Vatican & World News

Coverage of Pope Leo's appeal for peace in Iran and calls for dialogue amid regional escalations. Reports on cross‑border strikes, mass displacement in Lebanon, and attacks affecting Kurdish areas. Personal accounts of life under threat in Ankawa and how communities adapt. Reflection on the Samaritan woman and spiritual thirst during Lent. Discussion of initiatives to combat violence against women and promote female leadership in peacebuilding.

Lindiwe Zondi, national president of St. Anne's Sodality in South Africa, outlines parish-level programs tackling gender-based violence. Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, warns of escalating conflict in the Middle East and calls for prayer and diplomacy. Short, urgent conversations about community action and regional tensions.

 - The Middle East remains in turmoil with fresh strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes throughout the region  - The Holy See says Christians are the most persecuted religious community in the world  - Pope Leo’s prayer intention for March 2026 is for “disarmament and peace"

William Jones, a Future of Life Institute program associate focusing on religion and AI, weighs in on Pope Leo's cautions about artificial intelligence. Deborah Castellana-Lubov, a Vatican reporter, outlines Synod study-group reports on digital mission and priestly formation. Francesca Merlo, a frontline journalist, gives urgent updates on escalating regional conflict and its human toll.

Kelsey Gussie, Vatican News reporter who covered an interfaith peace gathering in Lahore. Archbishop Eugene Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, on how regional violence affects Gulf Catholics. Linda Bordoni, Vatican journalist with frontline updates from Iran. They discuss strikes in Iran, the rising dangers for Gulf communities, and interreligious prayers for peace in Lahore.

 - At the Angelus, Pope Leo calls on all nations to recall their moral responsibility to seek peace  - Iran’s Supreme Leader has been killed as the conflict in the Middle East continues into its second day  - The Apostolic Nuncio to Northern Arabia says violence is not the solution and appeals for dialogue

-   Israel and the U.S. strike targets in Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks by Teheran -   South Korean Catholics call for denuclearisation ahead of the Fukushima disaster anniversary -   Pope Leo XIV encourages a group of seminarians from Spain to work towards rendering their ministry fruitful