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On way back to Rome, Pope Leo condemns state executions in Iran

Pope Leo XIV on the papal plane from Equatorial Guinea to Rome on April 23, 2026. (Credit: Elise Ann Allen/Crux Now.)

On way back to Rome, Pope Leo condemns state executions in Iran

On his return flight from Malambo to Rome on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV condemned the state executions taking place in Iran and defended the Holy See’s engagement of authoritarian regimes as necessary for improving social conditions.

Apr 23
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate the Holy mass at the Malabo stadium, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Thursday, April 23, 2026, on the last day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa. (Credit: Misper Apawu/AP.)

Pope wraps up an Africa visit for the history books with a Mass in Equatorial Guinea

Apr 23
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

Pope’s last day in Equatorial Guinea a tale of tensions

Apr 23
Elise Ann Allen

Migrants from Syria and Libya in a wooden boat call for help as they are assisted by Spanish NGO Open Arms during a rescue operation inside Malta’s SAR zone south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean sea, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Credit: Francisco Seco/AP.)

Death of nearly 8000 migrants in 2025 is ‘nothing short of a tragedy’ says bishop

Apr 22
Fionn Shiner

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the 10th day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa, in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Credit: Misper Apawu/AP.)

Pope calls for justice and closing income gap in Equatorial Guinea Mass with presidential family

Apr 22
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

The Pelourinho Novo (lit. 'New Pillory'), also known as Hath Katro Khamb[b] (lit. 'Hand-Cutting Pillar'), in Old Goa. (Credit: Wikimedia.)

A centuries-old pillar in Goa is causing controversy about colonial history in India

Apr 22
Nirmala Carvalho

Pope Leo XIV's first public event in Equatorial Guinea on April 21, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Pope visits psychiatric hospital in Equatorial Guinea, urges love over stigma

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Migrants from Syria and Libya in a wooden boat call for help as they are assisted by Spanish NGO Open Arms during a rescue operation inside Malta’s SAR zone south of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean sea, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Credit: Francisco Seco/AP.)

Death of nearly 8000 migrants in 2025 is ‘nothing short of a tragedy’ says bishop

Apr 22
Fionn Shiner

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the 10th day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa, in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Credit: Misper Apawu/AP.)

Pope calls for justice and closing income gap in Equatorial Guinea Mass with presidential family

Apr 22
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

The Pelourinho Novo (lit. 'New Pillory'), also known as Hath Katro Khamb[b] (lit. 'Hand-Cutting Pillar'), in Old Goa. (Credit: Wikimedia.)

A centuries-old pillar in Goa is causing controversy about colonial history in India

Apr 22
Nirmala Carvalho

Pope Leo XIV's first public event in Equatorial Guinea on April 21, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Pope visits psychiatric hospital in Equatorial Guinea, urges love over stigma

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Pope visits psychiatric hospital in Equatorial Guinea, urges love over stigma

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Pope lands in Equatorial Guinea decrying ‘economy that kills’

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo in Africa remembers Francis’s legacy of mercy

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Supreme Court will hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

Apr 21
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Associated Press

Latest

People touch a banner bearing an image of Pope Leo XIV in Luanda, Angola, Monday, April 20, 2026. (Credit: Themba Hadebe/AP.)

Did Pope Leo find his voice in Africa? Or did the world finally hear him?

Apr 21
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV listens to a girl as he arrives at the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Luanda, Angola, for a meeting with bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and pastoral workers Monday, April 20, 2026, on the eighth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope’s visit to Equatorial Guinea is a diplomatic challenge as he closes his Africa trip

Apr 21
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV is cheered by faithful on the occasion of his visit to a nursing home, in Saurimo, Angola, Monday, April 20, 2026. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope in Saurimo warns God is not a ‘guru’ as locals battle wizardry

Apr 20
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV, with the Archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea Fuanya, left, frees a white dove at the end of a meeting for peace at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, with the local community Thursday, April 16, 2026, on the fourth day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

On Cameroon visit Pope Leo called for peace, but peace with justice

Apr 20
Ngala Killian Chimtom

Portuguese Catholic priest, Padre Guilherme performs an open-air DJ set at the Plaza de Mayo, honoring the first year anniversary of Pope Francis' passing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Credit: Rodrigo Abd/AP.)

Padre Guilherme hosts rave in Argentina’s capital honoring late Pope Francis

Apr 20
Débora Rey,
Associated Press

Pope prays at Catholic shrine in Angola that was a center of African slave trade

Apr 20
Nicole Winfield

Pope Leo XIV receives flowers he put under the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Church of Our lady of Muxima, on the seventh day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, in Muxima, Angola, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (Credit: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Pool Photo via AP.)

Pope in Angola offers message of hope, urges social action amid poverty

Apr 19
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV presides over Sunday Mass, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Kilamba, some 30 kilometers south of Luanda, Angola, on the seventh day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope Leo XIV heads to Catholic shrine in Angola that was a center of African slave trade

Apr 19
Nicole Winfield,
Associated Press

Belgium’s Beguinages: Tranquil oases in a world of noise and distraction

Apr 19
Virginia Mayo,
Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV challenges Angola’s leaders while delivering a message of encouragement for its people

Apr 19
Nicole Winfield,
Gerald Imray, Associated Press

Pope arrives in oil-rich Angola condemning ‘logic of extractivism’

Apr 18
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo chastises journos spinning Africa trip as rebuke of Trump

Apr 18
Elise Ann Allen

Global

Portuguese Catholic priest, Padre Guilherme performs an open-air DJ set at the Plaza de Mayo, honoring the first year anniversary of Pope Francis' passing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Credit: Rodrigo Abd/AP.)

