News Watch ( March 2026 )

Pope Leo XIV Urges French Catholic Media to Put Human Connection First Amid AI Era 

Pope Leo XIV called on Catholic journalists to renew their commitment to truth, compassion, and human relationships as artificial intelligence continues to transform the media world. In a message delivered on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, the Pope addressed members of the Fédération des Médias Catholiques ahead of their annual Saint François de Sales meeting in Lourdes. 

The Pope emphasised that in a time increasingly shaped by AI, communicators must refocus on what is essential: empathy, strong relationships, and inclusive dialogue. He stressed that Catholic media has a unique responsibility to serve truth for everyone, including those outside the Church. Pope Leo encouraged journalists to use language that promotes goodness and reconciliation, helping to counter hatred, extremism, and division in an increasingly polarized society. 

He also urged media professionals to pay special attention to people who are often ignored, describing Catholic media as ‘antennas’ meant to receive and share the stories of the vulnerable, the marginalised, the lonely, and those longing to feel valued and loved. 

The message highlighted the witness of Father Jacques Hamel, the French priest killed during Mass in 2016. Referring to a journalism award named in Hamel’s honour, the Pope praised his dedication to peace, interreligious dialogue, and attentive listening, noting his conviction that genuine closeness to others, without exclusion, is urgently needed today. 

Leaders of the FSSP meet Pope Leo XIV 

Pope Leo XIV met privately with leaders of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) on 19 January at the Apostolic Palace, marking his first personal encounter with a major 

community dedicated to the traditional Roman Rite. According to a statement released the following day, the Pope received FSSP Superior General Father John Berg, a native of Minneapolis, along with Father Josef Bisig, a co-founder of the fraternity and current rector of its seminary in Denton, Nebraska. 

Founded in 1988 by priests who separated from the Society of St Pius X in order to remain fully obedient to the Pope while preserving the older liturgy, the FSSP requested the meeting as a chance to explain its history, mission, and nearly four decades of pastoral work. The fraternity said the audience also allowed for discussion of challenges it faces in certain regions and for clarifying questions raised by the Pope. 

The meeting took place amid heightened sensitivity following Pope Francis’ 2021 document Traditionis Custodes, which led to increased oversight of traditional communities, including an ongoing apostolic visitation of the FSSP that began in late 2024. Both the fraternity and Vatican officials have emphasised that the process is meant as routine accompaniment, not punishment. Observers see the audience as a hopeful sign of Leo XIV’s willingness to listen and exercise a measured, pragmatic approach toward traditional communities. The FSSP reported that the Pope offered his blessing to all its members and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet, while inviting the faithful to pray for the fraternity during its upcoming novena. 

Thousands join the March for Life in France 

Approximately 10,000 people assembled at Paris’ Place Vauban, facing the historic Invalides complex, for the annual March for Life on 18 January. The gathering, marked by a strikingly youthful, determined, and outspoken crowd, aimed to affirm the value of human life amid a tense moment in France’s legislative calendar. 

The demonstration occurred two years after abortion was written into the French Constitution and just days before a Senate debate on proposed end-of-life legislation that would legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. For many marchers, these developments lent the event a sense of urgency and historical importance. Participants were largely young Catholics who viewed the issues at stake as fundamental to society itself. 

Despite the strong turnout, the French Catholic episcopate was largely absent. Bishop Emeritus Dominique Rey of Toulon-Fréjus was the only bishop present, continuing a pattern that has prompted questions about how Church leaders engage publicly on sensitive moral questions, even as younger generations show renewed interest in clear ethical guidance.

Under banners proclaiming messages such as ‘Care and support, never eliminate,’ marchers processed peacefully through the capital. Students, young families, and first-time participants joined seasoned activists. Organisers estimated the average age to be around 20, an impressive showing given limited institutional backing and sparse media attention. According to spokeswoman Marie-Lys Pellissier, the march remains one of the few opportunities for pro-life voices to be heard publicly in France.

Women played a prominent role this year, with several sharing personal testimonies about abortion and its lasting emotional impact, challenging prevailing narratives. Among them was Emilie Quinson, who has spoken internationally about her experiences and now advocates for greater support for women facing unplanned pregnancies. 

In a climate where public opposition to abortion or euthanasia carries social and professional risks, young participants’ willingness to speak out stood in contrast to the caution of Church leadership. Pellissier noted that bishops are routinely invited but often decline or remain silent. 

For these young activists, questions of life and death are central, not peripheral, to the Church’s mission. As a quiet but significant renewal of faith unfolds in France, they argue that clarity and courage from Church leaders are not optional, but essential. 

A Universal Cry for Justice: Cardinal Pizzaballa Reflects on Regional Crises Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in an interview with Vatican News conducted in Jordan on 13 January, reflected on the universal human longing for life, dignity, and justice, emphasising that these values reside in the heart of every person. He made these remarks while commenting on the grave situation in Iran, where hundreds of demonstrators have reportedly been killed since late December after protesting against the government over worsening economic conditions. The Cardinal noted that Iranians have endured suffering for a long time and expressed his hope that the crisis would not escalate into further violence. He stressed that this desire for dignity and justice is inseparable from both personal and communal identity and cannot be ignored. 

Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, was in Jordan attending a multi-day gathering with nearly 60 priests and bishops of the Latin Patriarchate. These meetings, held every few years, allow Church leaders to share experiences from their parishes. He explained that the Patriarchate’s diocese is particularly complex, as it spans several countries, each with unique political and social realities. 

Turning to Gaza, the Cardinal described the territory as experiencing ‘total devastation.’ Although a ceasefire was announced in October, targeted Israeli strikes persist, and harsh winter conditions continue to claim lives. Many people, he said, are dying not only from the cold but also due to severe shortages of medicine. He also highlighted ongoing difficulties in the West Bank, including restricted movement, denied permits, and settler violence that disrupts daily life. 

Despite regional instability, Jordan remains relatively calm and continues to offer medical support to Gazans in urgent need. The Latin Patriarchate plays a significant role in Jordan through its network of 30 schools, which foster Christian education while strengthening relations with the Muslim majority. Addressing challenges such as internal migration, Cardinal Pizzaballa nonetheless encouraged pilgrims to return to the Holy Land, calling it both safe and spiritually transformative.