POPE LEO XIV CELEBRATES 60TH WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS, AI SHOULD HELP HUMANS, NOT REPLACE THEM
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Leisure Read)
'Algorithmization' of Life and Preserving Human Dignity
Bruno Giussani, author of a book on artificial intelligence�s impact on our lives, reflects on Pope Leo XIV�s Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, �Preserving Human Voices and Faces.� By Bruno Giussani*
How many algorithms are part of our daily lives? How many sensors? How many screens?
Interacting with screens and digital interfaces of all kinds has become the main activity for almost all of us.
But how many of these interactions are truly the result of a choice? More than a habit, it is becoming a condition. Our society is increasingly structured around algorithms and digital networks that shape its forms and dynamics.
This has not happened � and is not happening � through public debate, political decision-making, or a democratic process, but rather as the indirect (though by no means accidental) consequence of commercial mechanisms and the often uncritical and impatient adoption of technologies that, in effect, redefine the social, economic, and cultural sphere.
This �algorithmization� of life raises essential questions. Who controls these systems? What values and logics do they convey, and which do they exclude? What are the consequences for our autonomy as human beings? And are we still capable of asking ourselves these questions, or are we becoming accustomed to living in a world where the answers are already written into the computer code that surrounds us?
When, in his illuminating Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, celebrated on May 17, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV writes that our challenge �is not technological, but anthropological,� he captures in one sentence that seems simple the full depth, unease, and responsibility that each of us should feel in the face of advancing digital technologies, and especially artificial intelligence (AI).
Many still think of these technologies as mere tools useful for simplifying and accelerating existing processes. In reality, over the last two decades � first gradually and then increasingly faster � these technologies, from social media to commercial systems, have become platforms. They are invisible architectures within which we operate and �live,� and upon which our ability to participate in social and professional life increasingly depends.
The arrival, three and a half years ago, of generative AI � the chatbots with which we interact by writing or speaking � has further accelerated this replacement of human logic with techno-logic.
AI �agents� are now beginning to spread: systems with increasing degrees of autonomy, capable of handling a variety of complex tasks on behalf of users without detailed instructions. Meanwhile, neurotechnologies are already appearing on the horizon � a family of devices that interact directly with the human brain and the nervous system.
This foreshadows a not-too-distant future in which humans and artificial entities will coexist, interact, and co-evolve. These developments progressively redefine what is considered �normal� and acceptable, actively shaping the moral and ethical landscape of our societies.
Algorithms, in fact, are not neutral. They are designed to optimize certain objectives, often economic ones (profit, engagement, efficiency, competition), and sometimes political or cultural ones.
In doing so, they reset what is considered right, desirable, or necessary, altering � in the words of Pope Leo XIV � �some of the fundamental pillars of human civilization.�
The line between what is acceptable and what is not shifts not through conscious choice, but through adaptation, through passive acceptance of what technology makes convenient, visible, and valued. Society is thus being algorithmically reprogrammed.
The central question therefore becomes: who decides the rules of this new society? If socio-economic and even ethical dynamics are increasingly conditioned by automated systems controlled by a handful of large companies or governments, what space remains for individual and collective choice?
How can fairness, justice, and dignity be guaranteed if decisions are made by machines whose functioning escapes the understanding of the majority? Algorithmic reprogramming is not an inevitable destiny. It is, however, a process that urgently needs to be understood, critically discussed, and, where necessary, resisted.
�Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, that originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others,� writes Pope Leo XIV.
It is within this communicative space that our humanity is revealed and recognized. But it is precisely in this space that these machines � developed to imitate thought and speech � insert themselves without asking permission. They present themselves as �friends,� imposing themselves as mediators between us and others, and between us and the reality of the world.
In a world that places high value on productivity, speed, and profit, what generative artificial intelligence offers is deeply alluring: the possibility of freeing ourselves, by delegating to the machine, from the effort of thinking, learning, evaluating, writing, and deciding for ourselves.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Pope Leo: Care for Peace Is Care For Life
Pope Leo XIV prays that peace may prevail in all hearts, as the Church celebrates Laudato Si� Week. By Devin Watkins
As he prayed the Regina Caeli on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV recalled that Laudato Si� Week runs from May 17 to 24.
The annual event celebrates the anniversary of Pope Francis� encyclical on care for our common home, inviting all people to move from hope to action.
The Pope encouraged the members of the Laudato Si� Movement and all those who work for an integral ecology to renew their commitment.
He made reference to St. Francis of Assisi�s love for creatures and his message of peace, as the Church marks 800 years since the saint�s death.
�In this Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi, let us remember his message of peace with God, with our brothers and sisters, and with all creatures,� he said.
The Pope lamented that wars have caused progress in the field of care for creation to slow greatly in recent years.
Finally, Pope Leo XIV pointed to the inherent link between care for peace and care for life.
�I encourage the members of the Laudato Si� Movement and all those who work for an integral ecology to renew their commitment,� he said. �Care for peace is care for life.�
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Pope: Communication Must Respect Truth of Human Person
As the Church celebrates the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholics to help direct technological innovation toward the truth of the human person. By Devin Watkins
The Catholic Church marked the 60th World Day of Social Communications on Sunday, May 17.
Speaking at the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Leo XIV recalled the World Day and encouraged everyone to promote forms of communication that always respect the truth of the human person.
He pointed to the vast advances in technology in recent years regarding communication, and called for technological innovation to be directed toward the good of humanity.
�I encourage everyone to commit themselves to promoting forms of communication that are always respectful of the truth of the human person, toward which every technological innovation should be directed,� he said.
Pope�s Message for 60th World Communications Day
Pope Leo XIV released his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications on January 24, focused on the theme: �Preserving Human Voices and Faces.�
In his message, the Pope said faces and voices are sacred, since God created human beings in His image and likeness.
�Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, which originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others,� he said.
However, he said, new digital technologies threaten our uniqueness by simulating voices, faces, and emotions.
�By simulating human voices and faces, wisdom and knowledge, consciousness and responsibility, empathy and friendship,� he said, �the systems known as artificial intelligence not only interfere with information ecosystems, but also encroach upon the deepest level of communication, that of human relationships.�
The real threat to humanity is our willingness to offload our ability to listen and think critically to AI and social-media algorithms, said the Pope in his message.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo: Technology Must Serve the Human Person, Not Replace It
In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of ensuring that technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, serves the human person rather than replacing or diminishing human dignity. Vatican News
Face and voice are unique traits of every person and form the foundation of human identity and relationships. Reflecting on this truth, Pope Leo XIV introduces his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, which will be celebrated on 17 May 2026, with a focus on digital communication and artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to protect human dignity in an age increasingly shaped by technological innovation.
