Joshua McElwee
@joshmcelwee.org
Vatican correspondent for Reuters. I travel with the pope sometimes. Dual US/EU national. Web: joshmcelwee.org.
A senior Vatican official urged an end to the Ukraine war after meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the first in-person talks between Vatican and Russian officials in five years. For @reuters.com
Vatican foreign minister, in Moscow, says Ukraine war must end
A senior Vatican official urged an end to the Ukraine war after meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the first in-person talks between Vatican and Russian offi...
www.reuters.com
August 25, 2026 at 12:25 PM
A senior Vatican official urged an end to the Ukraine war after meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the first in-person talks between Vatican and Russian officials in five years. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo marked the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on Saturday with an appeal to Americans to welcome and protect immigrants, in a letter sent to his home country as he visited Italy's migrant frontline island of Lampedusa. @reuters.com
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in July 4 appeal from Lampedusa
Pope Leo marked the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on Saturday with an appeal to Americans to welcome and protect immigrants, in a letter sent to his home country as he visited Italy's migra...
www.reuters.com
July 4, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Pope Leo marked the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on Saturday with an appeal to Americans to welcome and protect immigrants, in a letter sent to his home country as he visited Italy's migrant frontline island of Lampedusa. @reuters.com
Pope Leo praised the United States' history of welcoming immigrants in his first major address to his home country on Friday, urging in a video appearance that Americans live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo praises US history of welcoming immigrants at 250th anniversary
Pope Leo praised the United States' history of welcoming immigrants in his first major address to his home country on Friday, urging in a video appearance that Americans live up to the ideals put ...
www.reuters.com
July 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Pope Leo praised the United States' history of welcoming immigrants in his first major address to his home country on Friday, urging in a video appearance that Americans live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. For @reuters.com
The Vatican's decision on Thursday to tell the members of a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group that they were excommunicated showed that Pope Leo is also not afraid of making firm doctrinal decisions, experts said. For @reuters.com
Excommunications show a Pope Leo unafraid of making firm decisions
Pope Leo said during his inaugural Mass last year that he would seek to unify the Catholic Church after years of fraught divisions and vowed he would not rule like an autocrat over its 1.4 billion me...
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July 2, 2026 at 2:53 PM
The Vatican's decision on Thursday to tell the members of a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group that they were excommunicated showed that Pope Leo is also not afraid of making firm doctrinal decisions, experts said. For @reuters.com
The Vatican on Tuesday reaffirmed a long-standing rule that only an ordained priest or deacon can give a sermon at a Catholic mass, rejecting a request from German bishops to broaden the practice and allow sermons by women or other laypeople. For @reuters.com
Vatican rejects proposal to allow sermons by Catholic women
The Vatican on Tuesday reaffirmed a long-standing rule that only an ordained priest or deacon can give a sermon at a Catholic mass, rejecting a request from German bishops to broaden the practice an...
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June 23, 2026 at 2:04 PM
The Vatican on Tuesday reaffirmed a long-standing rule that only an ordained priest or deacon can give a sermon at a Catholic mass, rejecting a request from German bishops to broaden the practice and allow sermons by women or other laypeople. For @reuters.com
World leaders are "feeding" wars instead of the hungry, Pope Leo said on Monday, telling the U.N. food aid agency that global priorities were badly skewed. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo decries leaders who 'feed' wars while millions go hungry
World leaders are "feeding" wars instead of the hungry, Pope Leo said on Monday, telling the U.N. food aid agency that global priorities were badly skewed.
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June 22, 2026 at 10:03 AM
World leaders are "feeding" wars instead of the hungry, Pope Leo said on Monday, telling the U.N. food aid agency that global priorities were badly skewed. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo on Tuesday praised the interim deal between the United States and Iran to end the regional war in the Middle East, saying "thanks be to God" that the two powers are set to formalize their accord on Friday. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo says 'thanks be to God' for interim US-Iran peace deal
Pope Leo on Tuesday praised the interim deal between the United States and Iran to end the regional war in the Middle East, saying "thanks be to God" that the two powers are set to formalize thei...
www.reuters.com
June 16, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Pope Leo on Tuesday praised the interim deal between the United States and Iran to end the regional war in the Middle East, saying "thanks be to God" that the two powers are set to formalize their accord on Friday. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo boarded a Falcon jet offered by the King of Spain after a technical issue grounded the larger papal plane on the island of Tenerife, delaying his return to the Vatican on Friday at the end of a week-long tour of Spain. For @reuters.com
Pope borrows King of Spain's jet to return to Vatican after technical issue
Pope Leo boarded a Falcon jet offered by the King of Spain after a technical issue grounded the larger papal plane on the island of Tenerife, delaying his return to the Vatican on Friday at the end...
