Megan Williams
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-20-2025 4PM EDT
From the balcony above a flower-filled St. Peter's Square, a frail Pope Francis greeted thousands. Though too weak to lead mass or deliver his Urbi et Orbi, the traditional address to Rome and to the world, it called for a Gaza ceasefire, food for the starving, the release of Israeli hostages, and peace in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Congo.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-20-2025 4PM EDT
After five weeks in hospital, the 88-year-old pope is still recovering.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-20-2025 4PM EDT
After the service, Francis greeted crowds from his Popemobile. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-20-2025 2PM EDT
Francis has called President Donald Trump's crackdown a, quote, disgrace, and indirectly rebuked Vance for using Christian values to justify hardline immigration policies. The Pope called the immigration policy a, quote, major crisis for the U.S. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-20-2025 2PM EDT
The Vatican says Pope Francis met privately with Vance on Easter morning to exchange holiday greetings. The brief encounter came a day after Vance held more formal talks with senior Vatican officials. Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, did not attend those meetings. Vance, a Catholic convert, has publicly clashed with the Pope over immigration.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-19-2025 4PM EDT
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi and U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff didn't meet directly here in Rome, but instead passed messages through an Omani official, as they did in last week's talks in Muscat, which both sides called constructive. The U.S. wants Iran to scale back uranium enrichment and allow tougher international inspections. Iran wants sanctions relief in return.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 04-19-2025 4PM EDT
There have been no direct negotiations between the two countries since 2015 under President Barack Obama. President Trump faces pressure from Israel to walk away. But for now, the diplomatic meetings continue. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams in Rome.