The 2025 Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” seeks to deliver a message of hope to a world scarred by war and crisis. The faithful are called to spiritual renewal with a particular emphasis on solidarity and charity toward others. According to Christian tradition, pilgrims may obtain a plenary indulgence through journeys to Rome, acts of charity and passing through one of the city’s four “Holy Doors.”

Pope Leo XIV s' weekly general audience in Vatican

The festival sees married women fasting and worshiping Lord Shiva for the health and happiness of their husbands while unmarried women pray for a good husband. The occasion is marked by fasting, singing and dancing as part of the celebration.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha also known as Wat Phra Kaew is the famous destination for tourists that is located next to the Chao Phraya River. This historical landmark was built in 1782 and has been one of the country s' most significant religious sites.

Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most cherished festivals, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity. Observed with grandeur especially in Maharashtra and southern states, devotees install clay idols in homes and pandals, offer prayers and relish modak. The festivities last 1 to 11 days and conclude with visarjan, the immersion of idols in water symbolizing Ganesha ’s return to his abode while blessing devotees with wisdom, prosperity and hope.

The Holy Bath of São Bartolomeu do Mar Every August 24, the small parish of São Bartolomeu do Mar fills with families for one of Portugal’s most striking rituals: the holy bath. Children are carried into the Atlantic and plunged into the freezing water — three, five, seven or nine times — a tradition believed to protect them from fear, stuttering, epilepsy, and other ills. But it must be done before the age of seven. The custom dates back centuries and is tied to a legend: on this day, the devil roams free, returning to the sea only at nightfall. Until then, the ocean is pure, its waves a shield against evil. The ritual unfolds before a packed shoreline. Shouts of children mix with crashing waves as parents grip them tightly, submerging and…

Ganesh Puja Preparation at Kolkata 2025 in India - 23 Aug 2025

Pope Leo XIV leads his traditional Wednesday General Audience in Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City, Vatican, on August 20, 2025.

Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew leads mass in Çanakkale, Turkey - 20 Aug 2025

Pope Leo XIV' s weekly general audience in Vatican

Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo

Pope Leo XIV leads a mass in Albano Laziale

Pope Leo XIV attends a lunch with the poor assisted by Caritas of Albano Laziale, at Borgo Laudato Sì, in the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo

Janmashtami festival celebration in Kolkata, India - 16 Aug 2025

Members of the Japanese Society of Cairns organised a day of music, food and traditional dance in Cairns' Fogarty Park for the Japan Bon Dance Festival on Saturday 16 August 2025. Attendees included Mayor Amy Eden and Japanese Ambassador to Japan Kazuhiro Suzuki.

Pope Leo XIV recites the Angelus in Castelgandolfo, Italy

Bolivian residents from across the Spanish state gathered on Madrid's Gran Via to celebrate the traditional religious festival of the Virgin of Urkupiña. The Virgin of Urkupiña is a devotion to the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in her arms, venerated on August 15 in the city of Quillacollo, the provincial capital 14 km from Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated across the country to mark the birth of Hindu god Krishna. Devotees gather on the streets forming acrobatic pyramids to break dahi handi (earthen pot filled with curd) celebrating the occasion.

Pope Leo XIV recites the Angelus of the Assumption in Roma, Italy

Pope Leo XIV spent a holiday at the Villa Berninia residence in Castelgandolfo.

Pope Leo XIV during Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace in Piazza della Liberta in Castel Gandolfo

On this day, the Japanese surrendered, and the Dutch East Indies was liberated in 1945. This officially marked the end of World War II for the Netherlands. A solemn ceremony took place in St. Steven's Church.

Pope Leo XIV during Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo

The Grand Magal of Touba is the most important religious festival of the Mourid Brotherhood in Senegal, a branch of Sufi Islam. It is celebrated annually in the city of Touba to commemorate the life and teachings of its founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba.

Pope Leo XIV' s weekly general audience in Vatican

Eve of the Grand Magal of Touba, Madrid - 12 Aug 2025

The Newar community observes the festival to honor family members who passed away in the past year.

Pope Leo XIV' s weekly general audience in Vatican City, Vatican - 6 Aug 2025

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir on August 6, 2025, ordered a ban on 25 books, including works by prominent Indian and international authors, alleging that the titles promote what authorities called “false narratives,” “glorify terrorism,” and “incite secessionism.” The banned books cover a wide range of subjects, including human rights, politics, gender, history, and military occupation. Authorities said the decision was based on intelligence reports and investigations that found the content had influenced youth toward “violence,” “a culture of grievance,” and “terrorist heroism.”

One million young pilgrims from all over the world arrived in Tor Vergata in Rome on August 2nd to attend the vigil and Holy Mass on August 3rd presided over by Pope Leo XIV to conclude the Jubilee of Youth 2025.

Pope Leo XIV during Mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

Pope Leo XIV during Youth Jubilee 2025 in Tor Vergata on the outskirts of Rome

Holy Mass and Angelus presided over by Pope Leo XIV in Rome

Pope Leo XIV holds mass for the Youths Jubilee in Rome, Italy

Pope Leo XIV leads the prayer vigil with young people participating in the Youths Jubilee at the Tor Vergata field in Rome, Italy on 02 August 2025.

Young people who participate in the Youth Jubilee can celebrate the penitential day and confess themselves in the confessionals set up for them in the Circus Maximus in Rome, Italy, on 01 August 2025.

Pope Leo XIV leads traditional General Audience in Vatican

Pope Leo XIV s' weekly general audience in Vatican

Pope greets participants in the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers in Vatican

More than 2,000 pilgrims a day are currently arriving in Santiago on the most relevant routes, the French and Portuguese Way. However, the mass movement also brings with it bottlenecks in accommodation and complaints from residents in the historic centre of Santiago about increasing noise pollution.

Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Outside the train station, people gathered and made loud noises with pots and instruments to call for an end to the famine in Gaza. For months, Israel kept food shipments to Gaza far below starvation rations. Now the death toll is rising rapidly. These protests are occurring simultaneously at several train stations nationwide.

Deep puja on the occasion of Ashadh Amavasya at a school in Mumbai, India - 24 Jul 2025

Ghantakarna festival is a celebration of the defeat of the mythical demon Ghantakarna, chasing the evil spirits and bringing good fortunes.

Pope Leo XIV leaves Castel Gandolfo after his summer holidays

Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo

Pope Leo XIV presides over a mass at the San Pancrazio cathedral in Albano Laziale

Pope Leo XIV: Angelus in Castel Gandolfo

The Pope is having a period of rest before he returns to the Vatican.

Devotees of Lord Shiva perform jalabhishek to fulfill their wishes on the occasion of the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri.