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Pope Leo XIV meets at the Vatican Aug. 23, 2025, with refugees and their descendants who were exiled from the Chagos Islands to clear the way for the establishment of a major U.S. and U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) (Vatican Media)

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Pope defends rights of refugees evicted to build US military base

August 25, 2025January 21, 2026

VATICAN CITY CNS – Pope Leo XIV blessed five statues of Mary that refugees, who had been evicted from their islands in order to build a major U.S. military base, plan to place in the chapels they hope to restore when they return to their homelands."The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago…...