Human beings, the Pope recalls, are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. Preserving human faces and voices, therefore, means preserving the divine imprint present in each person and upholding the irreplaceable vocation of every human life.
"Preserving human faces and voices, therefore, means preserving this mark, this indelible reflection of God�s love. We are not a species composed of predefined biochemical formulas. Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, that originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others," he writes.
The Anthropological Challenge of Technology
The Pope warns that digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence systems capable of simulating voices, faces, and emotions, risk altering essential dimensions of human communication.
The challenge, he stresses, is not primarily technological but anthropological; it is a matter of protecting human identity and authentic relationships.
He draws attention to the impact of social media algorithms that prioritise rapid emotional reactions over reflection, weakening critical thinking and fostering social polarisation.
"By grouping people into bubbles of easy consensus and easy outrage, these algorithms reduce our ability to listen and think critically, and increase social polarisation," the Pope explains.
The growing reliance on artificial intelligence for information, creativity, and decision-making, he adds, also risks diminishing analytical skills, imagination, and personal responsibility.
Reality, Simulation, and Social Impact
Pope Leo highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between reality and simulation in digital environments, where automated agents and chatbots can influence public debate and individual choices, shaping emotional responses and personal interactions.
Such dynamics, he notes, may affect not only individuals but also social and cultural life.
Responsibility, cooperation, and education
To address these challenges, the Pope identifies responsibility, cooperation, and education as essential pillars. Technology developers, political authorities, media professionals, and educators are called to promote transparency, safeguard human dignity, and ensure the integrity of information.
"The task laid before us is not to stop digital innovation, but rather to guide it and to be aware of its ambivalent nature. It is up to each of us to raise our voice in defence of human persons, so that we can truly assimilate these tools as allies," Pope Leo says.
Collaboration among institutions and sectors, he writes, is required to guide digital innovation toward the common good.
"No sector can tackle the challenge of steering digital innovation and AI governance alone. Safeguards must therefore be put in place. All stakeholders � from the tech industry to legislators, from creative companies to academia, from artists to journalists and educators � must be involved in building and implementing informed and responsible digital citizenship," the Pope insists.
Media Literacy and Digital Awareness
Finally, Pope Leo underlines the importance of education in media, information, and artificial intelligence literacy, fostering critical awareness, protecting personal identity, and supporting a responsible culture of communication.
"Just as the industrial revolution called for basic literacy to enable people to respond to new developments, so too does the digital revolution require digital literacy (along with humanistic and cultural education) to understand how algorithms shape our perception of reality, how AI biases work, what mechanisms determine the presence of certain content in our feeds, what the economic principles and models of the AI economy are and how they might change," he writes.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Barbed Wire 'Cross of Peace' to be featured at WYD 2027
The Archdiocese of Seoul, host of World Youth Day 2027, says a unique 'Cross of Peace' is being created that will consist of barbed wire from the DMZ and featured as a powerful symbol of reconciliation between North and South Korea. Vatican News
With preparations underway for the next global gathering of young people for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, the Archdiocese has announced that a striking symbol will accompany the events to take place in the city there. A 'Cross of Peace' is being created from discarded barbed wire coming from the DMZ Demilitarized Zone, the buffer zone along the border dividing North and South Korea.
Symbol of Peace
Fides News Agency reported that the barbed wire Cross, acknowledging the divided reality there, aims to transform the pain of division into a symbol of peace. The Cross will be approximately five meters in height and be presented to young people who will gather in Seoul for World Youth Day. The Pope is scheduled to bless the Cross during WYD. Fides News said the Archdiocese hopes that this initiative will "invite young people to transform symbols of division into signs of reconciliation, prayer, and hope, also in their personal lives.�
Sign of Hope
In April the World Youth Day Organizing Committee, chaired by Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul, held a ceremony to bless the young Korean WYD volunteers. With them were members of the Walking Together Foundation that started the barbed wire Cross project that involves the handmade transformation of barbed wire and its composition into a large cross. The work is taking place in the courtyard of Myeongdong Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and is and expected to conclude in April 2027.
In his address to those present at the ceremony, Fides News reported that Archbishop Chung spoke about the barbed wire along the dividing line between North and South Korea, noting how it symbolizes the painful division and the fratricidal war on the Korean Peninsula. He said, �just as the cross, once an instrument of death, became a symbol of peace and reconciliation, sacrifice and love, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us pray that this cross may take root in our hearts as a symbol of reconciliation, peace, and love on the Korean Peninsula. Like resurrection after death, harmony and peace can also arise from conflict and war.�
Instruments of Peace
Archbishop Chung blessed the materials being used to make the cross and prayed that all taking part in its creation become �instruments of peace.� Volunteers working on the barbed wire Cross project use hammers and anvils to shape the wire fragments, each around 50 centimeters in length, that are added to the cross structure. The spiritual dimension to the project involves helping the volunteers to reflect together on wounds in society needing healing and to work together and pray for peace. Volunteers come from various parishes, church groups, as well as those interested in contributing to the project. Fides News reports that "the project aims to spread a message of social integration and reconciliation that extends beyond the boundaries of the church community."
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Pope Approves Creation of Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence
In a rescript signed by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Leo XIV approves the creation of an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pope Leo XIV approved the creation of an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence in a rescript dated May 12, released on May 16, and signed by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Considering �the development in recent decades of the phenomenon of Artificial Intelligence and the most recent accelerations in its widespread use; its potential effects on human beings and on humanity as a whole; the Church�s concern for the dignity of every human person, especially in relation to their integral development; Pope Leo XIV approved the establishment of a Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence,� the text reads.
The Pope approved the creation of the body following an audience with Cardinal Czerny on May 3. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will coordinate the work of the Commission for the first year.
Several Vatican Dicasteries Working Together
The text explains that the Commission is made up of representatives from 7 Vatican bodies: the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
One of these institutions will be in charge of coordinating the Commission for one-year terms, which can be renewed, and the Pope then decides the next body that will lead the works.
