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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

US President Donald Trump participates in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, maintaining a public schedule even as his war with Iran raged. Photo: Reuters

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.

8 Apr 2026 - 2:47PMvideocam

Religion

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

5 Apr 2026 - 7:35PM

Italy

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

4 Apr 2026 - 1:24PM

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.

28 Mar 2026 - 6:50PM

Pope Leo greets faithful as he leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

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.

19 Feb 2026 - 3:06AM

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.

26 Dec 2025 - 8:37AM

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’.

25 Dec 2025 - 7:54PMvideocam

A Palestinian man lifts a baby next to the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza on Christmas Eve. Photo: AFP

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.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:14PM

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.

15 Nov 2025 - 8:11PM

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.

18 Oct 2025 - 6:11PM

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.

18 Oct 2025 - 1:59AM

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony during their coronation in London in May 2023. Photo: TNS

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.

7 Oct 2025 - 12:38PM

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo declares teen computer whiz the first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis, who died at 15 in 2006, was known for using technology to spread his faith.

8 Sep 2025 - 10:53AM

Religion

LGBTQ Catholics celebrate acceptance in Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome

LGBTQ groups attribute the change to Pope Francis, who had insisted the Catholic Church was open to everyone.

6 Sep 2025 - 10:08PM

Members of the LGBTQ community attend a vigil prayer in the Church of the Gesu in central Rome on Friday. Photo: AP

The Philippines

Binondo: inside the 400-year-old heart of Filipino-Chinese heritage

For centuries, Manila’s Binondo district has been the centre of a Tsinoy culture that helped build the Philippines into what it is today.

6 Sep 2025 - 12:00PM

A fire breather performs on the streets of Binondo for Lunar New Year in 2013. Photo: Xinhua

China-Vatican relations

Editorial | Cardinal’s meeting with Pope a good sign for Sino-Vatican relations

Hong Kong’s Catholic church has traditionally played a role in bridging the Vatican and the mainland, and it should continue to contribute in this way.

6 Sep 2025 - 7:15AM

Hong Kong politics

Pope Leo XIV pledges commitment to Beijing-Vatican ties: Hong Kong cardinal

Cardinal Stephen Chow reveals details after meeting the new pope for ‘an in-depth exchange on the situation of the church in China’.

4 Sep 2025 - 9:21PM

Israel-Gaza war

Israel voices regret for deadly strike on Gaza church after Trump call

The US president called Netanyahu after having ‘not a positive reaction’ to the news, with the PM blaming a ‘stray’ round for the casualties.

18 Jul 2025 - 8:04AM

Archbishop Alexios stands in front of the bodies of Palestinian Christians Saad Salama and Foumia Ayyad, who were killed in an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church. Photo: Reauters

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church kills 2, cathedral official says

The Israeli Defence Forces said they are reviewing the incident and regret any damage, while Pope Leo said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the attack.

17 Jul 2025 - 11:37PM

Africa

Vatican beatifies Congo customs worker for resisting corruption

Floribèrt Bwana Chui Bin Kositi was kidnapped and killed in 2007 after he refused to allow rancid rice across the Rwanda-DR Congo border.

15 Jun 2025 - 5:32PM

China-Vatican relations

Pope Leo prays for Chinese Catholics to be in communion with Rome

Pope prayed that Catholics in China ‘obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials’.

26 May 2025 - 9:24AMvideocam

Pope Leo waves before a holy mass in the Roman Cathedral in the Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome on Sunday. Photo: dpa

Pope Leo XIV

Vance gives Pope Leo an invitation from Trump to visit White House

The Chicago-born pope accepted the invitation letter and replied: ‘at some point’.

