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Pope Francis
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Pope Francis

Pope Francis
Pope Francis
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 1936 as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis is pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was elected by a papal conclave on March 13, 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013.
Born
17 Dec 1936
Industry
Religion
Job Title
Pontiff
Fireworks explode during the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Spain

Pope Leo blesses new tower at Spain’s Sagrada Familia

Spain’s king, queen and prime minister joined thousands inside the world’s tallest church to celebrate mass with the pontiff.

European Union

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

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Religion

Pope to inaugurate Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in June trip to Spain

Donald Trump

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

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Pope Leo speaking to journalists on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Italy

Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo who has clashed with Trump

US secretary of state also seeks a meeting with Italy’s Meloni, whom Trump has also turned against.

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Pope Leo XIV

‘Right to life’: Pope Leo urges worldwide abolition of death penalty

The pope’s video message, marking the 2011 Illinois abolition of the penalty, came shortly after the US mentioned potential firing squads.

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Africa

Pope Leo denounces ‘colonisation’ of minerals on final leg of Africa tour

The pontiff warns that a global lust for profit ‘kills’ as he meets with a government accused of widespread corruption and authoritarianism.

Pope Leo attends a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Religion

Pope Leo criticises exploitation by world’s ‘authoritarians’ during Angola trip

The US pope, who has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump, has repeatedly criticised world leaders, without naming individuals.

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Donald Trump

Pope Leo seeks to defuse tensions with Trump, says not trying to debate him

The pontiff clarified that his Cameroon comments weren’t aimed at Trump amid media misinterpretations.

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Africa

Pope urges Cameroon to reject violence at mass that draws 120,000 people

Believers slept overnight on mats to hear the address from the pontiff, who has drawn Trump’s ire with his anti-war comments.

Pope Leo arrives in procession to celebrate mass at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday. Photo: AP
Africa

In Cameroon, Pope Leo assails ‘tyrants ravaging’ world amid Trump row

‘The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,’ Leo says.

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Pope Leo releases a white dove at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump posts image of Jesus hugging him amid escalating feud with pope

US president doubles down on religious imagery as his administration clashes with Pope Leo over the Iran war.

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Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo stresses message of peace and unity despite another Trump attack

US-born pontiff urges respect for all people, says his travels have shown importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.

Fashion

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Also a perfumer and organist, Sorcinelli says his work for Popes Benedict, Francis and now Leo is ultimately inspired by his Catholic faith.

Italian designer Filippo Sorcinelli has dressed the last three popes. Photo: Handout
Donald Trump

‘Someone must stand for a better way’: Pope speaks out after Trump’s attack

After the US president shatters norms with a direct hit on the pontiff, Leo says he will continue to speak out ‘loudly’ and promote peace.

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Pope Leo addresses journalists during a flight to Algiers on Monday. Photo: via Reuters
Middle East

Israeli bombardment kills infant in Lebanon during father’s funeral

The air strike took place on Wednesday amid hopes that the US-Iran ceasefire would apply to Lebanon, as Israeli strikes killed more than 350.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Madness or bluster? Trump’s apocalyptic language raises key questions

A last-minute ceasefire halts threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation, but fuels questions about Trump’s negotiating style and mental state.

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Religion

Pope Leo calls for peace, dialogue amid Ukraine, Iran wars in Easter mass

Leo addressed some 50,000 in St. Peter’s Square and quoted his predecessor, who reminded the faithful of the ‘great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day’.

Pope Leo XIV gestures from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after delivering his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (To the city and the world) message, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Italy

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

‘I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,’ the pontiff said before he set out for the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope slams widening ‘chasms between the poor and the rich’ on Monaco visit

Monaco is one of the few places in Europe where Catholicism remains the state religion.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo laments world ‘in flames’ at Ash Wednesday service

The pontiff said the ashes could represent cities destroyed by war, as well as the damage to the environment and international law.

Pope Leo XIV puts ash on the head of one of the faithful during the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Santa Sabina Basilica in Rome. Photo: Reuters
King Charles III

Britain’s King Charles calls for ‘reconciliation’ in Christmas speech

UK monarch praises the courage of those who risked their lives for others during his fourth Christmas broadcast as king.

Britain’s King Charles during the recording of his Christmas message. Photo: PA via AP
Pope Leo XIV

Pope calls for end to all wars in first Christmas as pontiff

‘May the clamour of weapons cease … and may the parties involved find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue’.

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United States

‘Architects of AI’ named Time’s 2025 Person of the Year

Time’s Person of the Year highlights how AI reshaped our world. Donald Trump was named 2024 honoree, succeeding 2023 winner Taylor Swift.

Catholic Church

Vatican returns 62 artefacts connected to indigenous peoples from Canada

The move is part of the Catholic Church’s reckoning with its role in helping suppress indigenous culture in the Americas.

Pope Francis meets First Nations, Metis and Inuit indigenous communities in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada, on July 25, 2022. Photo: Reuters
Italy

Pope Leo visits ship sailing the Mediterranean on peace mission

Young people of different faiths have been sailing the Mediterranean on the Bel Espoir schooner vessel to promote peace and dialogue.

Pope Leo (centre) poses for a group photo during his visit to the Peace training ship “Med 25 – Bel Espoir”, in the port of Ostia near Rome, Italy, on Friday. Photo: EPA/Vatican Media
King Charles III

King Charles to be first UK monarch to pray with pope in centuries

The occasion at the Sistine Chapel would mark a historic step towards unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

Artificial intelligence

‘I am Jesus, how may I help you?’ AI chatbots offer spiritual guidance

Apps like Text With Jesus let people ostensibly ask questions of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and other religious icons via AI chatbots like ChatGPT.

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