The text explains that �it is the responsibility of the coordinating institution to facilitate collaboration and the exchange of information among group members regarding activities and projects related to Artificial Intelligence, including policies on its use within the Holy See, while promoting dialogue, communion, and participation.�
Cardinal Czerny established the body according to Article 28 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, under which the head of a Dicastery may create a special interdicasterial commission to address matters that touch the responsibilites of several Dicasteries and that require �mutual and frequent consultation.�
A theme dear to Pope Leo XIV
This is not the first time Dicasteries have come together to address this issue. In January 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education published the note Antiqua et Nova on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.
Additionally, the theme has been present throughout Pope Leo XIV�s pontificate, as he has often spoken about artificial intelligence and other technological advancements and the challenges they can pose to our society.
As early as May 10, 2025, only days after his election, in a meeting with the cardinals, the Pope explained that his choice of papal name was inspired by Pope Leo XIII who addressed the issues brought about by the industrial revolution in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo XIV to visit France in September This Year
Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to France on 25-28 September this year, marking the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years. Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make an Apostolic Journey to France from 25 to 28 September 2026, according to an announcement from the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
This visit will be the first time a Pope has traveled to France on an official papal state visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, when he journeyed to Paris and Lourdes.
The journey comes as a response to the invitations made by the Head of State, the ecclesiastical authorities of the country, and the Director-General of UNESCO, the Press Office statement noted.
During the Apostolic Journey, the Pope will visit the headquarters of UNESCO.
Vatican-France connections
Pope Leo and French President Emmanuel Macron met on April 10 for the first time since the pontiff's election to the See of Peter.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope: Holy Spirit received at Confirmation gives us strength to follow Jesus
Pope Leo XIV encourages young people of the Italian Archdiocese of Genoa to keep their enthusiasm and commitment to Christ after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. By Devin Watkins
As around 1,000 young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Genoa in northern Italy made a pilgrimage to Rome, Pope Leo XIV met with them on Saturday to encourage their desire to follow Christ.
The young people have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, which completes the sacraments of initiation and seals the baptized person with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In his off-the-cuff remarks, Pope Leo said one of the greatest joys of every Bishop is the opportunity to celebrate Confirmations, since it is �truly the gift of the Holy Spirit.�
�It is very beautiful to receive this Sacrament,� he said, �because the fullness of the Holy Spirit gives us enthusiasm, strength, and the ability to follow Jesus Christ, to say �Yes� to the Lord always, and not to be afraid to follow courageously, to live the faith in a world that so often wants to lead us far from Jesus.�
He noted that next Sunday, May 24, marks Pentecost Sunday, when the Church recalls the experience of the first disciples, who received the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the love of God.
Each of the Confirmands, said the Pope, is called to be a participant in the Church�s mission and is sent to their friends and families to bear witness to the �Spirit who lives in us.�
Just as Confirmation marks a great joy for Bishops, it often brings them sadness, he said, since many young people never set foot in the church again, disappearing from their parishes.
Pope Leo therefore appealed to young Catholics to pay special attention to the Holy
Spirit�s gift of perseverance, so that they live their faith together.
�Do not forget what you have lived in this time,� he said. �May your joy in coming to Rome to celebrate together and pray together live in your hearts, and may you continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and persevere in the faith.�
As they return to their parishes, the Pope invited them to participate in the many activities and opportunities offered so that they can live in community.
�We do not live the faith alone; we live it together,� he said. �And forming these relationships of friendship and community is a way to live perseverance as disciples of Jesus.�
Finally, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the young Confirmands from Genoa to enjoy this moment of grace as they receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and maintain it throughout their lives.
�It is very important,� he said, �that each one of you also make this commitment, this promise to the Lord: that you truly want to continue as His friends, His disciples, His missionaries, and that you want to persevere in the faith.�
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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�Preserving Human Voices and Faces�: International Conference on AI at Urbaniana University
The event, organised by the Dicastery for Communication in collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the John XXIII Foundation, is set to take place on 21 May. by Vatican News
To mark the World Day of Social Communications, the Dicastery for Communication has organised an international conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University on Thursday, 21 May.
The theme �Preserving human voices and faces� echoes the message of Pope Leo XIV for the World Day and highlights the spirit in which the organisers have invited figures from academia, institutional representatives, high-tech experts, and journalists to engage in dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the lives of individuals, communities, and nations.
A moment of reflection and dialogue
The event, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the John XXIII Foundation, will take place throughout the day on 21 May in the main hall of the Pontifical University.
It aims to be a moment of reflection and dialogue in response to the Pope�s exhortation to �cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, to which all technological innovation should also be oriented.�
The conference will be opened by Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and Cardinal Jos� Tolentino de Mendon�a, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
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Pakistani bishops voice hope and concerns during ad limina visit
During their ad limina visit to the Vatican, Pakistan�s bishops shared the hopes and hardships of the Church in their country. Bishop Samson Shukardin speaks of challenges including discrimination, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions, while expressing hope for equal rights and a stronger future for Christians in Pakistan. by Vatican News
The bishops of Pakistan have expressed hope for the future of the Church in their country while highlighting the serious challenges facing Christians, including discrimination, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions.
Speaking during the Pakistani bishops� ad limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican, Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops� Conference and Bishop of Hyderabad, said the visit had been a source of encouragement and renewal for the bishops.
An ad limina Apostolorum visit is a periodic pilgrimage that Catholic bishops make to the Holy See, typically every five years, to report on the state of their dioceses, meet with the Pope and officials of the Roman Curia, and pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome.
New hope and insight for future
�This ad limina is very important for us because spiritually and physically, this has given us a new insight and new hope in the coming future,� Bishop Shukardin said. He explained that the delegation had presented reports to various Vatican dicasteries and had received positive responses from Church officials.
�We have shared our reports in different dicasteries, and we received very positive responses from the different dicasteries, which is very important for us,� he said.
Main Challenges
Reflecting on the life of the Church in Pakistan, Bishop Shukardin pointed to evangelisation as one of the central challenges facing the local Catholic community. He described Pakistan�s Catholic faithful as deeply committed despite economic hardship and limited educational opportunities.
�Our people are still illiterate but strong in faith,� the bishop said. �They are poor but very hard-working people, always working hard.�
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city...
