IJR News

Pope Leo urges global debate on AI risks — 21hPope Leo XIV said Sept. 28, 2026, that AI expert warnings should be taken seriously and are not fake news, after Trump called the fears a hoax.

Chris Dalton Leaders from different fields should back the Pope here and push for actual rules on AI development.

Pope Leo XIV urges Europe to draw on Christian roots for peace — 1dChildren sought hugs and autographs from Pope Leo XIV in Metz on Sept. 28, 2026, as he warned rearmament is not the answer and urged Europe to draw on Christian roots for peace.

Jared Kim The Pope makes a fair point that Europe's postwar unity relied on shared Christian values rather than raw power politics. That approach could still help end the fighting in Ukraine.

Pope Leo Urges French Bishops to Confront Abuse — 2dPope Leo XIV embraced survivor Jean-Marie Delbos in Lourdes after meeting seven abuse victims; a 2021 inquiry estimated 330,000 minors abused over 70 years.

Tom Gallagher The church needs to keep proving it can protect kids after failing so many for so long.

Pope Leo celebrates Mass before 800,000 in Paris — 3dPope Leo XIV drew enormous crowds in Paris for an outdoor Mass, while his procession along the Champs-Élysées featured repeated stops to bless babies and young children.

Pope Leo Urges Diplomacy in Middle East Conflicts During France Visit — 4dPope Leo XIV urged leaders in France not to accept war as inevitable, calling for diplomacy to address suffering in the Middle East and for nuclear disarmament, while warning that reliance on nuclear weapons fuels an arms race. He also cautioned that artificial intelligence and technology must be guided by ethical judgment and respect for human dignity.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Pope Leo Draws Huge Crowd for Paris Mass — 4dPope Leo XIV led prayers at Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral, the first papal visit since the 2019 fire, and urged French Catholics to renew their mission and build a welcoming Church. The Vatican kept the occasion pastoral despite political interest in the cathedral’s restoration and reopening.

Pope Leo Welcomes Journalists Amid Trump Media Fight — 4dPope Leo XIV told a CNN reporter on a Paris flight journalists are welcome to cover him, days after a judge blocked a White House ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

Derek Foss Glad the judge stopped the attempt to sideline CNN and the others, and the Pope's stance lines up with keeping coverage open.

Pope Leo warns France against assisted dying, surrogacy — 4dDuring his visit to France, Pope Leo XIV condemned assisted dying, surrogacy, genetic manipulation and the trade in human organs, arguing that science and technology must serve human dignity and the common good. He also urged ethical guidance for technological progress and defended a secularism that leaves room for religion.

Pope Leo draws 800,000 to Mass at Revolution's guillotine site — 2dAn estimated 800,000 filled Place de la Concorde for Pope Leo XIV's open-air Mass, outpacing registrations in secular France as adult baptisms rise against decades of decline in priests, weddings and overall baptisms.

Rachel Meyers Rising adult baptisms suggest some real interest despite the drop in priests and weddings.

Pope Leo XIV arrives in France for UNESCO address on AI and peace — 5dPope Leo XIV’s visit to France is intended to draw attention to peace amid global conflicts and to questions of human dignity raised by artificial intelligence, with a major address at UNESCO. The trip also highlights hopes for renewed Christian interest in a deeply secular country, alongside debates over issues including euthanasia.

Sam Okafor Linking peace efforts with warnings on euthanasia shows the Pope tackling dignity consistently.

White Sox Clinch Playoff Berth, Pope Reacts — 4dPope Leo XIV, a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan, smiled and replied “No comment. Great things happen in Chicago” when asked whether he had helped the team clinch a 2026 postseason berth. The playoff run marks a dramatic turnaround after several 100-loss seasons, including a modern-era record 121 losses in 2024.

Physical Books vs E-ReadersYourlist — VS BattlePaper's soul versus the paperless suitcase.

Pope Leo XIV Urges More International Aid for Somalia Crisis — Sep 20, 2026WFP has only a tenth of its 2022 resources as 6 million Somalis face acute food insecurity; Pope Leo XIV appealed Sept. 20 for international aid.

Rachel Meyers We should prioritize help for the women and children caught in this mix of conflict and climate disasters.

