Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year marking the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, highlighting the saint’s enduring message of peace, holiness, and care for creation. In a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary and announced by the Franciscan Friars, the Vatican declared a Year of St Francis that runs from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027. P...

Pope Leo XIV has commenced the new year with an extraordinary consistory of cardinals in Rome, signalling an active start to his pontificate as the Jubilee Year concludes. Held from January 7-8, the extraordinary consistory involved cardinals from around the world, some of whom described the roundtable discussions as “historic, fraternal, and refreshingly synodal.” Pope Leo XIV celebrate...

Australian Catholics have been encouraged to study the first Apostolic Exhortation released by Pope Leo XIV at the end of 2025 that sets poverty as a priority for the Church. Described as a powerful reflection on love for the poor and a call to bring compassion back to public life, the document is entitled Dilexi te (‘I have loved you’ - Revelations 3:9). Pope Francis had begun writing t...

The cause for sainthood for Australian-born doctor and missionary in India Mary Glowrey has advanced after Pope Leo XIV recognised her ‘heroic virtues’ late last year. Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey, as she will now be titled, is only the second Australian, after St Mary Mackillop, to be accorded this status. Dr Mary Glowrey was medical graduate of the University of Melbourne...

Applecross Parish Priest Fr Nelson Po, CEWA Bunbury Regional Officer, Kerrie Merritt, Archdiocese of Perth Chief Mission Enhancement & Outreach, Dr Debra Sayce, Diocese of Broome Pastoral Projects Officer, Naomi Martin, SJOG Mission Integration Group Director, Tara Peters and Archdiocese of Perth Chancellor and Executive Director, Daniel Lynch. Photo: Supplied. By Jamie O'Brien Perth...

The “Pathways” document, structured into four chapters, aims to provide an interpretive guide for the implementation phase of the synodal process.

By Carol Glatz Pope Leo XIV gives his homily during Mass for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on 29 June 2025. The pope wore red vestments to recall the martyrdom of the two saints. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. Archbishops around the world can provide by their example the fraternity and unity in diversity the entire Catholic Church needs today, Pope Leo X...

During the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Australia in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress, set to be hosted in Sydney.

Pope Leo XIV gives his blessing at the conclusion of Mass and the recitation of the “Regina Coeli” marking the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 1 June 2025. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. Families are the cradle of the future of humanity, Pope Leo XIV said during a Mass concluding the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and ...

Pope Leo XIV catches a cloth doll thrown by a visitor as he rides in the popemobile following his second weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on 28 May 2025. Photo: CNS/Lola Gomez. By Cindy Wooden Being religious does not automatically mean someone is compassionate, and yet for a Christian, compassion is a clear sign of following Christ, Pope Leo XIV said. "Befo...