Venezuela, Pope Leo and María Corina Machado
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Pope Leo XIV denounces abortion and surrogacy as violations of human dignity in address to diplomatic corps, calling these practices exploitative.
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado held a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday. During the meeting, Ms Machado appealed to the Pontiff to intercede for the release of hundreds of political prisoners currently held in the Latin American nation.
Pope Leo XIV has baptized 20 babies in the Sistine Chapel, continuing an annual tradition marking the end of the Christmas holiday at the Vatican.
Pope Leo warned against a spreading "zeal for war" following U.S. attacks on Venezuela and Trump's ensuing threats.
Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church's first ever American leader, appears to signal a more inclusive leadership style than his predecessor.