John Paul II
264th pope of the Catholic Church (1978–2005)
Photo: Gov.pl, CC BY 3.0 pl (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 21h ago
Karol Wojtyła elected Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1978, first non-Italian since 1522
Cardinals chose the 58-year-old metropolitan of Kraków on the eighth ballot after a conclave that opened on 14 October 1978. He took the name John Paul II and became the 264th pope, and he went on to lead the Church until his death in April 2005.
- 2d ago
Poland's economy tops $1 trillion as wages soar and emigrants return
National income passed $1 trillion last year, placing Poland among the world's 20 largest economies. Pay has climbed sharply, but housing and everyday costs have risen too, and some emigrants are coming home.
- 6d ago
Pier Ferdinando Casini will not stand at the next Italian elections after 44 years
The former Chamber of Deputies president, 70, told Corriere della Sera he will not seek re-election, closing a parliamentary career that began in 1983.
- Sep 30
Karol Nawrocki and Piotr Duda award 21 laureates at Worker-Friendly Employer gala
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and trade union leader Piotr Duda presented awards to 21 enterprises at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, citing Poland's surpassing of a $1 trillion GDP.
- Sep 26
Pope Leo XIV draws 700,000 faithful to Paris mass on Place de la Concorde
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first open-air mass on the Place de la Concorde on Saturday, drawing an estimated 700,000 attendees before traveling to Lourdes.
- Sep 26
Pope Leo XIV draws 700,000 to Paris open-air Mass during four-day visit to France
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde following a youth vigil at Stade de France and meetings with state leaders and migrants.
- Aug 22
Pope Leo XIV visits San Marino and addresses 60,000 youth in Rimini
Pope Leo XIV conducted a pastoral trip to San Marino and Rimini on 22 August 2026, meeting state leaders, speaking to 60,000 youth at Rimini Fiera, and celebrating a beachfront mass for 25,000 people.
- Aug 19
Robin Williams' children revive late actor's Instagram account to combat AI deepfakes
Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams have reopened their father's dormant Instagram profile to share verified archival material and counter unauthorized AI recreations of his voice and likeness.
- Aug 5
Pope Leo XIV will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November in his first Latin American trip as pontiff
Pope Leo XIV will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, 2026, in his first Latin American trip as pontiff, returning to Peru where he served as bishop of Chiclayo and marking the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly four decades.
- Jul 29
Warsaw prosecutor closes probe into fire of John Paul II's first mass cross, rules it accidental
The Warsaw prosecutor's office has closed the investigation into the April fire of the papal cross used by John Paul II in 1979, ruling it accidental and likely caused by a candle.
- Jul 1
Vatican excommunicates Society of St. Pius X after the group ordains four bishops without Pope Leo’s approval
The Vatican declared the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicated six bishops on Thursday, one day after the Swiss-based group ordained four new bishops against Pope Leo XIV’s will.
- Jun 16
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, key figure in Italian Church and close to John Paul II, dies at 95; Pope Leo XIV to preside over funeral
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, former president of the Italian bishops and vicar of Rome under John Paul II, has died at his home at the age of 95. Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his funeral at St. Peter’s on Thursday, with a second service in his native Reggio Emilia on Friday.
- Jun 15
Madrid to keep 20-metre cross from Pope Leo XIV's visit as a permanent gift to the city
Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida announced the cross from the Plaza de Lima vigil will remain in the capital, calling it a 'very special gift' from the Diocese of Madrid.
- Jun 8
Pope León XIV's Spain visit blends political calls for unity with mass religious gatherings
Pope León XIV's visit to Spain has drawn hundreds of thousands to Madrid and placed him at the center of the country's political debate, with a historic address to parliament set for Sunday.
- Jun 4
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Spain on Saturday for a six-day visit spanning Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands
Pope Leo XIV lands in Madrid on 6 June for the first papal visit to Spain since Benedict XVI's 2011 World Youth Day trip, with a packed schedule of more than 20 events across four cities.
