Ollie Pope says he respects England’s decision to replace him with Harry Brook as vice-captain for the Ashes series.

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Greta Gerwig and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience Saturday celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite. Leo encouraged the filmmakers and celebrities gathered in a frescoed Vatican audience hall to use their art to include marginal

Pope Leo XIV appealed for persecuted Christians around the globe on Sunday, making specific mention of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Celebrating Mass for the Jubilee of the Poor on the Ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians not to retreat into a closed or “religious” world of their own, but to help make human society “a space of fraternity and dignity for all,

The Surrey batter was relieved of the England vice-captaincy in September with his position in the side under threat, but has responded well

The Vatican officially rejected the Jesus apparitions reported in , France, during the 1970s. The supernatural claims have been declared false after decades.

Pope Leo XIV does not intend to overturn Pope Francis’ limits on celebrating the traditional Latin Mass but will grant two-year dispensations to bishops who ask, a nuncio said.

But left unspoken at a Vatican meeting with film stars were the deep divisions over issues like abortion and homosexuality.