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Nuncio to Ukraine: Heavy attacks suggest no intention to end war
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, describes the particularly intense Russian bombings of Ukraine on May 13�14, condemning attacks on humanitarian workers, which he said were "deliberately targeted so that the population does not receive aid." By Svitlana Dukhovych
�The last few hours have again been very heavy for the entire country. Between May 13 and May 14, there were numerous bombings,� the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, told Vatican News by phone on Thursday evening.
In the interview, the Nuncio reflected on what has been defined as the heaviest attack launched by Russia since the start of the war, with a tragic toll of at least 24 dead and 48 injured just in the capital, including children.
Archbishop Kulbokas explained that "Ukrainian authorities counted over 1,500 long-range drones that reached western cities such as Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhhorod, and others, then during the night it was Kyiv�s turn, with drones and about sixty missiles, mostly ballistic.�
Attacks on humanitarian vehicles are worrying
The Nuncio also expressed great concern that even a United Nations vehicle, belonging to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, was attacked in Kherson while distributing humanitarian aid, which he said, was a clearly marked vehicles that move only after informing both Ukrainian and Russian authorities in advance.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city...
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Gaza faces surge in rodent-borne disease
As Gaza struggles with destruction, displacement and collapsing sanitation systems after the peace agreement, doctors are warning of a growing public health emergency linked to a massive rodent infestation. By Linda Bordoni
In the Gaza Strip, where families continue to endure the consequences of war that killed more than 75,000 people, displaced over 90 percent of the population and caused massive destruction, even after the signing of a fragile peace agreement in October 2025, doctors are now confronting another growing emergency: a widespread rodent infestation that is triggering infections and deepening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections and rodent-borne illnesses have been recorded in Gaza since the beginning of 2026. Health workers say the collapse of sanitation systems, mountains of rubble, overflowing sewage and overcrowded displacement camps have created fertile conditions for disease to spread.
Yet despite repeated warnings from humanitarian organisations, the crisis has received little international attention as Gaza�s exhausted population struggles to survive in increasingly dangerous conditions.
Speaking to Caritas Jerusalem, a doctor working in Gaza, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described scenes of growing fear among families forced to sleep in damaged buildings and makeshift shelters where rats move freely at night.
Surge of Rodent Bite Cases
The doctor recalled one of the first serious rodent bite cases he encountered around six weeks ago. �A colleague of mine called me at midnight to ask what we needed to do for his brother, who had been bitten by a rat while asleep,� he said.
The 35-year-old man was living in a partially destroyed building surrounded by rubble and waste. The bite, on his left index finger, required emergency treatment including cleaning of the wound, antibiotics and tetanus immunisation.
The doctor explained that such cases are no longer isolated. �About 10 cases of bitten patients visit the emergency department every night,� he said, citing information from colleagues working in hospitals that remain operational.
He described how rodents emerge after dark, moving through the streets and displacement camps. �I regularly see and hear rats, among garbage and sewage, all around my house at night,� he said.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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Nigeria: Wukari Diocese facing violence, devastation and humanitarian crisis calls for action
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari has expressed alarm amid a severe humanitarian crisis in southern Taraba State, Nigeria. Recent violence has claimed more than 100 lives, displaced over 98,000 residents, and destroyed 217 churches within the relatively new diocese. Church leaders report that the attacks, predominantly targeting Christian farming communities, persist despite repeated appeals for urgent government action. As insecurity worsens, the Diocese warns that entire communities are being era Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS � Vatican City
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari is grappling with one of the worst waves of violence in its recent history. In a statement issued after the diocese�s third General Assembly, Bishop Mark Maigida Nzukwein revealed the devastating toll that the attack had taken on both the Church and local communities.
Heavy spiritual and human losses
�Since September, over 98,000 people, including 16 priests, have been displaced due to the ongoing violence in the southern part of Taraba State,� stated Bishop Nzukwein.
He added that 217 Churches have been completely destroyed, while the parish houses of eight priests were ransacked during the attacks. The violence has also claimed the lives of more than 100 people.
Among the churches recently attacked is Saint James the Great Catholic Church, which was attacked in March. Before that, on 4 March , a fire severely damaged the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, further deepening the pain and uncertainty facing the Catholic faithful in the region.
The violence has hit hardest in the Chanchanji District of Takum Local Government Area, as well as in Ussa and Donga communities, where many residents have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
Christian farming communities under siege
Local Church leaders and residents believe the attacks are largely being carried out by armed Fulani herding gangs targeting predominantly Christian villages, many of them inhabited by members of the Tiv ethnic group.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/...
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Religious sisters living mission and faith in highlands of Argentina
In northern Argentina, the Diocesan Missionaries Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church are making the dream of a synodal and missionary Church a reality as they live among the region�s indigenous people, sharing in their culture, offering pastoral care, and coexisting with the challenges of their territory. By Sr. Leontina Elisa Melano, MD
Existential peripheries and geographical peripheries are different: migrants, elderly people, villages built on top of landfills or in the desert areas of the highlands.
For thousands of years, the Colla people have been living in the highlands of Argentina�s Jujuy Province, (puna in Quechua), some 3,500 to 5,800 metres above sea level.
The region is marked by a harsh landscape: large plains surrounded by hills with scarce vegetation, where winter temperatures range between -28�C and +20�C, and where there are strong winds, snow in the summer, and long distances between villages.
Life unfolds in harmony with the geography. The locals recognize, appreciate, and pass this message on.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Tanzania: Zanzibar Cup promoting peace and tourism through kitesurfing
Ahead of the 6th edition of the Zanzibar Cup, Italian pediatrician Stefano Conte speaks to Vatican News about the event he founded in Tanzania to promote youth sports, tourism, peace, and international fraternity in East Africa. By Angella Rwezaula and Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
Dr. Stefano Conte, an Italian pediatrician, shares the journey and growing success of the Zanzibar Cup, an international kitesurfing competition held annually in Zanzibar.
The doctor-turned-promoter of peace and fraternity through sports spoke to Vatican News about how the event helps promote tourism, youth sports, and international unity across East Africa. Preparations are now underway for the Sixth Edition of the competition, scheduled for August 23, 2026.
