Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby as he rides in the popemobile around St Peter's Square at the Vatican before his first weekly general audience on 21 May 2025. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media. By Rev Dr Eamon Conway Pope Leo intends, albeit in his own way and according to his own style, to press forward with the same priorities that Pope Francis held. Pope Leo has called for a renewal of everyone...

A religious sister gives Pope Leo XIV a jar of cookies at the end of his meeting with the national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Vatican's Clementine Hall on 22 May 2025. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media. Recognising themselves as members of the one body of Christ, all Catholics should sense an urgency to share the Gospel message of God's love with others and to welcome them ...

In part three of his three-part series about Pope Francis, Dr Marco Ceccarelli says that throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis identified the obstacles which pre-vent Christians from announcing the gospel: relativism, secularisation and de-Christianisation.

Less than 48 hours after his election, Pope Leo XIV made a humble pilgrimage – riding in a minivan to a Marian shrine outside Rome and stopping at St Mary Major to pray at Pope Francis’s tomb and before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani.

Pope Leo XIV will maintain an active presence on X and Instagram via the official @Pontifex accounts, continuing the legacy of digital evangelisation. His first post: a message of peace from his Urbi et Orbi address.

In a festive St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Regina Coeli, urging prayers for vocations, peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and honoring Mother’s Day with warm wishes to all mothers. Entrusting it all to Mary, Queen of Peace, he renewed the plea: “Never again war.”

In his first address to the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV called the Catholic Church alive, beautiful, and strong, urging renewed commitment to Evangelii Gaudium and modern Catholic social teaching — especially in the face of AI and today’s evolving world.

In his first public homily, Pope Leo XIV called the Church to recognise God’s marvels, proclaim Christ boldly, and witness with humility. He reaffirmed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” urging believers to face today’s world with courage, faith, and love.

Pope Leo XIV has urged journalists to be peacemakers, rejecting prejudice and anger in their reporting. On 12 May, he also called for the release of imprisoned journalists, reminding the world: “The suffering of these journalists challenges the conscience of nations… we must safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American and first Augustinian to lead the Catholic Church. A naturalised Peruvian citizen and beloved Bishop, he’s known for walking through floods, launching lifesaving aid during COVID, and carrying Christ to the streets. His papacy is rooted in unity, mercy, and mission.