Vatican City

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Pope Francis and Mons. Paolo Braida during the Sunday Angelus address, Nov. 26

Papal aide relays Pope Francis’ remarks at Sunday Angelus while pope recovers from flu

Nov 26, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During this week’s Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis spoke not from the window of the Apostolic Palace but via livestream from... Read more

Waiters bring lunch to Pope Francis and those seated at his table on the World Day of the Poor on Nov. 19, 2023. The lunch was offered by Hilton Hotels and organized by the Vatican's charity office and the Sant'Egidio community.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis shares Vatican lunch with poor

Nov 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis had lunch with about 1,200 poor, refugees, and homeless from around Rome on Sunday to mark the Church’s... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.

Pope Francis: ‘Trust frees, fear paralyzes’

Nov 19, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis during his weekly Angelus highlighted the two different ways of approaching God, one based on fear and the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the National Association of Hispanic Priests at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on  Nov. 16, 2023.

Pope Francis tells American priests: ‘Do not leave the Lord of the tabernacle alone’

Nov 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The presence of Jesus in every tabernacle points us to how we can serve our suffering brothers and sisters who... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis: ‘The fullness of love’ is the ‘path of holiness’

Nov 16, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Thursday addressed participants of the study conference “Community Dimension of Holiness,” which had gathered in Rome Nov.... Read more

The Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Rome to celebrate 1,700th birthday of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Nov 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Diocese of Rome has planned a full year of events to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Archbasilica of... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the crowds at his general audience on Nov. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis: Secularized world is ‘invitation to communicate the joy of the Gospel’

Nov 8, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Wednesday drew upon the example of Venerable Servant of God Madeleine Delbrêl as a testament to conversion... Read more

Pope Francis shakes hands with one of the approximately 7,000 children from around the world in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Nov. 6, 2023, at an event sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education dedicated to the theme “Let us learn from boys and girls.”

In special meeting, Pope Francis talks peace, war, climate with kids from around the world

Nov 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis answered questions about war, the environment, and his daily life during an encounter with roughly 7,000 children from... Read more

The Vatican announced in September 2023 the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome will be open to the public.

Vatican allows a peek at historic palazzo in heart of Rome

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The palace was originally home to Cardinal Raffaele Riario, known for having invited Michaelangelo to Rome after being impressed by... Read more

The Vatican has withdrawn a commemorative stamp for the 2023 World Youth Day.

Vatican withdraws World Youth Day 2023 stamp after criticism in Portugal

May 19, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The stamp’s design drew negative comments because it “recalls a colonial past very distant from Pope Francis’ message of universal... Read more

Pope Francis opens the Holy Doors at St. Peter's Basilica to begin the Year of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015.

Rome prepares for 35 million pilgrims during 2025 Jubilee Year

May 18, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican and the city of Rome are expecting an estimated 35 million people to flock to the Eternal City... Read more

A Vatican flag, with the incorrect design likely drawn from Wikipedia, and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Wikipedia had the wrong Vatican City flag for years. Now incorrect flags are everywhere

Apr 8, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Imagine many people’s surprise to discover that the image of the “Flag of Vatican City” displayed on Wikipedia has been... Read more

Palazzo della Rovere, also called Palazzo dei Penitenzieri.

Historic building near Vatican to become Four Seasons hotel

Mar 14, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Catholic order of knighthood has signed a leasing agreement that will allow a Four Seasons hotel to manage part... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Cesar Landa, Peru's foreign minister, at the Vatican, Oct. 17, 2022.

Vatican to return three pre-Columbian mummies to Peru 

Oct 19, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Vatican on Monday returned three pre-Columbian mummies to Peru, which had been loaned for the 1925 Universal Vatican Exposition. Read more

An exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., focuses on the history of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Museum of the Bible exhibit explores architectural history of St. Peter's Basilica

Jun 21, 2022

By Maisy Sullivan

The exhibit opened May 27 and will remain in the museum's long-term Vatican exhibit through Sept. 25. Read more

Sister Marie Lucindis Stock.

The story of Sister Lucindis, the nun who made St. Peter’s Square her home

May 5, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Sister Maria Lucindis Stock died on March 11. This is her story. Read more

A police officer on duty at St Peter’s Square. Credit: Maciej Matlak/Shutterstock

Is Vatican City’s judicial system in peril?

Mar 31, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The U.K. court ruling that overturned an account seizure request by Vatican City prosecutors has raised questions about the reliability... Read more

People pass in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of May 2020.

Pope Francis appoints new director of Vatican healthcare fund

Jul 18, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Saturday named Italian surgeon Giovanni Battista Doglietto as director of the Vatican health fund known as Fondo di... Read more

Swiss Guards at the commemoration of the fallen with conferment in the Protomartyrs' Square in Vatican City, May 6, 2015.

Swiss Guards postpone swearing-in of new recruits due to coronavirus

May 6, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The annual swearing-in of new Swiss Guards, which would usually take place May 6, was moved to Oct. 4 because... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica and square closed to public March 10, 2020.

Vatican City prepares to ease coronavirus restrictions in May

Apr 22, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with members of the Roman curia on Wednesday to discuss the gradual... Read more