Pope Leo used his Canary Islands visit to defend migrants, condemn traffickers and press Europe to protect people risking deadly Atlantic crossings. The islands received a record 46,843 migrants in 2024, while thousands died trying to reach Spain.
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Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for vast crowds in Madrid and led a Corpus Domini procession over floral carpets made from more than 30,000 flowers. He called Spain’s devotional traditions a “school of faith” and urged unity during his first visit to the country.
Pope Leo XIV began a weeklong visit to Spain by urging people to reject polarisation and defend peace. The trip includes a youth rally in Madrid, an address to parliament, a visit to the Sagrada Familia and a stop in the Canary Islands focused on migration.
Pope Leo XIV calls for disarming artificial intelligence and stronger ethical oversight in his new encyclical, warning that unchecked AI could diminish humanity and normalize conflict worldwide. The document urges responsible care and slower AI adoption to protect human dignity.
President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have engaged in a public dispute over the U.S. war in Iran, with Trump criticizing the pope's calls for peace and the pope urging an end to violence. The conflict has divided opinions among Trump supporters and religious leaders about the roles of political and spiritual authority in war.
President Trump removes an AI-generated image depicting him as a Christ-like figure after Christian backlash but maintains his criticism of Pope Leo. The dispute has sparked significant debate among religious communities and political allies.
Pope Leo XIV rejects President Trump's accusations of weakness and poor foreign policy, reaffirming his commitment to peace rooted in the gospel. Trump criticized the pope's stance on crime and Iran, prompting a rare direct response from the pontiff during an African tour.