Dr. Conte explained that for many years he specialized in pediatric heart surgery and also dedicated part of his medical career to helping hundreds of Zanzibar people receive free medical treatment.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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(A Leisure Read)
'Algorithmization' of Life and Preserving Human Dignity
Bruno Giussani, author of a book on artificial intelligence�s impact on our lives, reflects on Pope Leo XIV�s Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, �Preserving Human Voices and Faces.� By Bruno Giussani*
How many algorithms are part of our daily lives? How many sensors? How many screens?
Interacting with screens and digital interfaces of all kinds has become the main activity for almost all of us.
But how many of these interactions are truly the result of a choice? More than a habit, it is becoming a condition. Our society is increasingly structured around algorithms and digital networks that shape its forms and dynamics.
This has not happened � and is not happening � through public debate, political decision-making, or a democratic process, but rather as the indirect (though by no means accidental) consequence of commercial mechanisms and the often uncritical and impatient adoption of technologies that, in effect, redefine the social, economic, and cultural sphere.
This �algorithmization� of life raises essential questions. Who controls these systems? What values and logics do they convey, and which do they exclude? What are the consequences for our autonomy as human beings? And are we still capable of asking ourselves these questions, or are we becoming accustomed to living in a world where the answers are already written into the computer code that surrounds us?
When, in his illuminating Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, celebrated on May 17, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV writes that our challenge �is not technological, but anthropological,� he captures in one sentence that seems simple the full depth, unease, and responsibility that each of us should feel in the face of advancing digital technologies, and especially artificial intelligence (AI).
Many still think of these technologies as mere tools useful for simplifying and accelerating existing processes. In reality, over the last two decades � first gradually and then increasingly faster � these technologies, from social media to commercial systems, have become platforms. They are invisible architectures within which we operate and �live,� and upon which our ability to participate in social and professional life increasingly depends.
The arrival, three and a half years ago, of generative AI � the chatbots with which we interact by writing or speaking � has further accelerated this replacement of human logic with techno-logic.
AI �agents� are now beginning to spread: systems with increasing degrees of autonomy, capable of handling a variety of complex tasks on behalf of users without detailed instructions. Meanwhile, neurotechnologies are already appearing on the horizon � a family of devices that interact directly with the human brain and the nervous system.
This foreshadows a not-too-distant future in which humans and artificial entities will coexist, interact, and co-evolve. These developments progressively redefine what is considered �normal� and acceptable, actively shaping the moral and ethical landscape of our societies.
Algorithms, in fact, are not neutral. They are designed to optimize certain objectives, often economic ones (profit, engagement, efficiency, competition), and sometimes political or cultural ones.
In doing so, they reset what is considered right, desirable, or necessary, altering � in the words of Pope Leo XIV � �some of the fundamental pillars of human civilization.�
The line between what is acceptable and what is not shifts not through conscious choice, but through adaptation, through passive acceptance of what technology makes convenient, visible, and valued. Society is thus being algorithmically reprogrammed.
The central question therefore becomes: who decides the rules of this new society? If socio-economic and even ethical dynamics are increasingly conditioned by automated systems controlled by a handful of large companies or governments, what space remains for individual and collective choice?
How can fairness, justice, and dignity be guaranteed if decisions are made by machines whose functioning escapes the understanding of the majority? Algorithmic reprogramming is not an inevitable destiny. It is, however, a process that urgently needs to be understood, critically discussed, and, where necessary, resisted.
�Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, that originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others,� writes Pope Leo XIV.
It is within this communicative space that our humanity is revealed and recognized. But it is precisely in this space that these machines � developed to imitate thought and speech � insert themselves without asking permission. They present themselves as �friends,� imposing themselves as mediators between us and others, and between us and the reality of the world.
In a world that places high value on productivity, speed, and profit, what generative artificial intelligence offers is deeply alluring: the possibility of freeing ourselves, by delegating to the machine, from the effort of thinking, learning, evaluating, writing, and deciding for ourselves.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Pope Leo: Care for Peace Is Care For Life
Pope Leo XIV prays that peace may prevail in all hearts, as the Church celebrates Laudato Si� Week. By Devin Watkins
As he prayed the Regina Caeli on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV recalled that Laudato Si� Week runs from May 17 to 24.
The annual event celebrates the anniversary of Pope Francis� encyclical on care for our common home, inviting all people to move from hope to action.
The Pope encouraged the members of the Laudato Si� Movement and all those who work for an integral ecology to renew their commitment.
He made reference to St. Francis of Assisi�s love for creatures and his message of peace, as the Church marks 800 years since the saint�s death.
�In this Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi, let us remember his message of peace with God, with our brothers and sisters, and with all creatures,� he said.
The Pope lamented that wars have caused progress in the field of care for creation to slow greatly in recent years.
Finally, Pope Leo XIV pointed to the inherent link between care for peace and care for life.
�I encourage the members of the Laudato Si� Movement and all those who work for an integral ecology to renew their commitment,� he said. �Care for peace is care for life.�
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Pope: Communication Must Respect Truth of Human Person
As the Church celebrates the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholics to help direct technological innovation toward the truth of the human person. By Devin Watkins
The Catholic Church marked the 60th World Day of Social Communications on Sunday, May 17.
Speaking at the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Leo XIV recalled the World Day and encouraged everyone to promote forms of communication that always respect the truth of the human person.
He pointed to the vast advances in technology in recent years regarding communication, and called for technological innovation to be directed toward the good of humanity.
�I encourage everyone to commit themselves to promoting forms of communication that are always respectful of the truth of the human person, toward which every technological innovation should be directed,� he said.
Pope�s Message for 60th World Communications Day
Pope Leo XIV released his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications on January 24, focused on the theme: �Preserving Human Voices and Faces.�
In his message, the Pope said faces and voices are sacred, since God created human beings in His image and likeness.
�Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, which originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others,� he said.
However, he said, new digital technologies threaten our uniqueness by simulating voices, faces, and emotions.
�By simulating human voices and faces, wisdom and knowledge, consciousness and responsibility, empathy and friendship,� he said, �the systems known as artificial intelligence not only interfere with information ecosystems, but also encroach upon the deepest level of communication, that of human relationships.�
The real threat to humanity is our willingness to offload our ability to listen and think critically to AI and social-media algorithms, said the Pope in his message.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo: Technology Must Serve the Human Person, Not Replace It
In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of ensuring that technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, serves the human person rather than replacing or diminishing human dignity. Vatican News
Face and voice are unique traits of every person and form the foundation of human identity and relationships. Reflecting on this truth, Pope Leo XIV introduces his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, which will be celebrated on 17 May 2026, with a focus on digital communication and artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to protect human dignity in an age increasingly shaped by technological innovation.
