Europe Vatican City New data from the Annuario Pontificio 2026 and Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2024 highlight trends in baptized populations across the five continents, with a remarkable increase in the number of Catholics in Africa
Europe Vatican City Four new bishops have been ordered, in defiance of an appeal by Pope Leo XIV who described it as a "schismatic act"; They are members of controversial Society of Saint Pius X, or Lefebrvistes, that rejects modernization introduced by the Vatican in '60-70
Europe Vatican City Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical letter was issued on 25 May; titled Magnifica humanitas in Latin, it is translated as Magnificent Humanity or On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Europe Vatican City The Institute for the Works of Religions releases its 2025 Annual Report posting a 51 million euro net income and a dividend to the Pope of 24,3 million euro, a 10-year-record net income
Europe Vatican City The Pontifical Academy for Life launched “Scientists for peace”, an international appeal to all scientists, researchers, and academics to focus on peace and enact activities across the world, as current violence also limits scientific research