Pope Leo XIV holds General Audience indoors amid heatwave

Pope Leo XIV held his weekly General Audience inside St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday as Rome continued to endure the fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures reaching 38°C (100°F) and a perceived temperature of 42°C (108°F).

Departing from the usual practice of gathering pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope moved the audience indoors due to the extreme heat. During the event, he greeted and blessed approximately 5,000 pilgrims, many of whom had traveled to Rome from Poland and other countries.

Meanwhile, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV will undertake his next apostolic journey from November 6 to 17, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

The South American trip will mark another major international pastoral visit of the American-born Pontiff, as he continues to strengthen ties with Catholic communities across the region.

Source: ANA-MPA