Vatican & World News

- Conflict in the Middle East continues to rage on into the 13th day with Iranian attacks on oil tanks in the Gulf. - At least sixty-four people died in southern Ethiopia after heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in the Gamo Zone. - Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín as the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, known as the Papal Almoner.

- The Israeli air force launches new strikes in three different areas of Iran - The Order of Malta is working to support the population of Lebanon where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced - The Holy See Press Office announces the itinerary for Pope Leo’s upcoming visit to Monaco

- Pope Leo highlights the importance of memory and living one’s service as an act of love towards all in an audience with the Military Ordinariate of Italy. - The Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, voices his alarm over the escalating conflict in the Middle East. - Ahead of International Women’s Day, a Catholic organization in South Africa is working to combat gender-based violence on the parish level.

- The Middle East remains in turmoil with fresh strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes throughout the region - The Holy See says Christians are the most persecuted religious community in the world - Pope Leo’s prayer intention for March 2026 is for “disarmament and peace"

- Israel and the United States continue to strike to targets in Iran - The Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar highlights the impact of the conflict on the everyday lives of Catholics in the Gulf region - Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Christians and Muslims come together in Lahore to pray for peace

- At the Angelus, Pope Leo calls on all nations to recall their moral responsibility to seek peace - Iran’s Supreme Leader has been killed as the conflict in the Middle East continues into its second day - The Apostolic Nuncio to Northern Arabia says violence is not the solution and appeals for dialogue

- At the United Nations, the Holy See upholds the moral imperative of disarmament - Foreign ministers from various countries express outrage at ongoing human rights abuses in Sudan - Bambino Gesù children’s hospital is recognized as the best pediatric hospital in Europe

- We bring you details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming apostolic journeys abroad - The President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference prays for peace for Ukraine and reiterates the Church’s appeal for a ceasefire - One year after the cuts to humanitarian aid announced by the British government, NGOs take stock of how those cuts have affected millions of people in need across the globe

- Pope Leo, all the cardinals residing in Rome, and the heads of Dicasteries attend the Lenten Spiritual Exercises for the Roman Curia. - The Mexican Bishops’ Conference issuea statement in response to the eruption of violence in the country. - Thousands of people visit the relics of St Francis of Assisi, which are being exhibited for the veneration of the faithful for the first time in almost 800 years.