Freddie Clayton

2 weeks ago | nbcnews.com | Henry Gomez |Freddie Clayton

May 18, 2025, 10:17 AM EDTVATICAN CITY — After leaving the Marines and beginning his higher education, Vice President JD Vance drifted into atheism — struggling, he would eventually write, with feelings of “irrelevance” in his faith and with “a desire for social acceptance among American elites.”Vance, who later converted to Catholicism, this weekend made his second trip to the Vatican in less than a month. On the first visit, Vance met with Pope Francis on Easter, hours before he died.

2 weeks ago | nbcnews.com | Freddie Clayton |Maya Eaglin

Updated May 18, 2025, 3:07 AM EDTPope Leo XIV will preside over his inaugural mass today in front of St Peter’s Basilica, which marks the formal start of his papacy. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), and is expected to last for about 2 hours. It will include the mass and several papal rituals, such as the bestowal of the Fisheman's Ring, the imposition of the pallium and an homage by the cardinals.

3 weeks ago | nbcnews.com | Duncan Gardham |Freddie Clayton

May 12, 2025, 5:46 PM EDTBy and LONDON — A Russian spy ring plotted to trade blood diamonds for weapons in Africa and supply drones to Russia’s military, according to messages shown to a London court that painted their fugitive leader as a wannabe James Bond. Jan Marsalek — who has been named as a key suspect in Germany’s biggest postwar fraud case — is alleged to have led the team of six Bulgarians who were sentenced Monday at London’s famous Old Bailey courthouse.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Freddie Clayton |Claudio Lavanga |Deborah Castellano Lubov

A convalescing Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Easter services on Sunday, as a cheering and emotional crowd of thousands gathered at the Vatican's St. Peters Square. The crowd erupted when the Pontiff, 88, appeared on his wheelchair, looking out over the square awash with daffodils and tulips. "Dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter," he said, waving and giving his blessing.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Richard Engel |Freddie Clayton

TEHRAN—A second round of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Rome Saturday, as both sides seek to ease growing tensions over potential military action and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. At risk is a possible American or Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on their threats to pursue a nuclear weapon.