Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby on All Saints Day’ 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has welcomed and greeted a plethora of babies at the Vatican since his election on May 8. As Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came into this world as a baby, it’s a perfect time to highlight many of these sweet “pontiff meets babies” moments.
Pope Leo XIV holds a baby during an audience at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 18, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a young attendee at a Pentecost prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square, Saturday, June 7, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Basilica on Aug. 13, 2025, at the Vatican. Due to the heat, the pope gave his address in Paul VI Audience Hall but also greeted pilgrims in other locations. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo meets a family at the general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo embraces a crying baby in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 6, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo embraces a baby at his general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during the general audience on Sept. 3, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his jubilee audience on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a family in Rome. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Pope Leo XIV pauses to embrace a baby in the crowd during Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 12, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo greets young children and families in St. Peter’s Basilica Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo blesses a baby on All Saints’ Day 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
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Pope Francis at the Jubilee of the Sick in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, April 6, 2025, wearing nasal cannulas for supplemental oxygen as he continues recovering from bilateral pneumonia. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News
CNA Newsroom, Apr 21, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has released the testament of Pope Francis. The 88-year-old pontiff died on Easter Monday morning, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. He led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years.
Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ testament:
Miserando atque Eligendo (“With having mercy and choosing him”)
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.
As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.
Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest — awaiting the day of the Resurrection — in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.
I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.
The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.
May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.
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1 Comment
Smart and cute. All those tiny boys and girls – they are the joy of: the Creator and Life Giver, their parents, their siblings, grand parents and relations.
Smart and cute. All those tiny boys and girls – they are the joy of: the Creator and Life Giver, their parents, their siblings, grand parents and relations.