Pope Leo to lead first holy mass in Sistine Chapel after paying surprise visit

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1 month ago

May 9, 2025

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Pope Leo will lead his first holy mass as pontiff this morning – after already paying a surprise visit to see staff at his former residence.

Robert Prevost’s life changed forever on Thursday when he went from being one of 252 cardinals to the first-ever American pope.

His was chosen after just four rounds of voting in the Sistine Chapel – a conclave that lasted just 25 hours.

New pope unveiled to the world – as it happened

The 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal was not seen as a frontrunner but quickly secured the required two-thirds majority.

There was jubilation in St Peter’s Square when white smoke emerged and about an hour later the Pope’s identity was revealed when he stepped onto the balcony.

The choice of Leo is the first time the name has been used since Leo XII – the pope from 1878 to 1903.

Sky News understands one of the first things the Pope did was greet staff at his former residence, Sant’Uffizio Palace, just outside the Vatican.

All eyes will now be on his first mass, when he and other cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel around 10am.

Pope Leo’s first words as leader of 1.4 billion Catholics on Thursday evening were “may peace be with all of you”.

His balcony speech also paid tribute to his predecessor – who only made him cardinal two years ago and brought him from Peru for a senior Vatican role.

“The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning. So let us follow up that blessing,” said Leo.

He also called for a “church that builds bridges” and is “able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love”.

There has long been a taboo against a US pope – given the influence the country already has – but Leo was promoted as a “compromise candidate” ahead of conclave.

His many years as a missionary in Peru are also believed to have given him more universal appeal, especially among the cardinals from Central and South America.

President Donald Trump told reporters having an American in the role for the first time was a “great honour” – and Time magazine has already revealed its cover celebrating the moment.

However, the Pope appears to have taken issue with some of the Trump administration’s views and policies.

His X account posted a link in February to an article criticising comments by the vice president entitled: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others”.

In April, when President Trump met El Salvador’s leader about using a notorious prison for suspected US gang members, he shared another post stating: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”

‘Pope played Wordle before conclave’

With many now waiting on the Pope’s next public comments, his brothers have revealed their surprise when they saw him emerge in the white robes on TV.

Eldest brother Louis Prevost told Sky’s US partner NBC News it was “mindblowing”.

“When the cardinal came out and started to read his name, as soon as he went “raw” I knew he was gonna say ‘Roberto’ – and he did – and I just freaked out.”

Mr Prevost added: “We’ve kind of known he was special, and we used to tease him about being pope when he was six years old and stuff.”

The Pope’s other brother said he had been in contact with him before conclave and joked about watching the hit film of the same name.

“I said did you watch the movie Conclave so you know how to behave,” John Prevost told NBC News.

“And he had just finished watching the movie so knew how to behave; so it’s that kind of stuff because I wanted to take his mind off of it – because this is now an awesome responsibility.”

He also revealed the brothers had played online puzzles Wordle and Words with Friends to take the Pope’s mind off things in the run-up to the election.

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French police forced to watch on as migrants in Dunkirk attempt perilous Channel crossing

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1 hour ago

June 11, 2025

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French police forced to watch on as migrants in Dunkirk attempt perilous Channel crossing

As the first light breaks across a quiet beach near Dunkirk, a human tide begins to move.

Dozens of migrants, many with children, rush across the sand toward the water’s edge.

French police are present, but they do not intervene.

For many of these men, women, and children, this moment marks the final chapter of a journey that began months ago, fleeing war, persecution, and economic collapse in countries as far afield as Iran, Eritrea, and Sudan.

Now, they face the potentially deadly crossing to the UK in a flimsy inflatable boat.

We watched as one vessel emerged from an inland waterway already crowded with people.

The vessel is soon dangerously overloaded.

Floating haphazardly, a baby is yanked onto the boat, as they yell out for more people to climb aboard.

Despite the dinghy taking on water – scooped out with a shoe – the crossing continues.

On the shore, police officers stood by, watching.

When I asked why no attempt was made to intervene, one officer said: “It’s for their safety.

“There are children there. We’re not going to throw grenades at them. It’s inhumane. But it’s sad.”

French police protocol, along with international law, makes such interventions legally and morally complex once boats are afloat – especially when families are involved.

Despite millions spent by the UK government to curb these crossings, the numbers continue to rise.