Human beings, the Pope recalls, are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. Preserving human faces and voices, therefore, means preserving the divine imprint present in each person and upholding the irreplaceable vocation of every human life.
"Preserving human faces and voices, therefore, means preserving this mark, this indelible reflection of God�s love. We are not a species composed of predefined biochemical formulas. Each of us possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, that originates from our own lived experience and becomes manifest through interaction with others," he writes.
The Anthropological Challenge of Technology
The Pope warns that digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence systems capable of simulating voices, faces, and emotions, risk altering essential dimensions of human communication.
The challenge, he stresses, is not primarily technological but anthropological; it is a matter of protecting human identity and authentic relationships.
He draws attention to the impact of social media algorithms that prioritise rapid emotional reactions over reflection, weakening critical thinking and fostering social polarisation.
"By grouping people into bubbles of easy consensus and easy outrage, these algorithms reduce our ability to listen and think critically, and increase social polarisation," the Pope explains.
The growing reliance on artificial intelligence for information, creativity, and decision-making, he adds, also risks diminishing analytical skills, imagination, and personal responsibility.
Reality, Simulation, and Social Impact
Pope Leo highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between reality and simulation in digital environments, where automated agents and chatbots can influence public debate and individual choices, shaping emotional responses and personal interactions.
Such dynamics, he notes, may affect not only individuals but also social and cultural life.
Responsibility, cooperation, and education
To address these challenges, the Pope identifies responsibility, cooperation, and education as essential pillars. Technology developers, political authorities, media professionals, and educators are called to promote transparency, safeguard human dignity, and ensure the integrity of information.
"The task laid before us is not to stop digital innovation, but rather to guide it and to be aware of its ambivalent nature. It is up to each of us to raise our voice in defence of human persons, so that we can truly assimilate these tools as allies," Pope Leo says.
Collaboration among institutions and sectors, he writes, is required to guide digital innovation toward the common good.
"No sector can tackle the challenge of steering digital innovation and AI governance alone. Safeguards must therefore be put in place. All stakeholders � from the tech industry to legislators, from creative companies to academia, from artists to journalists and educators � must be involved in building and implementing informed and responsible digital citizenship," the Pope insists.
Media Literacy and Digital Awareness
Finally, Pope Leo underlines the importance of education in media, information, and artificial intelligence literacy, fostering critical awareness, protecting personal identity, and supporting a responsible culture of communication.
"Just as the industrial revolution called for basic literacy to enable people to respond to new developments, so too does the digital revolution require digital literacy (along with humanistic and cultural education) to understand how algorithms shape our perception of reality, how AI biases work, what mechanisms determine the presence of certain content in our feeds, what the economic principles and models of the AI economy are and how they might change," he writes.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Barbed Wire 'Cross of Peace' to be featured at WYD 2027
The Archdiocese of Seoul, host of World Youth Day 2027, says a unique 'Cross of Peace' is being created that will consist of barbed wire from the DMZ and featured as a powerful symbol of reconciliation between North and South Korea. Vatican News
With preparations underway for the next global gathering of young people for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, the Archdiocese has announced that a striking symbol will accompany the events to take place in the city there. A 'Cross of Peace' is being created from discarded barbed wire coming from the DMZ Demilitarized Zone, the buffer zone along the border dividing North and South Korea.
Symbol of Peace
Fides News Agency reported that the barbed wire Cross, acknowledging the divided reality there, aims to transform the pain of division into a symbol of peace. The Cross will be approximately five meters in height and be presented to young people who will gather in Seoul for World Youth Day. The Pope is scheduled to bless the Cross during WYD. Fides News said the Archdiocese hopes that this initiative will "invite young people to transform symbols of division into signs of reconciliation, prayer, and hope, also in their personal lives.�
Sign of Hope
In April the World Youth Day Organizing Committee, chaired by Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul, held a ceremony to bless the young Korean WYD volunteers. With them were members of the Walking Together Foundation that started the barbed wire Cross project that involves the handmade transformation of barbed wire and its composition into a large cross. The work is taking place in the courtyard of Myeongdong Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and is and expected to conclude in April 2027.
In his address to those present at the ceremony, Fides News reported that Archbishop Chung spoke about the barbed wire along the dividing line between North and South Korea, noting how it symbolizes the painful division and the fratricidal war on the Korean Peninsula. He said, �just as the cross, once an instrument of death, became a symbol of peace and reconciliation, sacrifice and love, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us pray that this cross may take root in our hearts as a symbol of reconciliation, peace, and love on the Korean Peninsula. Like resurrection after death, harmony and peace can also arise from conflict and war.�
Instruments of Peace
Archbishop Chung blessed the materials being used to make the cross and prayed that all taking part in its creation become �instruments of peace.� Volunteers working on the barbed wire Cross project use hammers and anvils to shape the wire fragments, each around 50 centimeters in length, that are added to the cross structure. The spiritual dimension to the project involves helping the volunteers to reflect together on wounds in society needing healing and to work together and pray for peace. Volunteers come from various parishes, church groups, as well as those interested in contributing to the project. Fides News reports that "the project aims to spread a message of social integration and reconciliation that extends beyond the boundaries of the church community."
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Pope Approves Creation of Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence
In a rescript signed by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Leo XIV approves the creation of an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pope Leo XIV approved the creation of an Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence in a rescript dated May 12, released on May 16, and signed by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Considering �the development in recent decades of the phenomenon of Artificial Intelligence and the most recent accelerations in its widespread use; its potential effects on human beings and on humanity as a whole; the Church�s concern for the dignity of every human person, especially in relation to their integral development; Pope Leo XIV approved the establishment of a Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence,� the text reads.
The Pope approved the creation of the body following an audience with Cardinal Czerny on May 3. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will coordinate the work of the Commission for the first year.
Several Vatican Dicasteries Working Together
The text explains that the Commission is made up of representatives from 7 Vatican bodies: the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
One of these institutions will be in charge of coordinating the Commission for one-year terms, which can be renewed, and the Pope then decides the next body that will lead the works.
