Pope Leo XIV met privately for over an hour with five abuse victims in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 9, 2026. The Vatican Press Office stated the Pontiff listened to their stories and proposals for healing. This meeting is part of his Latin America tour, which also includes Uruguay and Peru. The Pope emphasized strengthening protection and support within the Church. He recently returned from surgery in Rome. The initiative aims to show closeness to those suffering from clerical abuse and ensure the Church remains a safe place.
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On November 10, students from Kyungil High School in Ansan, South Korea, welcomed 38 peers from Yamagata Gakuin High School in Japan. The two institutions have maintained a sister school relationship since 2004 through the Christian School Education Alliance. During the visit, students engaged in cultural exchanges, including cooking classes and campus tours. Yamagata Gakuin Principal Sato Keiichi stated the trip aimed to teach peace and understand history, aligning with Christian teachings on reconciliation. The event highlights the long-standing educational and spiritual bond between the two schools, rooted in shared Christian values and historical connections.
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Pope Leo XIV visited Argentina on Monday, November 9, to advocate for religious and social cohesion. Speaking at the Catholic University of Argentina, he urged business leaders, unionists, and activists to embrace Catholic Social Teaching principles like solidarity and the common good. He cited Venerable Enrique Shaw as an example of ethical industry. Later, he addressed interfaith representatives, emphasizing prayer as a unifying force. The day concluded with a vespers service for local bishops, where he highlighted shared Marian devotion and encouraged synodal discernment. The pontiff plans to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján on Wednesday, continuing his focus on unity and reconciliation within the Church and society.
Pope Leo XIV met with Christian and religious leaders in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 9. He urged attendees to unite in prayer for peace, emphasizing dialogue and respect for diverse traditions. The Pope stated that religions should protect human dignity, express freedom, and cultivate hope. He warned against division, citing the need to build bridges in society. The event included a minute of silence and a candle lighting ceremony. The gathering aimed to foster fraternity and a world free from violence and poverty, following teachings from Pope Francis.
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Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś celebrated Mass on November 8 at Kraków’s University Collegiate Church of St. Anne for victims of a recent mass shooting. The attack, which occurred in the city center, left six people dead and fifteen others injured. Polish President Karol Nawrocki described the incident as an unprecedented act of terror. During the service, Cardinal Ryś preached that the final word belongs to love rather than hatred. The gathering served as a moment of mourning and reflection for the community affected by the violence.
Argentine artist Juan Carlos Pallarols has created a peace chalice using materials recovered from a war zone. The artwork is intended as a gift for Pope Leo XIV. The initiative highlights the transformation of instruments of conflict into symbols of peace. The project was reported by Cancao Nova Noticias, featuring images from Reuters and YouTube. This gesture underscores the potential for artistic expression to promote reconciliation and hope in post-conflict settings.
A priest from Burkina Faso and a nun from Mexico will share their experiences at the Night of Witnesses event organized by the AED. The priest, who survived terrorism in a specific diocese, promotes hope despite violence. The nun supports families of the disappeared in Mexico amid armed group brutality. The event, originally created in France, now takes place internationally. It honors martyrs by reading their names and processing their portraits, aiming to remember those killed for their faith in hostile contexts.
Armed men attacked a Catholic school in the Democratic Republic of Congo, injuring a foreign priest and stealing valuables. A senior church leader reported a separate assault on a local parish, where clergy were beaten and a custodian hospitalized. These incidents occur amid rising tensions between the local church and authorities over seminary property. The leader postponed a planned protest to allow time for a peaceful resolution regarding illegal structures on church land, warning that further action will follow if promises are not kept.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, will return to Peru from November 11 to 16. The country welcomed him as a young Augustinian missionary over forty years ago. According to the outlet, Peruvians view this as a homecoming for the successor of Peter who shared their struggles. The visit highlights the nation's complex social fabric, marked by inequality and violence, yet rooted in deep faith. Former colleagues recall his pastoral style focused on solidarity with the poor and synodal inclusion. The trip aims to strengthen hope in a region seeking reconciliation.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Edgar on UnsplashPersecuted church
Human rights organizations in Argentina have requested that Pope Leo XIV remove Christian Von Wernich from the clerical state. The group says the former police chaplain was convicted of crimes against humanity during the military dictatorship. Despite serving a life sentence for murder and torture, he continues to celebrate Mass in prison. The signatories argue that the Catholic Church cannot shelter genocidaires. They claim Von Wernich used his religious position to manipulate victims and their families. The letter urges the Pope to initiate canonical proceedings for his dismissal from the priesthood. The request was signed by several prominent Argentine human rights groups.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś joined a silent march in Krakow on November 9 to honor six victims of a Saturday attack on the Main Square. The procession began at 8 p.m. following the Hejnał trumpet call from St. Mary's Basilica. Participants carried candles and flowers through the historic center, walking parts of the route used by the attacker. The cardinal led a prayer for the deceased, emphasizing the significance of silence. Relatives of the victims and local officials also attended. A period of mourning was declared in Krakow until November 11, according to Vatican News.
