AI and Culture Clash: Pope Leo XIV renewed his push for an “alliance with artists and cultural institutions” to safeguard human creativity, warning that “algorithms lack the spark of the human” and stressing an “ontological difference” between art and machine output. Tech-Company Pressure at the Vatican: Reports say Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah floated pulling out of the pope’s AI encyclical launch after rejecting machine consciousness, while privately urging Vatican advisers to take the possibility seriously—fueling a new Vatican-tech tension. Human Dignity in Practice: Scientists from Wake Forest and CINCIA briefed Pope Leo on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining, highlighting harm to ecosystems and vulnerable Indigenous communities. Interfaith and Child Protection: Kazakhstan’s VP Erlan Karin met Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad to discuss interfaith cooperation and a joint colloquium focused on protecting children with severe, incurable illnesses. Church Accountability: Lithuania’s bishops announced an investigation into crimes against minors and vulnerable adults in the Church since 1990, prioritizing victims and consulting both the Holy See and law enforcement. Art, Faith, and Public Life: Pope Leo’s France visit continues to shape coverage, with emphasis on massive crowds, pastoral care for the vulnerable, and a faith revival amid a secularized society.