The text explains that �it is the responsibility of the coordinating institution to facilitate collaboration and the exchange of information among group members regarding activities and projects related to Artificial Intelligence, including policies on its use within the Holy See, while promoting dialogue, communion, and participation.�
Cardinal Czerny established the body according to Article 28 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, under which the head of a Dicastery may create a special interdicasterial commission to address matters that touch the responsibilites of several Dicasteries and that require �mutual and frequent consultation.�
A theme dear to Pope Leo XIV
This is not the first time Dicasteries have come together to address this issue. In January 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education published the note Antiqua et Nova on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.
Additionally, the theme has been present throughout Pope Leo XIV�s pontificate, as he has often spoken about artificial intelligence and other technological advancements and the challenges they can pose to our society.
As early as May 10, 2025, only days after his election, in a meeting with the cardinals, the Pope explained that his choice of papal name was inspired by Pope Leo XIII who addressed the issues brought about by the industrial revolution in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope Leo XIV to visit France in September This Year
Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to France on 25-28 September this year, marking the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years. Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make an Apostolic Journey to France from 25 to 28 September 2026, according to an announcement from the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
This visit will be the first time a Pope has traveled to France on an official papal state visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, when he journeyed to Paris and Lourdes.
The journey comes as a response to the invitations made by the Head of State, the ecclesiastical authorities of the country, and the Director-General of UNESCO, the Press Office statement noted.
During the Apostolic Journey, the Pope will visit the headquarters of UNESCO.
Vatican-France connections
Pope Leo and French President Emmanuel Macron met on April 10 for the first time since the pontiff's election to the See of Peter.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope: Holy Spirit received at Confirmation gives us strength to follow Jesus
Pope Leo XIV encourages young people of the Italian Archdiocese of Genoa to keep their enthusiasm and commitment to Christ after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. By Devin Watkins
As around 1,000 young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Genoa in northern Italy made a pilgrimage to Rome, Pope Leo XIV met with them on Saturday to encourage their desire to follow Christ.
The young people have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, which completes the sacraments of initiation and seals the baptized person with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In his off-the-cuff remarks, Pope Leo said one of the greatest joys of every Bishop is the opportunity to celebrate Confirmations, since it is �truly the gift of the Holy Spirit.�
�It is very beautiful to receive this Sacrament,� he said, �because the fullness of the Holy Spirit gives us enthusiasm, strength, and the ability to follow Jesus Christ, to say �Yes� to the Lord always, and not to be afraid to follow courageously, to live the faith in a world that so often wants to lead us far from Jesus.�
He noted that next Sunday, May 24, marks Pentecost Sunday, when the Church recalls the experience of the first disciples, who received the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the love of God.
Each of the Confirmands, said the Pope, is called to be a participant in the Church�s mission and is sent to their friends and families to bear witness to the �Spirit who lives in us.�
Just as Confirmation marks a great joy for Bishops, it often brings them sadness, he said, since many young people never set foot in the church again, disappearing from their parishes.
Pope Leo therefore appealed to young Catholics to pay special attention to the Holy
Spirit�s gift of perseverance, so that they live their faith together.
�Do not forget what you have lived in this time,� he said. �May your joy in coming to Rome to celebrate together and pray together live in your hearts, and may you continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and persevere in the faith.�
As they return to their parishes, the Pope invited them to participate in the many activities and opportunities offered so that they can live in community.
�We do not live the faith alone; we live it together,� he said. �And forming these relationships of friendship and community is a way to live perseverance as disciples of Jesus.�
Finally, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the young Confirmands from Genoa to enjoy this moment of grace as they receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and maintain it throughout their lives.
�It is very important,� he said, �that each one of you also make this commitment, this promise to the Lord: that you truly want to continue as His friends, His disciples, His missionaries, and that you want to persevere in the faith.�
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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�Preserving Human Voices and Faces�: International Conference on AI at Urbaniana University
The event, organised by the Dicastery for Communication in collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the John XXIII Foundation, is set to take place on 21 May. by Vatican News
To mark the World Day of Social Communications, the Dicastery for Communication has organised an international conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University on Thursday, 21 May.
The theme �Preserving human voices and faces� echoes the message of Pope Leo XIV for the World Day and highlights the spirit in which the organisers have invited figures from academia, institutional representatives, high-tech experts, and journalists to engage in dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the lives of individuals, communities, and nations.
A moment of reflection and dialogue
The event, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the John XXIII Foundation, will take place throughout the day on 21 May in the main hall of the Pontifical University.
It aims to be a moment of reflection and dialogue in response to the Pope�s exhortation to �cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, to which all technological innovation should also be oriented.�
The conference will be opened by Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and Cardinal Jos� Tolentino de Mendon�a, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
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Pakistani bishops voice hope and concerns during ad limina visit
During their ad limina visit to the Vatican, Pakistan�s bishops shared the hopes and hardships of the Church in their country. Bishop Samson Shukardin speaks of challenges including discrimination, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions, while expressing hope for equal rights and a stronger future for Christians in Pakistan. by Vatican News
The bishops of Pakistan have expressed hope for the future of the Church in their country while highlighting the serious challenges facing Christians, including discrimination, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions.
Speaking during the Pakistani bishops� ad limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican, Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops� Conference and Bishop of Hyderabad, said the visit had been a source of encouragement and renewal for the bishops.
An ad limina Apostolorum visit is a periodic pilgrimage that Catholic bishops make to the Holy See, typically every five years, to report on the state of their dioceses, meet with the Pope and officials of the Roman Curia, and pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome.
New hope and insight for future
�This ad limina is very important for us because spiritually and physically, this has given us a new insight and new hope in the coming future,� Bishop Shukardin said. He explained that the delegation had presented reports to various Vatican dicasteries and had received positive responses from Church officials.
�We have shared our reports in different dicasteries, and we received very positive responses from the different dicasteries, which is very important for us,� he said.
Main Challenges
Reflecting on the life of the Church in Pakistan, Bishop Shukardin pointed to evangelisation as one of the central challenges facing the local Catholic community. He described Pakistan�s Catholic faithful as deeply committed despite economic hardship and limited educational opportunities.
�Our people are still illiterate but strong in faith,� the bishop said. �They are poor but very hard-working people, always working hard.�
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city...