20 May 2025 - 4:28PM

US Vice-President J.D. Vance, left, and Pope Leo XIV during their meeting in the Vatican on Monday. Photo: Vatican Media Handout / EPA-EFE

European Union

At inaugural mass, Pope Leo warns against exploiting nature, marginalising poor

In a prayer after the mass, Leo noted efforts to end the Ukraine war before holding a private audience with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

19 May 2025 - 12:55AMvideocam

Religion

Opinion | Pope Leo stands as a counterpoint to Trump’s polarising leadership

Despite reservations about his US background, Leo’s ties to the Global South and support for the marginalised have won him global acceptance.

18 May 2025 - 2:00PMvideocam

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Like popes, China’s emperors went by titles that reflected their legacy

How Chinese emperors’ titles, like papal ones, reflected their legacies and why their birth names were considered taboo during their reigns.

17 May 2025 - 8:15AM

The ruler who we now refer to as the Kangxi Emperor was born Aisin Gioro Xuanye. Photo: Getty Images

Religion

J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio to attend Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass

Pope Leo had been critical of Trump and Vance before taking leadership of the global Roman Catholic Church.

15 May 2025 - 11:54PM

US Vice-President J.D. Vance departs Giovan Battista Pastine International Airport, in Ciampino, Italy on April 20, 2025. Photo: AFP

Religion

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.

14 May 2025 - 5:03PMvideocam

Italy

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

During the pope’s first address, President Zelensky invited him to Ukraine, seeking hope amid conflict.

12 May 2025 - 7:59PMvideocam

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Pope Francis

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.

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

Pope Leo carries cross for full Good Friday procession

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 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.

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.

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’.

‘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.

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 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.

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.

‘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.

Pope Leo declares teen computer whiz the first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis, who died at 15 in 2006, was known for using technology to spread his faith.

LGBTQ Catholics celebrate acceptance in Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome

LGBTQ groups attribute the change to Pope Francis, who had insisted the Catholic Church was open to everyone.

Binondo: inside the 400-year-old heart of Filipino-Chinese heritage

For centuries, Manila’s Binondo district has been the centre of a Tsinoy culture that helped build the Philippines into what it is today.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Cardinal’s meeting with Pope a good sign for Sino-Vatican relations

Hong Kong’s Catholic church has traditionally played a role in bridging the Vatican and the mainland, and it should continue to contribute in this way.

Pope Leo XIV pledges commitment to Beijing-Vatican ties: Hong Kong cardinal

Cardinal Stephen Chow reveals details after meeting the new pope for ‘an in-depth exchange on the situation of the church in China’.

Israel voices regret for deadly strike on Gaza church after Trump call

The US president called Netanyahu after having ‘not a positive reaction’ to the news, with the PM blaming a ‘stray’ round for the casualties.

Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church kills 2, cathedral official says

The Israeli Defence Forces said they are reviewing the incident and regret any damage, while Pope Leo said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the attack.

Vatican beatifies Congo customs worker for resisting corruption

Floribèrt Bwana Chui Bin Kositi was kidnapped and killed in 2007 after he refused to allow rancid rice across the Rwanda-DR Congo border.

Pope Leo prays for Chinese Catholics to be in communion with Rome

Pope prayed that Catholics in China ‘obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials’.

Vance gives Pope Leo an invitation from Trump to visit White House

The Chicago-born pope accepted the invitation letter and replied: ‘at some point’.

At inaugural mass, Pope Leo warns against exploiting nature, marginalising poor

In a prayer after the mass, Leo noted efforts to end the Ukraine war before holding a private audience with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Opinion | Pope Leo stands as a counterpoint to Trump’s polarising leadership

Despite reservations about his US background, Leo’s ties to the Global South and support for the marginalised have won him global acceptance.

Reflections | Like popes, China’s emperors went by titles that reflected their legacy

How Chinese emperors’ titles, like papal ones, reflected their legacies and why their birth names were considered taboo during their reigns.

J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio to attend Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass

Pope Leo had been critical of Trump and Vance before taking leadership of the global Roman Catholic Church.

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.

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

During the pope’s first address, President Zelensky invited him to Ukraine, seeking hope amid conflict.

Editorial | Cardinal’s meeting with Pope a good sign for Sino-Vatican relations