Showing 1 - 10 of 166
In ritual dear to Francis, Pope Leo washes feet of 12 priests in Rome
AFP, Published on 03/04/2026
» VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV performed the ritual of washing of the feet for the first time on Holy Thursday, marking a return to tradition for the rite which his predecessor Francis used to perform for the homeless, prisoners and other marginalised people.
Voices from Iran: protests, fear and scarcity
AFP, Published on 07/03/2026
» PARIS (FRANCE) - From Kurdistan in western Iran to the shores of the Gulf and in Tehran, AFP reporters have spoken to Iranians throughout the week to build a picture of their lives under daily US and Israeli bombardment.
Patchy Italy disability access 'an insult' ahead of Games
AFP, Published on 04/03/2026
» ROME - Italy hosts the world's top paralympic athletes this month, but just getting across the street in Rome can feel like an Olympian task for wheelchair users.
St Peter's Basilica gets terrace cafe, translated mass for 400th birthday
AFP, Published on 17/02/2026
» VATICAN CITY — Visitors to St Peter's Basilica will be able to follow mass in 60 languages and enjoy a coffee on a newly opened terrace as part of plans unveiled Monday by the Vatican.
Swiss investigators rush to identify victims of New Year's fire
AFP, Published on 02/01/2026
» CRANS-MONTANA — Investigators raced on Friday to identify the victims of a fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, turning a New Year's celebration into one of the country's worst tragedies.
Leo XIV celebrates first Christmas as pope
AFP, Published on 25/12/2025
» VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV held the first Christmas mass of his pontificate on Wednesday, greeting thousands of faithful in St Peter's Square before the service in an usually informal style.
Bethlehem celebrates first festive Christmas since Gaza war
AFP, Published on 24/12/2025
» BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories - Scouts marched under a clear blue sky in Bethlehem on Wednesday, as the Palestinian city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years.
Crowd braves rain to flock to Pope Leo's mass in Istanbul
AFP, Published on 30/11/2025
» ISTANBUL - Thousands of worshippers battled the rain to join Pope Leo XIV as he celebrated mass in Istanbul on Saturday, the last full day of his visit to Turkey.
Pope visits Istanbul's Blue Mosque
AFP, Published on 29/11/2025
» ISTANBUL — Pope Leo XIV visited Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque early on Saturday on the third day of his trip to Turkey.
Pope, Orthodox leader to jointly celebrate early Church milestone
AFP, Published on 28/11/2025
» ISTANBUL - Pope Leo XIV joins the leader of the world's Orthodox Christians Friday to celebrate 1,700 years since one of the early Church's most important gatherings, on the second day of his visit to Turkey.