www.reuters.com
June 12, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Pope Leo boarded a Falcon jet offered by the King of Spain after a technical issue grounded the larger papal plane on the island of Tenerife, delaying his return to the Vatican on Friday at the end of a week-long tour of Spain. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo on Friday issued a stern warning to human traffickers and criminal groups who exploit desperate migrants trying to reach Europe through Spain's Canary Islands, telling them to "repent" before God or face being sent to hell. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo warns Europe’s migrant traffickers to repent or face hell
Pope Leo on Friday issued a stern warning to human traffickers and criminal groups who exploit desperate migrants trying to reach Europe through Spain's Canary Islands, telling them to "repent" befor...
www.reuters.com
June 12, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Pope Leo on Friday issued a stern warning to human traffickers and criminal groups who exploit desperate migrants trying to reach Europe through Spain's Canary Islands, telling them to "repent" before God or face being sent to hell. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo appealed to world leaders on Thursday to treat migrants more humanely, warning in a visit to Spain's Canary Islands, one of Europe's migration hotspots, that history would condemn those who allowed people fleeing war or poverty to suffer. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo says history will condemn leaders who ignore migrant deaths
Pope Leo appealed to world leaders on Thursday to treat migrants more humanely, warning in a visit to Spain's Canary Islands, one of Europe's migration hotspots, that history would condemn those who...
www.reuters.com
June 11, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Pope Leo appealed to world leaders on Thursday to treat migrants more humanely, warning in a visit to Spain's Canary Islands, one of Europe's migration hotspots, that history would condemn those who allowed people fleeing war or poverty to suffer. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, who has forcefully advocated for the rights of prisoners, visited one of Spain's largest prisons on Wednesday, urging the inmates to make amends for their crimes and commit to living better lives. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo puts focus on prisoners in first papal visit to a Spanish jail
Pope Leo, who has forcefully advocated for the rights of prisoners, visited one of Spain's largest prisons on Wednesday, urging the inmates to make amends for their crimes and commit to living bette...
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June 10, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Pope Leo, who has forcefully advocated for the rights of prisoners, visited one of Spain's largest prisons on Wednesday, urging the inmates to make amends for their crimes and commit to living better lives. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo had a brief private meeting with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium on Monday evening as both were touring Spain, the Vatican said on Tuesday, adding that it did not expect to release any photos of the meeting. For @reuters.com
Bad Bunny meets Pope Leo in Madrid, but should have taken more photos
Pope Leo had a brief private meeting with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium on Monday evening as both were touring Spain, the Vatican said on Tuesday, adding that it did not...
www.reuters.com
June 9, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Pope Leo had a brief private meeting with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny at Madrid's Bernabeu stadium on Monday evening as both were touring Spain, the Vatican said on Tuesday, adding that it did not expect to release any photos of the meeting. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo's visit to Spain's Canary Islands, which have struggled to absorb a surge in irregular migration over the past decade, will focus attention on the treatment of migrants, local Catholic leaders said.
Pope’s visit to Canary Islands puts focus on treatment of migrants
Pope Leo's visit to Spain's Canary Islands, which have struggled to absorb a surge in irregular migration over the past decade, will focus attention on the treatment of migrants, local Catholic leade...
www.reuters.com
June 9, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Pope Leo's visit to Spain's Canary Islands, which have struggled to absorb a surge in irregular migration over the past decade, will focus attention on the treatment of migrants, local Catholic leaders said.
Pope Leo set off on Tuesday for the second stop of his visit to Spain, flying from Madrid to Barcelona as part of a week-long tour in which he has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo heads to Barcelona on Spain tour focused on war and migration
Pope Leo set off on Tuesday for the second stop of his visit to Spain, flying from Madrid to Barcelona as part of a week-long tour in which he has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the wor...
www.reuters.com
June 9, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Pope Leo set off on Tuesday for the second stop of his visit to Spain, flying from Madrid to Barcelona as part of a week-long tour in which he has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo told Spain's Catholic bishops on Monday they must listen to survivors of abuse by clergy and offer them reparations, in the first direct reference during his trip to scandals that have shaken the local Church's credibility. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo tells Spain's Church to listen to abuse survivors, offer reparations
Pope Leo told Spain's Catholic bishops on Monday they must listen to survivors of abuse by clergy and offer them reparations, in the first direct reference during his trip to scandals that have sha...
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June 8, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Pope Leo told Spain's Catholic bishops on Monday they must listen to survivors of abuse by clergy and offer them reparations, in the first direct reference during his trip to scandals that have shaken the local Church's credibility. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo told Spain's parliament that escalating conflict, deepening polarization and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a profound crisis, in one of his most expansive political addresses yet on Monday. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo warns Spain's parliament the world is in 'profound' crisis
Pope Leo told Spain's parliament that escalating conflict, deepening polarization and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a profound crisis, in one of his most expansive p...
www.reuters.com
June 8, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Pope Leo told Spain's parliament that escalating conflict, deepening polarization and widespread disregard for human rights had pushed the world into a profound crisis, in one of his most expansive political addresses yet on Monday. For @reuters.com
Over a million people filled the streets near one of Madrid's main squares on Sunday to join Pope Leo for an outdoor Mass, likely to be the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain, where the pope said God stands with society's poor and forsaken. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo tells 1.2 million crowd in Madrid that God stands with the poor
Over a million people filled the streets near one of Madrid's main squares on Sunday to join Pope Leo for an outdoor Mass, likely to be the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain, where the p...