As of the latest count, almost 15,000 people have already made the perilous journey across the Channel this year. Many more are expected this summer as the weather window widens.

In the makeshift camps near Dunkirk, migrants wait their turn for the smugglers to signal that conditions are right.

Ali Reza told us he fled Iran after converting to Christianity. He dreams of reaching Britain, where he hopes to claim asylum.

He said: “Britain is good and accepts refugees. It has good behaviour for refugees.

“I think I’ll get a good welcome. Many Iranian people go to Britain. There’s good behaviour.”

Back on the beach, not everyone manages to get aboard. The boat taxi service is in high demand.

Among the group, a woman from Eritrea spoke with me briefly.

Although she missed today’s crossing, she vowed to try again later in the week.

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Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire at US-backed aid site, officials say

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1 hour ago

June 11, 2025

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Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire at US-backed aid site, officials say

At least 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire at a US-backed humanitarian aid site in Gaza, according to health officials.

Medical officials at Shifa and al Quds hospitals say the people were killed as they approached the site – operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Dozens more were injured at the scene close to the former settlement of Netzarim, near Gaza City, medical officials from the Hamas-run territory added.

It comes just a day after Gaza health officials said 17 people were killed close to another GHF site in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Health officials said at least another six people were killed by Israeli gunfire as they approached a GHF site in Rafah on Wednesday.

Ten other people were also killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to officials.

The Israeli military said its forces fired warning shots towards suspects who were advancing and which it claimed posed a threat to the troops in the area of Netzarim.

“This is despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone. The IDF is aware of reports regarding individuals injured. The details are under review,” it added.

A total of 163 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded trying to reach the handful of aid sites operated by the GHF since it began work two weeks ago after a three-month blockade, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

It comes as the US ambassador to Israel said he does not think an independent Palestinian state remains a foreign policy for the Trump administration.

Mike Huckabee’s comments to Bloomberg News prompted the White House to say he spoke for himself.

When asked if a Palestinian state remains a US goal, Mr Huckabee said: “I don’t think so.”

Asked about Mr Huckabee’s comments, the White House referred to remarks earlier this year by Donald Trump when he pledged an American takeover of Gaza – a proposal which was condemned globally.

Rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN said such a move amounted to “ethnic cleansing”.

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Farewell letter from gunman discovered as Austria mourns school shooting victims

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1 hour ago

June 11, 2025

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Farewell letter from gunman discovered as Austria mourns school shooting victims

A farewell letter and video have been discovered at the home of a 21-year-old gunman who killed 10 people in a school shooting in Austria, as the nation observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday.

The country paused at 10am local time (9am UK time), marking the moment of the attack a day earlier at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in the southeastern city of Graz.

A teacher and nine students were killed – six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17. Another 11 people were wounded.

Hundreds of people gathered for the silence in the central square of Austria‘s second-biggest city, some also lighting candles in memory of those killed, others hugged each other, as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

In the capital Vienna, trams, subway trains and buses also stopped for a minute.

Hundreds of people joined Austrian officials at a service on Tuesday evening in Graz cathedral.

Police said the gunman, who took his own life, was a former student at the school who had not completed his studies.

But they added they do not yet know what his motive was.

The unnamed man used two weapons in the attack, a shotgun and a pistol, which he owned legally.

On Wednesday, officers searched the home where he lived with his mother near Graz and found a pipe bomb, which was not operational, along with abandoned plans for a bombing.

Franz Ruf, public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, told TV network ORF about the messages which officers discovered.

“A farewell letter in analog and digital form was found. He says goodbye to his parents. But no motive can be inferred from the farewell letter, and that is a matter for further investigations,” Mr Ruf said.

He added that the wounded people were found on various levels of the school and in the front of the building, but would not speculate on whether they were specifically targeted by the gunman.

Among those in the square on Wednesday was Chiara Komlenic, 28, who said she always felt safe when she attended the school.

“I made lifelong friendships there. It just hurts to see that young girls and boys will never come back, that they experienced the worst day of their lives where I had the best time of my life… it just hurts a lot,” she said.

On Wednesday morning, local health officials said that those injured were aged between 15 and 26 and were in a stable condition.

Nine were still in intensive care units, two of whom needed further operations. Another two had been moved to regular wards.

Austria has declared three days of national mourning following what appears to be the deadliest attack in its post-Second World War history.