Tag: global news
Celebrating Laudato Si’
by Shannon Kelly ’26 on October 9, 2025
National and Global News
A Speech from Pope Leo
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Pope Leo XIV spoke at a conference centered on climate change in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. This was his first speech on the environment since becoming pope in May. In light of celebrating ten years of Laudato si’, an encyclical written by Pope Francis which focuses on the importance of caring for our common home, Pope Leo XIV centered his call around the need for global action to protect the world as we know it. As explained by Pope Leo XIV, “the challenges identified in Laudato si’ are in fact even more relevant today than they were 10 years ago.”
Pope Leo XIV put pressure on the people to call on their respective governments to take action and involve themselves in addressing one of the world’s most pressing issues—climate change. He emphasized the fact that “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures.” Pope Leo XIV also spoke to the connection that is often formed between environmental degradation and poverty. He continually emphasized the bond that remains between having a concern for nature, seeking justice for the poor, remaining committed to society, and desiring interior peace. He stated that striving for the common good should always be at the forefront of all that we do, while sticking to the fact that there is no room for indifference or resignation in conversations centered on climate change.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the need for upcoming international conferences, such as the 2025 Climate Change Conference, the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security, and the 2026 Water Conference, to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, families, indigenous peoples, involuntary migrants, and believers all over the world. The Pope reminds us that we are all one family, who depend on one another and whose actions reap consequences both in the present day and in the future. Pope Leo XIV preached the need for unity in his own words: “We inhabit the same planet, and we must care for it together.”
Pope Leo XIV has recently spoken in regards to the political climate in the United States at this current moment. He weighed in on the dichotomy of those who say they are pro-life, but agree with the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the U.S., stating that he does not know if that is truly pro-life. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich highlighted the divisions that exist in the U.S., saying that Catholics have been left “politically homeless.” In Pope Leo XIV’s final remarks, he concluded with a question regarding each and every one of us as people. After acknowledging that God asks us to cultivate and care for the world that he created, which we all are called to do as believers, we must reckon with taking true care of our brothers and sisters. Will we cultivate the earth, care for the environment, and support our loved ones for the benefit of future generations, or in the words of the Pope, “what will be our answer?”
Trump’s U.N. Meeting with Zelenskyy Signals Major Shift in U.S./Ukraine Relations
by Erich Rumson ’28 on October 2, 2025
National and Global News
Recent comments made by President Donald Trump following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the U.N. signaled a stronger relationship between the two leaders, as Trump appears to have taken a more pro-Ukrainian stance. This shift takes place amidst stalled peace negotiations with Russia, which have not produced the cease-fire many Americans have been hoping for.
Following the Sept. 23 meeting at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, which Zelensky called “a good conversation,” Trump commented on Truth Social that he was optimistic about Ukraine’s position in its war with Russia. In a surprising shift in rhetoric, the President said he believed Ukraine could reclaim all the territory it has lost and called Russia a “paper tiger” that has been “fighting aimlessly for three and a half years.” According to the Wall Street Journal, these comments reflect a major change from his previous stance, in which Trump expressed doubt that the war could end without Ukraine giving up territory.
Trump’s shift in attitude could reflect growing frustration with a lack of progress in peace talks with Russia. The president has long viewed ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, as one of his major foreign policy goals. During his first months in office, Trump largely avoided harsh criticisms of Russia to get its president, Vladimir Putin, to the negotiating table. Although a summit between Trump and Putin was held in Alaska last month, it failed to produce an agreement, and Russia has shown no signs of stopping its attacks on Ukraine since. As a result, Trump has adopted a tougher stance towards Russia, becoming increasingly critical of Putin’s refusal to end the war.
Among the topics discussed at the meeting was Ukraine’s use of American long-range missiles. Although the U.S. has restricted Ukraine from using American missiles in strikes within Russia’s borders, Trump said during the meeting that he was now open to lifting those restrictions. Trump has also said he is open to supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles and other accurate long-range weapons, which the Wall Street Journal said “would be a major escalation in U.S. assistance.” In addition, Trump further reiterated his support for NATO and has vowed to continue to supply them with American weapons.
One notable development during recent events has been the much-improved relationship between Trump and Zelensky, which had previously been notoriously rocky. The two have been very critical of each other in the past, with the President having accused Zelensky of disrespecting his American allies, while Zelensky had claimed Trump was too close to Putin. Tensions between the two came to a head during a now-infamous Feb. 28 meeting at the White House, in which both leaders got into a heated argument during a live Oval Office press conference. The two have since appeared to have patched things up, as they have held several productive meetings, including an impromptu summit at the Vatican during Pope Francis’ funeral last April. At the U.N. meeting last week, Trump praised the Ukrainian war effort, saying they were doing “a very good job” of fighting the Russians. Zelensky, in turn, has since praised Trump’s support in trying to end the war, calling him a “game changer.” This week, Ukrainian officials are expected to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington to discuss potential changes in aid policy.