Aboard the flight from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV recalls his Predecessor His Holiness Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, saying the late Pope “gave so much through his life and his closeness to the poor.”

“On this first anniversary of his death, I would like to remember Pope Francis, who left so much, who gave so much to the Church through his life, his witness, his words, and his gestures. He did so by truly living closeness to the poorest, to the least, to the sick, to children, and to the elderly.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV offered those words about his predecessor to journalists as he flew from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, which marks the final leg of his Apostolic Journey to Africa.

The graces and blessings of God are indeed far greater than our expectations. Therefore, the one thing we can do is to raise to Him a profound and sincere thanksgiving for His fatherly faithfulness, revealed in the new paths through which He leads us.

Today, I offer my deep gratitude to God our Father, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, for this new mission entrusted to me. I humbly seek the strength of the Holy Spirit to guide me, and to guide the whole Church, so that together we may walk in Christ to bear faithful witness, and to serve with dedication and hope.

Moreover, I would like to acknowledge with deep gratitude, the distinguished presence of:

– His Eminences. Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Bishop of St. Peter and Paul Diocese of Melbourne

– Most Reverend. Archbishop Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney

– Most Rev. Robert Rabbat, Bishop of the Melkite Church of Australia and New Zealand and Oceania and president of the AMEC…

His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, begins his Pastoral visit to the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Al-Hosn, Jordan, from Thursday, April 23, 2026, until Sunday, April 26, 2026. This visit is a spiritual stop marked by closeness, Pastoral care, and Ecclesial communion.

His Beatitude will be welcomed by the Parish priest, Fr. Wajdi Sahawneh, and vicar priest, Fr. Paolo Felicetti. The visit will begin with Vesper Prayer and conclude with the celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday.

Throughout the visit, His Beatitude will meet with Parish members and its various groups, clergy from other churches, local authorities, and representatives of educational institutions, including schools and universities. He will also preside over the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation for a number of Parish members.

On Tuesday, April 21, the first anniversary of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, Vatican News will broadcast a live Rosary and Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major and release a documentary to recall the late Argentine Pope.

It has been a year since the death of Pope Francis, which occurred at Casa Santa Marta at 7:35 a.m. on April 21, 2025.

Five days later, his funeral took place, and his mortal remains, according to his wishes, have since rested in the Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major, which is preparing to solemnly mark the anniversary.

First Anniversary of the Death of His Holiness Pope Francis

As the Church recalls His Holiness Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, Vatican News releases a new documentary that looks back over the life and legacy of the Argentine Pope.

“Having received mercy, let’s now become merciful.” Seven words that encapsulate the heart of a Pope and the story of a pontificate. Alongside them, his wish was “How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor!”.

One year after the death of Pope Francis, Vatican News, Vatican Radio, and L’Osservatore Romano highlight some of the most significant moments of his pontificate in a 27-minute documentary entitled “Todos, todos, todos."

On April 20, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited his brother in Christ His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Supreme Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, at his residence in Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received at the Papal Residence in Cairo, on Saturday 18 April 2026, the Priests and Servants of the Jerusalem Association in Cairo, who presented to His Holiness the Holy Light. This light is taken from the Flame that emerges from the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ on Holy Saturday, and was sent by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonius, Metropolitan of Jerusalem, the Holy See of Jerusalem, and the Near East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Eastern Orthodox Family.

In the village of El-Qubeibeh—traditionally identified with Emmaus—His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the Eucharistic celebration on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the local Sanctuary. Situated along the ancient road leading to Jerusalem, the Liturgy commemorated the Encounter of the Risen Christ with the two Disciples, Simeon and Cleophas.

The Patriarch opened the celebration by greeting the Parish Priest, Fr. Sebastian Eclimes, O.F.M., along with the priests and faithful pilgrims from neighboring villages in the Ramallah governorate. The gathering reflected the lived reality of the local Church, which continues to wrestle with a deferred hope for peace—much like the disciples themselves. Yet, drawing from the Gospel, the Patriarch invited the faithful to interpret the events of their lives through the light of Scripture and the Eucharist, receiving new sight in the Risen Lord.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Lord give you peace!

As our Diocese fully enters the Easter Season, we have the grace of celebrating together a Week of Prayer for Vocations (20-26 April).

In his recent letter on vocations, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV underlined that Vocation is as "a Gift Discovered Within". As such it is a gift and a calling that finds place in the human heart. It is first from the heart of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11), that we learn the meaning of vocation. Jesus listened with all his heart to the call of the Father and he answered that call in freedom for the salvation of the world. The great spiritual tradition of the Church teaches us to discover the presence of God's kindly light in our own hearts as well.

A calling is born from a specific context and not from a mythological environment. Thus vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life are born from the context of a Christian community, in which people and families generate environments of faith and prayer. Our communities are not perfect or ideal, and neither are our vocations. We can learn to discover these realities and welcome them as they are, for it is in those contex that we may come to listen to the voice of God in our own lives…

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV concludes the first leg of his Apostolic Journey, travelling south from Algeria to Cameroon, where he addresses the country’s authorities, members of civil society and the diplomatic corps, and visits an orphanage.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV concluded the first leg of his four-country Apostolic Journey with a farewell ceremony at the airport in Algiers, on Wednesday morning, 15 April. Aboard the papal plane on the way to Cameroon, he described his stay in Saint Augustine’s homeland as a “special blessing”, and he expressed gratitude for the “wonderful opportunity to continue to build bridges and promote dialogue”.

