Vatican Finance & Governance: Pope Leo XIV has named eight new members to the Vatican’s Council for the Economy, including four lay experts, tasked with overseeing Curia finances, approving budgets, and reviewing consolidated statements for a five-year term. AI, Ethics & War: A new look at Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas highlights how its AI warnings are drawing industry attention, while its final chapter on the future of war is getting less notice. Energy Infrastructure: A UK planning committee heard proposals for a large battery energy storage site on farmland near Grantham—44 hectares, up to 1,142 lithium containers—raising fire and environmental safety questions. Food Security & Ports: Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of lethal strikes as Odesa’s seaport was hit, with leaders framing the attacks as pressure on global agricultural exports. World Youth Day Logistics: Preparations for WYD 2027 in Seoul are accelerating, with Vatican officials visiting dioceses and registration set to open in October. Papal Travel & Aviation: Air France will run dedicated flights for Pope Leo XIV’s first official visit to France in September, using a dedicated A321 for the delegation. Church Discipline & Freemasonry: Italian bishops intervened to cancel Catholic funerals for senior Freemasons, reaffirming Church rules against Masonic membership. Catholic Tech Communication: The C3 conference in Los Angeles tied Pope Leo’s AI encyclical to a push for rooted, human-centered digital evangelization.