Justin McLellan

Leo, who said religion must never justify discrimination, symbolically took up the mantle of his predecessor, who placed migration at the center of his pontificate by visiting the island in July 2013.

After the Society of St. Pius X created four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican declared that the bishops, the men who consecrated them and the priests and laity who adhered to the schism, had been excommunicated.

"We want the faith of the church in order to remain in the church, and we want the church within the faith, even if those opposed to us refuse to understand this," said the group's superior general.

"With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act," the pope wrote.

Before placing the white woolen bands symbolizing authority around the shoulders of 35 new metropolitan archbishops, Pope Leo XIV urged the church's pastors to become "builders of unity" within the church.

Over two days, 178 of the world's cardinals gathered at the Vatican to discuss a sprawling agenda that ranged from the Catholic Church's efforts to become a more listening body to its moral teaching on war.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, head of the Vatican's doctrine office, said the doctrine has led to church teaching being "manipulated to provide a theoretical foundation for the most unjust wars."

Pope Leo said the cardinals' two days of reflection would revolve around one central question: "How can we help our churches today to proclaim the Gospel with greater faithfulness, freedom and credibility?"

The German bishops' conference had requested "in exceptional circumstances, a duly commissioned lay member of the faithful to preach in place of the homily during the celebration of the Eucharist."

Whether due to settling into a papacy after some 13 months, or a missionary pope on familiar turf outside of Rome, Pope Leo appeared more at ease during his trip to Spain than at any other point in his pontificate.

Vice President Vance writes in his new memoir about meeting with Pope Francis just before Francis' death, and how, despite their differences, he did not share the negative views of Francis held by some conservatives.

Pope Leo XIV finished his seven-day trip to Spain in extremely atypical fashion: riding to Rome in the Spanish king's jet. 

"Every life lost on these routes is a failure for the human family," the pontiff said.

Before a blue cross made from the wood of a shipwrecked boat, Pope Leo XIV stood at the port of one of Europe's deadliest migrant destinations and condemned widespread indifference toward the plight of migrants.

At Pope Leo XIV's prayer vigil for young people June 6, National Catholic Reporter speaks with Bilbao Bishop Joseba Segura Etxezarraga about the church's role in Spain's migration debate.

Pope Leo XIV closed his two-day stint in Barcelona June 10 by celebrating Mass at the Sagrada Família on the death centenary of Antoni Gaudí, the basilica's architect.

Pope Leo XIV met privately with Puerto Rican reggaeton sensation Bad Bunny during his final hours in Madrid.

Pope Leo XIV met with victims of clergy sex abuse Monday in Madrid, engaging with the abuse crisis that has loomed large over the papal visit. But the issue of clergy abuse remains far from settled in Spain.

Pope Leo XIV warned of a "profound spiritual and cultural crisis" gripping the world, taking aim at war, rearmament and the decay of international cooperation in one of his most politically charged speeches since becoming pope just over a year ago.

Pope Leo XIV brought bustling Madrid to a halt Sunday, drawing 1.2 million people — the largest crowd he has encountered yet in his 13-month pontificate — for his first public Mass in Spain and a Eucharistic procession through the Spanish capital.