VATICAN CITY — This week, Pope Leo XIV continued shaping the leadership of the Roman Curia with several key appointments, concluded an extraordinary consistory with a renewed appeal for peace, and celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul by calling Christians to become builders of unity.

Here are this week’s top Vatican stories.

Pope Leo XIV announces key Vatican appointments

Pope Leo XIV continued to strengthen the leadership of the Roman Curia with a series of appointments across several Vatican dicasteries.

The Holy Father named Italian economist Sister Alessandra Smerilli to succeed Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

He also appointed Bishop Marco Mellino as secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts and Father Lucio Ruiz as secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. In addition, layman Massimo Ralli was named undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity.

The appointments reflect Pope Leo’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Vatican’s governing structures while supporting the Church’s mission of evangelization, charity, and sound canon law.

Pope concludes extraordinary consistory with appeal for peace

At the conclusion of a two-day extraordinary consistory of cardinals, Pope Leo XIV thanked the cardinals for their reflections on war, poverty, loneliness, and social fragmentation.

The Holy Father urged the Church to help humanity rediscover God’s paths to peace, emphasizing that peace begins in the human heart. He called for dialogue, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to nonviolence rooted in the Gospel.

Pope Leo also highlighted the suffering experienced by many young people and encouraged the Church to accompany them in their search for meaning and hope.

Archbishop Richard Moth appointed apostolic administrator of Northampton

In the United Kingdom, Pope Leo appointed Archbishop Richard Moth as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Northampton following allegations of sexual abuse against the diocesan bishop.

The appointment provides pastoral leadership for the diocese while the situation is addressed.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales expressed sorrow for those affected and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons throughout the Church.

Vatican Observatory hosts conference on quantum gravity

The Vatican Observatory welcomed leading physicists and young researchers to Castel Gandolfo for a conference dedicated to quantum gravity, one of the most challenging questions in modern physics.

Participants examined ongoing efforts to reconcile quantum mechanics with Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, a problem that has occupied scientists for decades.

The gathering reflects the Church’s longstanding commitment to dialogue between faith and reason and its support for scientific research that seeks a deeper understanding of the universe.

Pope Leo: Become builders of unity

Celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV called Christians throughout the world to become builders of unity.

The Holy Father pointed to the examples of the two apostles, whose different backgrounds and experiences demonstrate that authentic Christian unity is possible.

During the Mass, Pope Leo bestowed the pallium on 35 metropolitan archbishops and encouraged the faithful to embrace the path of charity, peace, and service to others.