Pope Leo XIV expressed the Church’s solidarity on Sunday with the people of the “martyred land” of Gaza, affirming that there can be no “future built on violence, forced exile, or vengeance.” His remarks came at the conclusion of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

“The entire Church expresses its solidarity with the brothers and sisters suffering in this martyred land,” the Pope declared, as Israel intensifies its military operations in the Palestinian territory, already devastated by nearly two years of war. “Nations need peace,” he added, addressing members of Catholic associations gathered in the square behind a banner that read Peace for Gaza.

Israel launched a major offensive in Gaza City on Tuesday, with the stated aim of destroying the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack in Israel triggered the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

The latest assault, widely criticized by the international community, has forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee southward.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday establishing a new “Golden Card” residency program, which will cost $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate sponsorships.

The Republican leader also announced that companies seeking to hire highly skilled foreign workers through the H-1B visa program—commonly used in the high-tech sector—will now be required to pay $100,000 annually, up from the current $1,000.

“I think it’s going to be tremendously successful,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, referring to the Golden Card initiative, part of his broader policy to boost high-quality employment in the United States. According to Trump aide Will Scharf, applicants who pay the required fee—either directly to the U.S. Treasury or through corporate sponsorship—will receive fast-tracked visa processing under the new program.

During the announcement, a large golden placard resembling an oversized credit card, featuring Trump’s photo, was displayed beside the president.

H-1B visas typically last for three years, extendable up to six, and allow foreign workers to be sponsored by U.S. employers. Since his first term, Trump has pushed to restrict such work permits in favor of prioritizing American workers.

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CEL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week, amid the intensifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Zelensky, Russia carried out one of its largest air assaults overnight on Saturday, launching 40 missiles and 580 drones across Ukraine, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more. In response, the Ukrainian military launched a drone strike that killed four people in Russia’s Samara region, about 800 kilometers from the front line, local authorities reported.

Efforts by the United States to bring the war to a swift end remain stalled, while Moscow has ruled out a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, which Kyiv insists is the only path toward a lasting peace.