VATICAN CITY -- VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV canonized Venezuela’s beloved “doctor of the poor” Sunday before tens of thousands of people, offering the South American nation its first saint and a reason to celebrate amid a yearslong economic crisis and new tensions with the United States.

Queen Rania and King Abdullah of Jordan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Tuesday. The meeting marked the Jordanian royals’ first visit with the new pope since his inauguration in May. While the King and Queen did not attend the papal inauguration, they did attend the funeral for Pope Francis in April.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed a prominent liberal bishop from the United States to the commission responsible for managing Vatican City’s civil governance. The Holy See announced on Wednesday that it selected Cardinal Blase Cupich,

CHARLES will become the first monarch to pray in public with the Pope when he visits Vatican City next week. The King will also receive a new title and a special chair making the State Visit

The nomination comes as Pope Leo begins to name appointments in key Vatican positions after months of quiet discernment following his election to the papacy in May.

The horse, named Proton, was raised at a stud farm in Poland, the Vatican press office said in a statement. Sired by Kahil Al Shaqab, a renowned stallion and show horse, Proton’s maternal grandfather is Hlayyil Ramadan, a world Arabian horse champion, who was born and bred in Jordan by Princess Alia Al-Hussein.

Today’s appointment is seen in Rome as a sign of the esteem that Pope Leo has for the cardinal archbishop of Chicago, who recently came under fire from a number of U.S. bishops for giving a lifetime achievement award to Illinois’s Senator Dick Durbin.

Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Lakeview met Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City on Wednesday. The children attended the pontiff’s weekly audience — some dressed as the pope, as the swiss guard and cardinals.

P ope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church and a native of Chicago, is renowned as the most famous Chicago White Sox fan in the world. During a parade in Vatican City, he seized the opportunity to humorously tease a Chicago Cubs fan.

In addition to managing the many functions and activities of the Vatican City government, the commission also oversees the artistic complex of the Vatican Museums and their assets.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have announced new details of their trip to Vatican City to visit Pope Leo. Get all the details of the historic trip, including the monarch's new commemorative chair.