Christians

Pope Leo to hold Wednesday audience for first time since lung cancer surgery

Leo pledged on Sunday, in his first public event since the surgery, that he would slowly resume his usual activities as the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Pope Leo walks ahead of Stefano Margaritora, who was his lead surgeon, as he leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026
IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon on April 22, 2026.

IDF allows Lebanese, Syrian workers into northern security zone to harvest olives - report

Pope Leo leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026.

Pope Leo returns to Vatican four days after lung cancer surgery

 Pope Leo XIV speaks as he attends a meeting with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps in Luanda, Angola, April 18, 2026.

Pope Leo had lobe of lung removed as doctors found cancer, Vatican says


WATCH: Israel Police arrest man for attacking nun near King David's Tomb

On Tuesday, police received reports of a nun being attacked at King David's Tomb in Jerusalem. A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the case and is being questioned for racist assault.

 PRESIDENT’S ROOM with Dormition Abbey in the background.

Why would an Israeli soldier use a sledgehammer to smash the face of Jesus? - opinion

The desecration of the statue was wrong and a breach of Jewish morality. But if our response begins and ends with condemnation, we miss the deeper calling.

Here, the Israeli soldier damages the head of a statue of Jesus, in Debel, Lebanon, in this still image obtained from social media released on April 19.

Netanyahu meets Christians serving in IDF amid controversy over treatment of Lebanese Christians

"These are Christian soldiers, men and women, in the Israeli Defense Forces. They fill all the important positions in our incredible military, and they do incredible work," Netanyahu said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alon Christian soldiers serving in the IDF.

Israel told US to pressure Lebanon into acting against Hezbollah or risk ceasefire collapse - KAN

The main obstacle of the ceasfire, however, is Hezbollah and its political ally Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s parliment speaker and leader of the Shi'ite Amal Movement.

IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon, published by the IDF on April 22, 2026.

Middle Israel: Jesus-statue smasher is product of Jewish fundamentalism - opinion

Unfortunately, what the IDF soldiers in Lebanon did when they smashed the statue of Jesus represents a syndrome much larger than the two young idiots they evidently are.

Here, the Israeli soldier damages the head of a statue of Jesus, in Debel, Lebanon, in this still image obtained from social media released on April 19.

Disgrace in Debel: A single incident undermines Israel’s reputation for tolerance - editorial

The soldier has been punished, and the statue has been replaced, but the Debel incident should remind us what Israel stands for, what our soldiers stand for, and the basic respect that comes with it.

A woman checks a social media post on her mobile phone featuring an image that appears to show an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus Christ in the southern Lebanese Christian village of Debl, in Beirut on April 20, 2026.

Israel appoints new envoy to Christian world after Lebanese Jesus statue, Pizzaballa controversies

The new appointment, George Deek, had previously been Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan. He was also, the Foreign Ministry noted, Israel's first Christian ambassador in history.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gideon Sa'ar and new envoy to Christian world George Deek.

Lebanese town, UNIFIL replace IDF-gifted Jesus statue with replica of crucifix smashed by soldier

Local villagers, with the assistance of an Italian battalion of UNIFIL, replaced the IDF’s statue with one identical to the one that was broken.

Residents of Debel in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL officers, and a local priest stand next to the newly replaced Jesus statue.

Pope Leo 'using more politics than he should' amid US-Iran war, say Trump supporters - NBC

Pope Leo has criticized US President Donald Trump's actions against Iran in multiple instances, leading to a social media squabble between the two leaders.

A combination picture shows Pope Leo XIV addressing Algeria's political leaders at the cultural centre of the Great Mosque of Algiers (Djamaa El Djazair), where he criticized violations of international law by "neocolonial" world powers, in Mohamadia, Algiers, Algeria, April 13, 2026.

'Deviated from IDF values': Soldiers who smashed Lebanese Jesus statue removed from combat

The IDF expressed its deep regret over the incident, emphasizing that its operations in Lebanon are against Hezbollah and other terror groups alone, and not Lebanese civilians.

This X/Twitter screenshot shows an alleged incident where an IDF soldier is seen smashing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon on April 19, 2026.