www.reuters.com
June 7, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Over a million people filled the streets near one of Madrid's main squares on Sunday to join Pope Leo for an outdoor Mass, likely to be the largest event of his week-long visit to Spain, where the pope said God stands with society's poor and forsaken. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo may have traded his life in Chicago for the ornate apartments at the Vatican's apostolic palace, but he still plans to root for his old national team at the World Cup this month. For @reuters.com
US get World Cup prayer as Pope Leo roots for the home team
Pope Leo may have traded his life in Chicago for the ornate apartments at the Vatican's apostolic palace, but he still plans to root for his old national team at the World Cup this month.
www.reuters.com
June 6, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Pope Leo may have traded his life in Chicago for the ornate apartments at the Vatican's apostolic palace, but he still plans to root for his old national team at the World Cup this month. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo on Saturday urged global leaders to avoid dividing their electorates with "sterile simplifications" to gain popularity and called on them to listen to the world's cries for peace, in a forceful speech opening a week-long tour of Spain. For @reuters.com
Pope, in Spain, says world crying for peace, urges leaders to temper divisions
Pope Leo on Saturday urged global leaders to avoid dividing their electorates with "sterile simplifications" to gain popularity and called on them to listen to the world's cries for peace, in a force...
www.reuters.com
June 6, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Pope Leo on Saturday urged global leaders to avoid dividing their electorates with "sterile simplifications" to gain popularity and called on them to listen to the world's cries for peace, in a forceful speech opening a week-long tour of Spain. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo will meet with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during his week-long visit to Spain, the Vatican said on Friday. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo to meet Catholic abuse survivors on Spain trip, Vatican says
Pope Leo will meet with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during his week-long visit to Spain, the Vatican said on Friday.
www.reuters.com
June 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Pope Leo will meet with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during his week-long visit to Spain, the Vatican said on Friday. For @reuters.com
Reposted by Joshua McElwee
Pope Leo heads to Spain to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with migrants reut.rs/4dNFcrG
Pope Leo heads to Spain to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with migrants
Pope Leo heads to Spain on Saturday for a week-long tour, his first visit to an EU country outside Italy, which will culminate with the pontiff meeting migrants in the Canary Islands who braved dangerous Atlantic waters to enter Europe.
reut.rs
June 3, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Pope Leo heads to Spain to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with migrants reut.rs/4dNFcrG
Pope Leo heads to Spain on Saturday for a week-long tour, his first visit to an EU country outside Italy, which will culminate with the pontiff meeting migrants in the Canary Islands who braved dangerous Atlantic waters to enter Europe. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo heads to Spain to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with migrants
Pope Leo heads to Spain on Saturday for a week-long tour, his first visit to an EU country outside Italy, which will culminate with the pontiff meeting migrants in the Canary Islands who braved dange...
www.reuters.com
June 3, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Pope Leo heads to Spain on Saturday for a week-long tour, his first visit to an EU country outside Italy, which will culminate with the pontiff meeting migrants in the Canary Islands who braved dangerous Atlantic waters to enter Europe. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo named an executive with U.S. Catholic media conglomerate EWTN as the new head of the Vatican's communications department on Tuesday, in the first appointment of a woman to the senior Church role. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo names EWTN executive as first woman to lead Vatican communications
Pope Leo named an executive with U.S. Catholic media conglomerate EWTN as the new head of the Vatican's communications department on Tuesday, in the first appointment of a woman to the senior Church...
www.reuters.com
June 2, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Pope Leo named an executive with U.S. Catholic media conglomerate EWTN as the new head of the Vatican's communications department on Tuesday, in the first appointment of a woman to the senior Church role. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo this week repudiated a major teaching used by the Catholic Church since at least the fifth century to evaluate when countries might be justified in waging wars, in a move experts said could have long-reaching impact for global powers. For @reuters.com
Spurning just war, Pope Leo ends Catholic 'permission slip' for conflicts
Pope Leo this week repudiated a major teaching used by the Catholic Church since at least the fifth century to evaluate when countries might be justified in waging wars, in a move experts said could ...
www.reuters.com
May 28, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Pope Leo this week repudiated a major teaching used by the Catholic Church since at least the fifth century to evaluate when countries might be justified in waging wars, in a move experts said could have long-reaching impact for global powers. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo on Wednesday decried what he called a "sharp intensification" of the war in Ukraine, telling pilgrims at his weekly audience at the Vatican that he wanted to express closeness to civilians killed in recent attacks. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo decries 'sharp intensification' of war in Ukraine
Pope Leo on Wednesday decried what he called a "sharp intensification" of the war in Ukraine, telling pilgrims at his weekly audience at the Vatican that he wanted to express closeness to civili...
www.reuters.com
May 27, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Pope Leo on Wednesday decried what he called a "sharp intensification" of the war in Ukraine, telling pilgrims at his weekly audience at the Vatican that he wanted to express closeness to civilians killed in recent attacks. For @reuters.com