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July 05, 2026
 

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Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo XIV holds the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on May 13.
WORLD
May 19, 2026
Pope Leo to address rise of AI in first major text
The document, known as ‌an encyclical, ‌is likely to decry the use of AI in warfare and address how ​the technology is challenging workers’ rights, according to sources.
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on May 19, 2025.
WORLD / Politics
May 7, 2026
Rubio to meet Pope Leo as Trump keeps up attacks on pontiff
The U.S. secretary of state’s Thursday visit at the Vatican is the first between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year.
A U.S. flag is held up as Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful from the popemobile ahead of his inaugural Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on May 18, 2025.
WORLD
May 6, 2026
A year into papacy, Pope Leo finds his ‘clarion voice’
The first U.S.-born pope, who sharply denounced war and despotism on a recent four-nation Africa tour, is expected to release his first in-depth teaching document this month.
Pope Leo XIV delivers a message from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on April 5, Easter Sunday, at the Vatican.
WORLD
Apr 13, 2026
Pope Leo to begin 10-day Africa tour on mission to spotlight continent’s needs
The first U.S. ​pope’s whirlwind ‌tour includes 11 cities and towns, traversing nearly 18,000 km over ​18 flights.
Pope Leo XIV in Saint Peter square at the Vatican in October. Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming tour of four African countries is a personal priority for Leo and a sign of the value the church places on the continent, where Catholicism is growing fastest.
WORLD
Apr 10, 2026
Pope Leo heads to Africa on ambitious tour to urge help for continent
Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming tour is a personal priority for the pope and a sign of the value the church places on the continent.
Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday.
WORLD
Nov 27, 2025
Pope Leo heading to Turkey for closely watched first overseas trip
The Catholic leader is expected to make appeals for peace in the Middle East and urge unity among long-divided Christian churches.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost waves from the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on Thursday.
WORLD
May 9, 2025
Robert Prevost surprises as first U.S. pope, taking name Leo XIV
Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday.
Cardinals stand, on the day of the translation of Pope Francis' body, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on Wednesday.
WORLD
Apr 24, 2025
Who will be the next pope? Some hints to watch for
The process to choose a new pope is long and secretive, with most of the world’s 252 cardinals coming to Rome to take part.
Pope Francis' body is carried in a coffin to Saint Peter's Basilica, on the day of its translation, at the Vatican, on Wednesday.
WORLD
Apr 24, 2025
Thousands honor Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica
Mourners flood the Vatican to bid farewell to the late Pope Francis, whose funeral will be held Saturday, with world leaders set to attend.
Catholics attend a Mass to pray for Pope Francis' health at the Plaza Constitucion in Buenos Aires on Monday.
WORLD
Feb 25, 2025
Pope Francis still critical but shows ‘slight improvement,’ Vatican says
The 88-year-old pontiff was spending his 11th night in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, making it the longest hospital stay of his nearly 12-year papacy.
Nuns pray at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalized for pneumonia in Rome, on Sunday
WORLD
Feb 24, 2025
Pope Francis remains critical and has ‘slight’ kidney issue, Vatican says
The pope is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
A person holds candles of Pope Francis on Tuesday near a statue of Pope John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital in Rome where Pope Francis is hospitalized.
WORLD
Feb 19, 2025
Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says
Pope Francis has had a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14.
Pope Francis arrives at the weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 29, 2024
Pope Francis takes climate message to Southeast Asia on 12-day trip
It will be the longest trip yet by Pope Francis, who now regularly uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
A man orders from a kebab shop in the Okubo district in Tokyo.
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Japanese police arrest nine over Sierra Leone-based special fraud
Japanese police have arrested nine individuals for their alleged involvement in a special fraud case using Sierra Leone as a base.
Japanese-language education is at a turning point
The country is gradually transforming Japanese-language education from a volunteer-driven system into a professional, government-supported network to better serve its growing foreign population. 
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
X Games returns to Chiba with new team format
Skateboarder Sora Shirai practices at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Friday afternoon. X Games Chiba begins on Saturday.
NU Festival tests Takanawa Gateway City complex’s culture cred
Veteran improvisers Kazuo Imai and Atsuhiro Ito brought some unruly energy to NU Festival, a three-day multimedia event held at the Takanawa Gateway City complex.  
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Six of the best: rikishi of note in each sumo division
Kazuma (right) faces off against future <i>yokozuna</i> Onosato during the All Japan Amateur Sumo Championships at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in December 2020.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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