After a brief visit to a Church-run orphanage in Algiers, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV boards the Papal plane at the conclusion of his Apostolic Journey to Algeria and flies to Cameroon for the second leg of his visit to four African nations.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV took off from Algiers’ “Houari Boumédiène” International Airport on Wednesday morning at about 10:15 AM local time, wrapping up the first leg of his four-nation Apostolic Journey abroad.

The Papal plane is scheduled to land at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport in Cameroon at about 3:20 PM for the second leg of the 11-day Journey.

Prior to arriving at the airport, he bid farewell to the Apostolic Nunciature to Algeria, and paid a brief visit to the Our Lady of Africa Nursery, run by the Missionary Sisters of Charity.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits the city of Annaba on his second day in Algeria, visiting the places where Saint Augustine carried out his ministry as Bishop of Hippo.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his second day in Algeria, the first leg of his four-country Apostolic Journey in Africa.

He took a one-hour flight from Algiers to Annaba on Tuesday morning, 14 April, to visit the archaeological site of Hippo, where Saint Augustine was bishop for more than 30 years, until his death in 430. The Holy Father planted an olive tree in a spot next to the ruins, as a symbol of peace.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian Pope, celebrates Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba, Algeria, and reminds the faithful that, like the great Saint and Doctor of the Church, it is never too late to welcome the Lord's invitation to lift us up from our hardships and trials, and, with His strength, renew and transform our lives.

“Dearest Christians of Algeria, you remain a humble and faithful sign of Christ’s love in this land. Bear witness to the Gospel through simple gestures, genuine relationships and a dialogue lived out day by day: in this way, you bring flavor and light to the places where you live.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV offered this reminder during the Mass he celebrated at the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Annaba, during his stay in Algeria, the first stop of his four-nation Apostolic Journey across Africa.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly in Annaba, Algeria, and recalls that God’s heart remains with those who are humble and seek peace in their daily lives.

On the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Algeria, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV flew to Annaba—the site of the ancient city of Hippo, where St. Augustine served as Bishop.

After visiting the archeaological site, the Pope spent a few minutes with several elderly people residing at the Ma Maison Care Home for the Elderly, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

In his brief address, he told residents that “God dwells here,” noting that “wherever there is love and service, God is there.”

Returning to the lands walked by his spiritual father, St. Augustine, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits the archaeological site of Hippo in Annaba on his second day in Algeria.

Retracing the footsteps of St. Augustine, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visited the archaeological site of Hippo in the modern-day city of Annaba on Tuesday, April 14, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Algeria.

Ancient Hippo, or Hippo Regius, today Annaba, was an important coastal city and economic center of the Roman Empire. St. Augustine served as its Bishop from 396 until his death in 430 at the age of 75, as the city was under siege by the Vandals.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV kicks off his Apostolic Journey in Africa with an intense day in Algiers, where he meets with government authorities, visits a mosque, meets with a community of Augustinian missionary sisters, and prays with the Algerian community.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has completed the first day of his Apostolic Journey in Africa, during which he will visit Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, from 13 to 23 April.

He arrived in Algeria on Monday morning, happy to revisit the land of Saint Augustine, who, the Pope said during the flight from Rome, “offers a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue”.

In a private visit to a Community run by Missionary Augustinian Sisters in Algiers, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV highlights the enduring witness of martyrdom and encourages a renewed commitment to peace, dignity, and respect for differences.

Following his visit to the Mosque of Algiers on Monday afternoon, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV paid a private visit to the Centre for Welcome and Friendship of the Missionary Augustinian Sisters to render homage to the memory of religious sisters who were killed during the Algerian civil war and to thank the Sisters for their charitable work.

The Pope was welcomed by the community that is located in the district of Bab El Oued, some 16 kilometres from the city of Algiers.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV encourages the Christian Community in Algeria to remain rooted in “Prayer, charity and unity,” praising their quiet witness and urging them to be a sign of peace and fraternity.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV met with members of the community in Algeria on Monday at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, the last event of his first day in the country.  

Greeting those gathered, the Pope expressed "profound joy and fatherly affection" at being with a community whose presence he described as "discreet and precious," marked by "an ancient heritage and by luminous witnesses of the faith."

He recalled in particular the nineteen religious men and women killed in Algeria in the 1990s, noting that they chose "to stand alongside this people in its joys and sorrows."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque of Algiers, highlighting its role as a sacred space for prayer, dialogue, and the search for God.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV marked the beginning of his apostolic journey to Africa with a visit to the Grand Mosque of Algiers, where he highlighted the site’s spiritual significance and paused in silent meditation.

Welcomed by the Rector of the Mosque, Mohamed Mamoun al Qasim who offered words of fraternity, the Pope said “I thank you for these reflections and for these important words during this visit, from a place that represents the space that belongs to God, a divine and sacred space, where many people come to pray and to seek the presence of the Most High in their lives.”

Meeting with the civil authorities of Algeria, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV calls for societies to foster oases of peace in which human life and dignity are recognized as inviolable and never exploited.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV met with authorities, civil society, and diplomatic corps in Algiers on the first day of his three-day Apostolic Journey to Algeria.

After meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the presidential palace, the Pope addressed around 1,400 civil authorities at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center.

He thanked the President for the invitation to visit Algeria in the first year of his Petrine Ministry, recalling that he has visited Annaba—ancient Hippo—in 2004 and 2013, “as a spiritual son of St. Augustine.”