during a farewell meeting with outgoing Apostolic Nuncio Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, Wetang’ula said religious institutions have a critical role in speaking on justice, peace and accountability, but must remain fair and impartial in political matters.
Mbijiwe, currently Chief of Staff in the Meru County Government since April 2025, outlined his public service record, having served as a Member of County Assembly in Meru from 2013 to 2022. He told the committee that his background in governance, education, and community work, including faith-based initiatives, has prepared him for the role.
Pope Leo XIV says he has “no fear” of Donald Trump and will keep condemning war, after the US president attacked him over Iran, nuclear weapons and foreign policy.
Pope Leo will travel between April 13 and 23 through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, covering long distances estimated at nearly 18,000 kilometres. The schedule includes stops in 11 different towns and cities and will involve 18 flights during the 10-day mission.
Speaking on Friday during a Vatican audience with Italian intelligence officers, the pope said confidential material should never be used to threaten, control or damage individuals or institutions. Although he did not point to specific nations, he noted that the Church has, in several countries, faced repression driven by intelligence operations.
This engagement will be the King and Queen’s first formal state meeting with the new pontiff. They had previously paid a private visit to Pope Francis in April on their 20th wedding anniversary.
Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 aged 15, will be made the first millennial saint by Pope Leo XIV in a solemn ceremony in St Peter's Square.
Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, who worked in quality control in Goma, was abducted and killed after he rejected a bribe meant to allow spoiled rice to be transported from Rwanda into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While the pontiff refrained from referencing any specific political events or naming global leaders, his message carried weight calling on the faithful to “open the borders of their hearts and minds.”
The portrait, unveiled during a special press event at the Apostolic Palace, comes just eight days after his election.