Pope Leo Plans 10-City South America Tour — Sep 21, 2026Pope Leo XIV will undertake a demanding 11–12 day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru this November, logging about 31,000 kilometers across 10 cities and delivering around 36 speeches, including a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei. The itinerary features major Masses, a prison visit, a Lima address on Peru’s future, and reflects the pope’s active travel schedule, Peruvian citizenship, and ongoing emphasis on unity and faith while marking the first papal visit to South America since 2018.

Maya Lindstrom Pope's packed schedule shows real commitment to the region, especially visiting a prison and addressing Peru's future.

Pope Leo warns AI risks dehumanization during France visit — 3dLeo XIV opens the first official papal visit to France in 18 years with a warning on AI’s ‘paradise of machines,’ drawing crowds, a youth vigil, and a sharp free-enterprise rebuttal from Peter Thiel.

Priya Raman It's nice to see such strong turnout for the first papal visit in years, and the youth vigil shows real interest in these issues.

Pope Leo Begins Four-Day Visit to France — Sep 21, 2026Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 apostolic tour across France, Peru, Uruguay and other stops is drawing massive crowds and spurring tourism and infrastructure planning, from Paris’s Notre-Dame area to Lourdes, Lima’s Las Palmas mass and Chiclayo’s urban preparations. The visits are framed as both a major spiritual renewal for local communities and a significant economic and logistical undertaking for host cities.

Would you get phished?Quizie — QuizFifteen workplace scam scenarios. Most people are more confident than correct — the rank says which one you are.

Jesus Statue With Mary and Martha Installed at Temple Square — 3dA giant statue of Pope Leo XIV is taking shape in Peru ahead of his planned visit, while a Christian monument commemorating answered prayers has begun construction near Birmingham. In Salt Lake City, a new statue of Jesus with Mary and Martha was installed at Temple Square as renovations near completion.

Fulton Sheen Beatified at St. Louis Mass — 5dArchbishop Fulton Sheen was declared blessed at a Mass in St. Louis presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who praised his life of faith and care for the poor; Pope Leo XIV set Sheen’s feast day for Dec. 9. Sheen’s 1975 preaching visits to the Philippines and a conference examining how his legacy can inspire Catholics underscored his continuing influence.

Pope Leo XIV reverses Francis-era salary cuts for cardinals — Sep 14, 2026On his 71st birthday at the Vatican Library, Pope Leo XIV reversed 2021 pandemic pay cuts that had reduced cardinals' salaries by 10%.

Dana Whitfield Restoring the cardinals' salaries after the pandemic makes sense, but the Vatican deficit still needs real fixes.

Pope Leo Plans France Visit Amid Assisted-Dying Debate — Sep 19, 2026Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming official visit to France will foreground the Vatican’s emphasis on upholding the sanctity of life amid France’s new end-of-life law, with meetings planned in Paris and Lourdes that could shape dialogue on moral issues, clerical abuse, and state-religion relations. The trip also features tensions over protocol and honors, as Leo declines certain state-level recognitions and private meetings, while Vatican observers weigh the political implications of the papal schedule and France’s secular context.

Pope celebrated Mary’s birthday with “Good Counsel” devotion — Sep 9, 2026Pope Leo XIV marked the vigil of Mary's birth by celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano and presenting a golden rose to the image there.

Chris Dalton I like how this ties the Pope's public prayers to practical guidance from Mary for everyday decisions.

Pope Appoints Saporito Bishop of Metuchen — Sep 15, 2026Pope Leo XIV has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito of Newark as the new Bishop of Metuchen, filling the diocese’s vacancy since November 2025 when the former bishop moved to become Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans. Saporito, a Newark native with three decades of North Jersey ministry and experience as an auxiliary bishop, previously led evangelization initiatives and will now lead a diocese that has been administrated by Very Rev. Jonathan Toborowsk since Checchio’s departure.

Europe Sea Arrivals Fall 39%, Deaths Rise: IOM — Sep 17, 2026Sea arrivals to Europe fell 39% to about 60,000 through mid-September 2026 as deaths rose to at least 2,292, IOM said. Amy Pope: nearly every death is preventable.

Priya Raman Fewer crossings are a relief, but more than 2200 deaths prove the routes remain far too deadly and need safer legal options.

Henry IV Walks to Canossa and Reconciles with PopeGood News — FROM 1077King kneels in snow seeking absolution.

Pope John XXIII Opens Second Vatican CouncilGood News — FROM 1962Pontiff invites dialogue with other faiths

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Pope Leo XIV international visits and humanitarian appeals