Hannah Brockhaus

Hannah Brockhaus

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency’s senior Vatican correspondent. After growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, she earned a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri. In 2016, she moved to Rome, Italy, where in her spare time she enjoys reading and going on adventures with her husband and son.

Articles by Hannah Brockhaus

Surgeon and father among sainthood causes moving forward

Feb 27, 2017 / 11:03 am

Pope Francis recognized on Monday the heroic virtue of eight persons on the path to canonization, including an Italian surgeon and father of eight who suffered from several painful diseases throughout his life.

Access to water is a basic human right, concerns 'the common good'

Feb 24, 2017 / 11:03 am

A Vatican seminar on water held this week highlighted the complex challenges faced around the world in making the basic human right to water a reality for all people.

Pope meets families of victims from deadly Bangladesh attack

Feb 22, 2017 / 11:24 am

Pope Francis met Wednesday morning with the families of nine of the victims of a terrorist attack which took place in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, last summer.

Pope Francis: Creation is a sign of hope – we have to take care of it

Feb 22, 2017 / 04:32 am

On Wednesday Pope Francis said creation has often suffered because of humanity’s sins and failings, stressing that we must take care of it because as Christians, we see signs of hope in Christ’s Resurrection in nature every day.

Pope Francis: Protecting migrants is a 'moral imperative'

Feb 21, 2017 / 08:30 am

On Tuesday Pope Francis said that it is our duty to defend the dignity of migrants, particularly by enacting just laws that offer protection to those forced to flee from dangerous or inhumane situations.

Pope prays for victims of terrorist attacks in Iraq and Pakistan

Feb 19, 2017 / 05:09 am

After leading the Angelus Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for all those affected by violence and war around the world, particularly the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Iraq, asking pilgrims to offer a moment of silence before leading them in praying the ‘Hail Mary.’

Muslim refugee hails Pope Francis as the example of religion

Feb 17, 2017 / 16:02 pm

Nur Essa, a Muslim Syrian woman whose family was brought to Rome from Lesbos by Pope Francis last April, said that the openness he has shown to those of different faiths has deeply impressed her.

How one organization hopes to revolutionize orphanages

Feb 17, 2017 / 06:01 am

The Catholic Church puts a lot of effort into having excellent schools and hospitals, but what about its orphanages? For Caroline Boudreaux, conditions in orphanages are too often overlooked – something we all have the ability and opportunity to help change.

This is the one thing Pope Francis says you can brag about

Feb 15, 2017 / 04:59 am

As children we are taught that bragging is bad, especially when we do it to people who have less than us, however, for Pope Francis, there is one thing we should never hesitate to flaunt to whoever we meet: our hope in Christ.

Pope Francis: Don't preach the Gospel like it's a 'recommendation'

Feb 14, 2017 / 11:16 am

Pope Francis said Tuesday that the Word of God isn’t something that can be explained to people as a mere recommendation, or merely a good idea, but that it requires courage, prayer and humility to preach with honesty – and this is the only way it will have an impact.

Don't let small resentments turn into something worse, Pope Francis warns

Feb 13, 2017 / 10:40 am

Pope Francis on Monday spoke about what it means to kill your brother in your heart, which, may be something as small as envy or bitterness, and if left to grow, can lead to even worse things, such as war or actual murder.

Amid controversy, council of cardinals backs Pope Francis

Feb 13, 2017 / 10:10 am

In the wake of several contentious events surrounding the Vatican recently, Pope Francis' advisory board in his ongoing reform of the Roman Curia affirmed their support of the Pope and his work.

Without women, there is no harmony in the world, Pope Francis says

Feb 10, 2017 / 15:17 pm

A woman’s value is not based on her material accomplishments, but simply in the beauty and harmony she brings to the world, just by her very being, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis: in healthcare, we are responsible to the most vulnerable

Feb 10, 2017 / 13:22 pm

When it comes to healthcare and using our resources wisely, we have a responsibility to protect and take care of the most vulnerable in society, especially the elderly, Pope Francis told members of the Italian bishops’ conference Friday.

Bishop says the Christian influence in Jordan is still strong

Feb 10, 2017 / 00:02 am

Jerusalem Bishop William Shomali, newly appointed to the Latin Patriarchate of Jordan, says that although Christians are a very small minority in Jordan, through the Catholic schools, hospitals and charities their presence is strongly felt in the communities.

Vatican meeting calls organ trafficking a crime against humanity

Feb 9, 2017 / 15:07 pm

After a conference on organ trafficking at the Vatican Feb. 7-8, participants signed a statement agreeing to unite in fighting the crime of organ trafficking – submitting 11 proposals for implementation by healthcare and law enforcement professionals around the world.

St Josephine Bakhita, former slave, is patron of trafficking victims

Feb 8, 2017 / 00:08 am

As human trafficking continues to be a supremely important issue during Pope Francis’ pontificate, with an estimated 20 million victims worldwide, St. Josephine Bakhita, enslaved during her own childhood, has emerged as a patron not only for her home country of Sudan, but for all victims of trafficking.

Vatican official: The bishops 'are speaking clearly' on refugees

Feb 6, 2017 / 18:45 pm

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s recent policy on refugees, U.S. Catholics should stay close to their bishops, who are providing a clear, correct and unified response to the issue, a Vatican official said.

Despite terror, Aleppo's Christians have hope, desire to rebuild

Feb 2, 2017 / 16:02 pm

Despite the destruction caused by nearly six years of conflict between rebels and pro-government forces, the people in Aleppo, especially the Christians, are filled with vitality, hope, and a desire to rebuild, to return to a normal life, a Vatican official said after a recent visit to the city.

You are called to be leaven, Pope tells consecrated men, women

Feb 2, 2017 / 11:24 am

Everyone, but especially consecrated men and women, Pope Francis said Thursday, are called to be leaven in the world, bringing Christ to the people – even when it seems like the work goes unnoticed, or there is another who would do a better job.