Pakistan celebrates four decades of Christian-Muslim dialogue, initiated in 1985 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Father James Channan highlights a nationwide network and government Interreligious Harmony Commissions as key achievements. A delegation from the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue visits to mark the anniversary. The visit aims to reflect on progress and address ongoing challenges, including education and minority rights. The initiative seeks to foster peace and protect human dignity across the country.
Actor Hany Ramzy shared that Al-Azhar scholars, including Dr. Saad El-Din El-Helaly, delivered speeches at his mother's funeral held in a church in a city in Egypt. Speaking on the Mirror program, Ramzy described the event as proof of deep Egyptian unity and love across religious lines. He noted that his family always welcomed everyone without distinction. Ramzy also mentioned the presence of Sheikh Moneer Shahin and other religious figures who offered condolences. He emphasized that these acts of solidarity reflect the true nature of Egyptian society and reject attempts to create division among citizens.
Pope Francis visited the San Martín Residence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to meet with Christian and other religious leaders. During the event, the Pope emphasized three key contributions of faith to society: preserving human dignity, expressing freedom, and cultivating hope. He urged attendees to transform prayer into concrete actions for justice and peace. The Pontiff highlighted dialogue and friendship as foundational pillars, referencing Vatican II documents to affirm respect for other traditions. The meeting concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony and a moment of silence for peace, reinforcing the call for interfaith cooperation in building a more just world.
Following a shooting in Cracow, Poland, on November 7 that killed six people, Polish bishops have called for national unity. The suspect, Michal O, died in hospital on November 9. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the attack as terrorism. Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś expressing sorrow. Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda and other church leaders offered prayers and support to victims and their families. A memorial mass was held at St Anne's Collegiate Church in Cracow on November 8. The country observed a national mourning period on November 8 and 9.
Christian Daily International - Africa section·🇸🇸 South Sudan·
Churches in South Sudan’s Lakes State are struggling to maintain worship services following deadly clashes between the Nyang and Pakam communities in Rumbek. The violence, which began on October 8, has left dozens dead and displaced approximately 500 families. According to International Christian Concern, congregations fear attending services due to ongoing insecurity. While death toll estimates vary among officials, UN peacekeepers have deployed troops to protect civilians and evacuate humanitarian workers. Church leaders have called for reconciliation and an end to retaliatory attacks that continue to disrupt community life in the region.
Religious leaders from various faiths gathered in the capital of Myanmar for an interfaith prayer meeting focused on peace. A prominent church leader, representing the participants, urged political groups and armed organizations to choose dialogue over violence in the ongoing civil conflict. More than 700 attendees from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and indigenous traditions emphasized the need for inclusive negotiations, ceasefire agreements, and humanitarian aid. The group called on authorities to protect civilians and keep communication channels open, asserting that peace is the only viable path forward for the nation's future.
Argentine bishops are welcoming Pope Leon XIV to Buenos Aires for the first papal visit in 39 years. The four-day pilgrimage, which includes stops in Cordoba and Lujan, aims to strengthen faith and promote social cohesion in a country facing deep divisions. Archbishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo, head of the Episcopal Conference, stated that the Church seeks to serve national unity and that the Pope's presence will help restore hope. The itinerary features a special meeting with youth and a visit to a care center for people with disabilities. Bishops emphasized that the visit offers an opportunity for dialogue and rebuilding community bonds across different social groups.
Pope Leo XIV met with Christian and religious leaders at the San Martín Palace in Argentina on Monday. He emphasized building bridges between confessions and honoring the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Argentine Chancellor Pablo Quirno attended the event. The Pontiff highlighted the importance of prayer, human dignity, and hope in society. He urged attendees to translate faith into concrete actions for the vulnerable. The gathering concluded with a candle lighting and a moment of silence for world peace, referencing a prayer by Pope Francis.
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