This week’s Vaticano Updates – the most important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican.
Pope Encourages Prayer for Discernment
Pope Leo XIV invited Catholics around the world to unite in prayer throughout the month of July, asking that we “learn ever more to discern, to know how to choose life paths, and to reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.”
Pope to FAO: Hunger Used as a Weapon of War
In a message to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Pope Leo XIV condemned the manipulation of hunger in conflict zones. He wrote:
“We are currently witnessing with despair the iniquitous use of hunger as a weapon of war. Starving people to death is a very cheap way of waging war.”
He urged global leaders to defend the most vulnerable—especially women and children—and emphasized that food security must be guaranteed through concrete international action.
Women Religious Urged to Be Rooted in Christ
During a recent audience with women religious from various congregations, Pope Leo XIV praised their commitment and encouraged them to remain grounded in faith. He said that being “rooted in Christ” allows them to “do things they perhaps never thought they could achieve.” The Holy Father also reminded them that the creative power of consecrated life flows from this interior foundation.
New Appointments for Christian Unity
Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England, and Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Australia, as new members of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity. The appointments signal the Pope’s continued commitment to fostering dialogue and unity among Christians.
Pope Meets Italian Prime Minister Meloni
On July 3, Pope Leo XIV received Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Vatican—their first official audience since the Jubilee of Governments in May. Topics included peace, social cohesion, and collaboration between Church and State on humanitarian and cultural initiatives in Italy.