Padre Guilherme hosts rave in Argentina’s capital honoring late Pope Francis

Apr 20
Débora Rey,
Associated Press

Swans sleep outside the gate of the Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Credit: Virginia Mayo/AP.)

Belgium’s Beguinages: Tranquil oases in a world of noise and distraction

Apr 19
Virginia Mayo,
Associated Press

Tourists visit the American Studies center courtyard adorned with Ancient Roman statues, in Rome, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)

Catholic schools Notre Dame, Villanova to open hoops season in Rome with men’s-women’s doubleheader

Apr 17
Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech in Crozon, France, March 2, 2026. (Credit: Yoan Valat/Pool Photo via AP.)

French government engages in ‘general mobilization’ against pro-life activists

Apr 17
Fionn Shiner

Mindanao State University stadium in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Philippines. (Credit: Wikimedia.)

Philippine troops kill 10 suspected Muslim militants in deadliest clash so far this year

Apr 17
Jim Gomez,
Associated Press

Archbishop of Canterbury expresses solidarity with Pope Leo XIV in calling for peace in Iran

Apr 17
Associated Press

What a new Gallup poll shows about young men’s religious revival

Apr 16
Deepa Bharath,
Associated Press

Archbishop, others support Pakistan efforts to work for peace in Iran

Apr 16
Samy Magdy,
Associated Press

China raises pressure on underground Catholics to join official church, Human Rights Watch finds

Apr 16
David Crary,
Associated Press

After criticizing the pope, Trump slams Italy’s Meloni over lack of support for Iran war

Apr 16
Colleen Barry,
Associated Press

News Analysis

Premium

Ahead of U.S. midterms, is Trump telling Catholics, ‘You’re Fired’?

Apr 18
Charles Collins

Premium

Trump’s social media attacks have put Leo XIV in the U.S. presidential mix

Apr 15
Christopher R. Altieri

Premium

In Easter letter to cardinals, Leo sets the tone and the agenda

Apr 15
Christopher R. Altieri

Pope Leo XIV prays the rosary. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Premium

A ‘frank discussion’ is changing the dance card for the US and the Vatican

Apr 13
Charles Collins

Premium

Were Leo XIV’s remarks at peace vigil meant for Trump?

Apr 12
Christopher R. Altieri

Charles Collins

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP.)

Pope Leo calls for French bishops to ‘generously include’ those attached to Traditional Latin Mass

Mar 25
Charles Collins

A confessional in a Catholic church. (Credit: Pexels.)

As Lent continues, a first-of-its-kind national study finds that most Catholics would consider going to Confession

Mar 25
Charles Collins

Pope Leo XIV at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on March 11, 2026. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)

Premium

Footnotes and tea leaves: Pope Leo and Amoris Laetitia

Mar 21
Charles Collins

Catholic priests stand together celebrating Mass. (Credit: Amazing Parish.)

Houston summit aims to help priests build parishes for 21st century

Mar 19
Charles Collins

Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Credit: Wikipedia.)

Ahead of vote on Assisted Suicide, Scottish bishops call on parliament to reject attack on vulnerable

Mar 17
Charles Collins

Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV on the papal plane from Equatorial Guinea to Rome on April 23, 2026. (Credit: Elise Ann Allen/Crux Now.)

On way back to Rome, Pope Leo condemns state executions in Iran

Apr 23
Elise Ann Allen

Pope’s last day in Equatorial Guinea a tale of tensions

Apr 23
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV's first public event in Equatorial Guinea on April 21, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Pope visits psychiatric hospital in Equatorial Guinea, urges love over stigma

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, right, upon his arrival at Malabo International Airport in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, on the ninth day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope lands in Equatorial Guinea decrying ‘economy that kills’

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the esplanade in front of the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, in Muxima, Angola, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (Credit: Themba Hadebe/AP.)

Pope Leo in Africa remembers Francis’s legacy of mercy

Apr 21
Elise Ann Allen

Christopher R. Altieri

DC’s Cardinal McElroy calls Iran war ‘immoral’, calls for action

Apr 12
Christopher R. Altieri

Prominent Catholic thinkers pen brief for embattled AI giant Anthropic

Mar 18
Christopher R. Altieri

Pope Leo XIV to Mideast belligerents: ‘Cease fire!’

Mar 15
Christopher R. Altieri

Cardinal denounces Trump administration’s ‘gamifying’ of Iran conflict

Mar 8
Christopher R. Altieri

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In Memoriam: John L. Allen Jr.

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2026 Papal Trip to Africa

Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque in Algiers

Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque in Algiers

Meeting with authorities and the diplomatic corps.

Mass in the Basilica of St Augustine in Annaba (April 14)

People greet Pope Leo XIV upon his arrival in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, on the third day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope Leo XIV in Africa

Pope Leo XIV in Africa

Pope Leo XIV in Africa

Friends of Crux