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Nuncio to Ukraine: Heavy attacks suggest no intention to end war
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, describes the particularly intense Russian bombings of Ukraine on May 13�14, condemning attacks on humanitarian workers, which he said were "deliberately targeted so that the population does not receive aid." By Svitlana Dukhovych
�The last few hours have again been very heavy for the entire country. Between May 13 and May 14, there were numerous bombings,� the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, told Vatican News by phone on Thursday evening.
In the interview, the Nuncio reflected on what has been defined as the heaviest attack launched by Russia since the start of the war, with a tragic toll of at least 24 dead and 48 injured just in the capital, including children.
Archbishop Kulbokas explained that "Ukrainian authorities counted over 1,500 long-range drones that reached western cities such as Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhhorod, and others, then during the night it was Kyiv�s turn, with drones and about sixty missiles, mostly ballistic.�
Attacks on humanitarian vehicles are worrying
The Nuncio also expressed great concern that even a United Nations vehicle, belonging to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, was attacked in Kherson while distributing humanitarian aid, which he said, was a clearly marked vehicles that move only after informing both Ukrainian and Russian authorities in advance.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city...
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Gaza faces surge in rodent-borne disease
As Gaza struggles with destruction, displacement and collapsing sanitation systems after the peace agreement, doctors are warning of a growing public health emergency linked to a massive rodent infestation. By Linda Bordoni
In the Gaza Strip, where families continue to endure the consequences of war that killed more than 75,000 people, displaced over 90 percent of the population and caused massive destruction, even after the signing of a fragile peace agreement in October 2025, doctors are now confronting another growing emergency: a widespread rodent infestation that is triggering infections and deepening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections and rodent-borne illnesses have been recorded in Gaza since the beginning of 2026. Health workers say the collapse of sanitation systems, mountains of rubble, overflowing sewage and overcrowded displacement camps have created fertile conditions for disease to spread.
Yet despite repeated warnings from humanitarian organisations, the crisis has received little international attention as Gaza�s exhausted population struggles to survive in increasingly dangerous conditions.
Speaking to Caritas Jerusalem, a doctor working in Gaza, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described scenes of growing fear among families forced to sleep in damaged buildings and makeshift shelters where rats move freely at night.
Surge of Rodent Bite Cases
The doctor recalled one of the first serious rodent bite cases he encountered around six weeks ago. �A colleague of mine called me at midnight to ask what we needed to do for his brother, who had been bitten by a rat while asleep,� he said.
The 35-year-old man was living in a partially destroyed building surrounded by rubble and waste. The bite, on his left index finger, required emergency treatment including cleaning of the wound, antibiotics and tetanus immunisation.
The doctor explained that such cases are no longer isolated. �About 10 cases of bitten patients visit the emergency department every night,� he said, citing information from colleagues working in hospitals that remain operational.
He described how rodents emerge after dark, moving through the streets and displacement camps. �I regularly see and hear rats, among garbage and sewage, all around my house at night,� he said.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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Nigeria: Wukari Diocese facing violence, devastation and humanitarian crisis calls for action
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari has expressed alarm amid a severe humanitarian crisis in southern Taraba State, Nigeria. Recent violence has claimed more than 100 lives, displaced over 98,000 residents, and destroyed 217 churches within the relatively new diocese. Church leaders report that the attacks, predominantly targeting Christian farming communities, persist despite repeated appeals for urgent government action. As insecurity worsens, the Diocese warns that entire communities are being era Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS � Vatican City
The Catholic Diocese of Wukari is grappling with one of the worst waves of violence in its recent history. In a statement issued after the diocese�s third General Assembly, Bishop Mark Maigida Nzukwein revealed the devastating toll that the attack had taken on both the Church and local communities.
Heavy spiritual and human losses
�Since September, over 98,000 people, including 16 priests, have been displaced due to the ongoing violence in the southern part of Taraba State,� stated Bishop Nzukwein.
He added that 217 Churches have been completely destroyed, while the parish houses of eight priests were ransacked during the attacks. The violence has also claimed the lives of more than 100 people.
Among the churches recently attacked is Saint James the Great Catholic Church, which was attacked in March. Before that, on 4 March , a fire severely damaged the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, further deepening the pain and uncertainty facing the Catholic faithful in the region.
The violence has hit hardest in the Chanchanji District of Takum Local Government Area, as well as in Ussa and Donga communities, where many residents have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
Christian farming communities under siege
Local Church leaders and residents believe the attacks are largely being carried out by armed Fulani herding gangs targeting predominantly Christian villages, many of them inhabited by members of the Tiv ethnic group.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/...
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Religious sisters living mission and faith in highlands of Argentina
In northern Argentina, the Diocesan Missionaries Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church are making the dream of a synodal and missionary Church a reality as they live among the region�s indigenous people, sharing in their culture, offering pastoral care, and coexisting with the challenges of their territory. By Sr. Leontina Elisa Melano, MD
Existential peripheries and geographical peripheries are different: migrants, elderly people, villages built on top of landfills or in the desert areas of the highlands.
For thousands of years, the Colla people have been living in the highlands of Argentina�s Jujuy Province, (puna in Quechua), some 3,500 to 5,800 metres above sea level.
The region is marked by a harsh landscape: large plains surrounded by hills with scarce vegetation, where winter temperatures range between -28�C and +20�C, and where there are strong winds, snow in the summer, and long distances between villages.
Life unfolds in harmony with the geography. The locals recognize, appreciate, and pass this message on.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Tanzania: Zanzibar Cup promoting peace and tourism through kitesurfing
Ahead of the 6th edition of the Zanzibar Cup, Italian pediatrician Stefano Conte speaks to Vatican News about the event he founded in Tanzania to promote youth sports, tourism, peace, and international fraternity in East Africa. By Angella Rwezaula and Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
Dr. Stefano Conte, an Italian pediatrician, shares the journey and growing success of the Zanzibar Cup, an international kitesurfing competition held annually in Zanzibar.
The doctor-turned-promoter of peace and fraternity through sports spoke to Vatican News about how the event helps promote tourism, youth sports, and international unity across East Africa. Preparations are now underway for the Sixth Edition of the competition, scheduled for August 23, 2026.
Dr. Conte explained that for many years he specialized in pediatric heart surgery and also dedicated part of his medical career to helping hundreds of Zanzibar people receive free medical treatment.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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