Four astronauts have embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century. It’s the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a lunar landing in two years. The 32-story moon rocket blasted off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Wednesday evening, carrying three Americans and one Canadian. The Artemis II crew will spend a day in orbit around Earth checking their capsule before firing the main engine that will propel them to the moon. The nearly 10-day mission will see them fly around the moon and set a distance record, before coming straight back home.

Pope Leo XIV has urged the people of Monaco to use their Catholic faith and wealth for good. In his homily at the end of a one-day visit, Leo urged them to reject the “idolatry of power and money” that is fueling wars around the world. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene met Leo at the Monaco heliport Saturday. It is just down the coast from Monaco’s marina, which is home to the megayachts of the rich and famous. It is the first papal visit in modern times to Monaco and the first since Pope Paul III came in 1538.