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The new Pope Leo, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes, in a speech to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

Pope Leo offers to mediate between world leaders to end wars

Ending conflicts has been a dominant theme in Pope Leo’s addresses since he became pope last week.

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Italy

Pope Leo urges release of reporters held for ‘seeking truth’ at Vatican gathering

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Japan

Statue stolen from Japanese temple returned from South Korea after 13 years

Catholic Church

Pope Leo appeals for global peace in first Sunday address

New pope denounces the number of conflicts ravaging the globe, calling it a ‘third world war in pieces’.

Pope Leo at the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica for his first Sunday blessing. Photo: AP
Americas and the Caribbean

Peruvians celebrate new pope, praise his ‘big heart’

Thousands gathered in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, who for years lived, ate and prayed among them.

United States

Editorial | New pope may inspire global quest for peace

Some predict Leo XIV will be a moderate offering gentle continuity and that his relatively soft-spoken style may counter divisive voices.

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Artificial intelligence

Pope Leo XIV sees AI as main challenge for humanity, explains link to his name

The new pontiff then visited the tomb of Pope Francis and a sanctuary south of Rome on his first trip outside the Vatican.

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Pope Leo XIV makes a surprise visit to the Sanctuary of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Rome, in Italy, on Saturday. Photo: Vatican Media via Reuters
Indonesia

Could ‘flourishing’ Indonesians teach even happy Nordic dwellers a thing or two?

Harvard researchers claim first-ever study measures factors that go beyond wealth, and is more encompassing than usual world happiness surveys.

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United States

From Villanova to the Vatican: American ‘Bob’ becomes Pope Leo XIV

The US university, steeped in Augustinian tradition, celebrated its first papal link – Cardinal Robert Prevost.

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Catholic Church

Hot dogs and memes: Pope Leo XIV’s Chicago roots unleash spate of holy humour

White Sox barbs, The Bear references and jokes about ‘deep-dish communion wafers’ mark the election of the first American pontiff.

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The Chicago Sun Times front page showing Pope Leo XIV is seen on a newspaper rack on Friday. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

New pope vows to bring light to world’s ‘dark nights’ after historic election

America’s first pope gives first homily after he was chosen as the successor to Pope Francis.

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Pope Leo XIV, centre, after holding mass with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. Photo: Vatican Media via AP
Indonesia

Indonesian spirits soar in the Netherlands as Europe’s first Balinese temple opens

Constructed using materials brought directly from the Indonesian island, the temple was fully funded by the local Balinese community.

Hong Kong society

Faithful called to pray for Leo XIV, first US pope, by Hong Kong Catholic Church

The new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday as 267th pope of Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic Church

America’s first pope once leveled criticism at Trump and Vance. Maga is not amused

Robert Prevost - now Pope Leo - has proven unafraid to tackle prickly political issues on social media.

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Andrea Gallardo from Texas wears an American flag after Pope Leo appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Photo: AP
Catholic Church

Pope who? Election of first US pontiff stuns St Peter’s crowd

The cheering crowd fell silent when Robert Prevost’s name was read out in Latin, and reporters had to tell some of those gathered who he was.

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People react to election of US Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Catholic Church

What’s in a name? Pope Leo XIV’s choice signals commitment to social justice

Before his appointment as the new pontiff, Cardinal Robert Prevost was a fierce critic of Trump’s deportations and anti-immigrant policy.

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Catholic Church

Robert Prevost chosen as new pope, first US pontiff in history

He has taken the name Leo XIV and will succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88.

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The Philippines

Philippines badly needs priests. Could a Filipino pope boost clergy ranks?

‘A pope speaking Filipino, plain Filipino, talking to you like he’s talking to you directly … it will be an inspiration,’ a seminarian says.

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Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends a mourning mass for Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 4. Photo: Reuters
Catholic Church

Pink smoke: excluded from conclave, Catholic women want their voices heard

The only women the men choosing the next pope will see are ‘nuns tidying their rooms’, protesters say as they call for more female priests.

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Pope Francis

Black smoke: cardinals fail to elect new pope in first conclave vote

133 electors from 70 countries are under lockdown as they vote for the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff.

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Auctions

Sotheby’s calls last-minute halt to Hong Kong auction of Buddha relics

Sale by family of 19th century British engineer of ‘duplicates’ of sacred relics he found in India called illegal by Indian government.

Some of the sacred Budddhist relics pulled from sale in Hong Kong by auctioneers Sotheby’s after the intervention of the Indian government. Photo: AFP
Italy

Explainer | How new pope’s chosen name will signal change or continuity at the Vatican

The next pope’s name reflects the pontiff’s direction: Francis II indicates continuity, Pius conveys a message of tradition, while a new name could signify change.

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Vatican Master of Ceremonies Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli takes the oath of secrecy for all those assigned to the conclave during a ceremony in the Pauline Chapel at the Vatican on Monday. Photo: Vatican Media/AP
The Philippines

From Imus to pope? Filipino cardinal’s hometown reflects on his journey

Luis Antonio Tagle began his career in Imus, where residents have fond memories of the cardinal with a 3-1 shot at becoming the next pope.

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Asean

Opinion | Malaysian flag gaffes expose how AI can inflame deep social divisions

Spate of inaccurately rendered national flag images suggests a careless reliance on AI, which can have grave implications in a polarised society.

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Pope Francis

Popemobile converted into clinic for Gaza’s children

Vehicle will be fitted with medical equipment and a fridge for medicines and be assigned a driver and a team of doctors.

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from his popemobile in Bethlehem, West Bank in 2014. File photo: AFP
Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Letters | Don’t judge Islam by the acts of a few

Readers discuss a more holistic understanding of Islam, global perceptions of Hong Kong, and healthcare reforms.

People read the Koran over their relative’s grave at a Covid-19 cemetery on the second day of Eid ul-Fitr in Jakarta on April 1. Photo: EPA-EFE
The Philippines

Philippine bishops defend Cardinal Tagle over pastoral sexual abuse concerns

Ahead of a papal conclave, a watchdog group has warned that front runners Tagle and Parolin cannot be relied on to protect children.

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Catholic Church

Language Matters | At conclave to choose a new pope arcane rituals, proclamations in Latin

Lisa Lim decodes the Latin terms that will pepper the coming conclave of cardinals in Vatican City to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

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