CatholicPhilly presents a weekly roundup of international news from Vatican News, the official news portal of the Holy See. The following report on the week of April 5, 2026 links to stories on VaticanNews.

Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly announced ceasefire in the Middle East as “a sign of genuine hope” after what he described as “hours of extreme tension,” while urging a return to negotiations and calling the faithful to prayer.

Pope Leo XIV called for prayer and a vigil after President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, urging diplomacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to have his first face-to-face meeting with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican Friday as the leader of the Roman Catholic church has criticised his fellow American,

Friday marks six months since Gaza's ceasefire deal took effect, a milestone largely lost in the confusion over the new and even more fragile ceasefire in the Iran war. The ravaged Palestinian territory of 2 million people has seen the most intense fighting stop between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants.