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

Like the Fatima children, offer your lives to God, Pope urges

May 13, 2017 / 04:23 am

On Saturday, Pope Francis told those gathered at Fatima, in particular the sick and suffering, to follow the example of the newly canonized saints Francisco and Jacinta, offering their lives – both the joy and suffering – as a gift for God.

Francisco and Jacinta have officially been declared saints!

May 13, 2017 / 02:28 am

Pope Francis on Saturday officially declared Francisco and Jacinta Marto saints of the Catholic Church in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal – teaching us that even young children can become saints.

Mary points to Christ's mercy, Pope Francis tells Fatima pilgrims

May 12, 2017 / 13:47 pm

Pope Francis asked pilgrims in Fatima on Friday evening to think about the qualities the Virgin Mary possesses, being careful not to make her into something she is not – especially elevating her mercifulness above that of her Son.

Let's be guided by Mary's Immaculate Heart, Pope says in Fatima

May 12, 2017 / 10:37 am

During his first day in Fatima, Pope Francis led pilgrims in prayer, asking that the Immaculate Heart of Mary would watch over the joys and sorrows of all mankind as they make their earthly pilgrimage.

We still need to heed Our Lady of Fatima's advice, priest says

May 11, 2017 / 23:08 pm

While a lot has changed since Mary’s appearances at Fatima 100 years ago, we can’t stop heeding Our Lady’s request to pray and offer sacrifices for the world, an expert on Marian theology has said.

Join me at the feet of Mary, Francis asks ahead of Fatima trip

May 11, 2017 / 02:56 am

Wednesday evening, just two days ahead of his trip to Fatima, Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Portugal asking them to be with him during his pilgrimage, whether physically or spiritually, as he presents flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let's continue to grow in unity, Francis urges Coptic Orthodox patriarch

May 10, 2017 / 10:06 am

Following his trip to Egypt last month, Pope Francis sent a message Wednesday to the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Tawadros II, expressing his hope that their Churches will continue to work toward unity in the sacraments.

Pope: Mary's 'yes' echoes the joy, suffering of every mother

May 10, 2017 / 04:56 am

Days before his trip to Fatima, Pope Francis said Mary’s ‘yes’ at the Annunciation was more than a yes to bearing the Son of God, but was also an acceptance of everything she would endure after – something every mother experiences with a new child.  

Vatican astronomer: If you're afraid of science, you don't have faith

May 10, 2017 / 02:04 am

The Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, who has worked as an astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican for more than 20 years, told journalists Monday that faith and reason are hardly at odds.

Kidnapped Indian priest pleads for help in new video

May 9, 2017 / 04:04 am

Fourteen months after his kidnapping in March 2016, Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil has appeared in another video asking for help in obtaining his release, criticizing the response of a local bishop and the Indian government.

Pope to seminarians: Let Mary help you fall in love with Jesus

May 8, 2017 / 11:05 am

Pope Francis met with priests and seminarians from the Portuguese College in Rome, asking them to allow Mary to bring them closer to Christ – just like she did for the children at Fatima.

Pope to future Romanian priests: seminary is your 'gym' for ministry

May 5, 2017 / 09:41 am

On Friday Pope Francis told seminarians studying in Rome to resist complacency and to think of their studies as strength training for their hearts and wills, preparing them for service to others.

Solanus Casey, Cardinal Van Thuan among those advanced toward sainthood

May 4, 2017 / 09:47 am

Pope Francis on Thursday approved decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints advancing the causes for canonization of 12 individuals, including the American-born Capuchin Solanus Casey and the Vietnamese cardinal Francis Xavier Nguen Van Thuan.

Pope urges Vatican communications to go digital amid ongoing reform

May 4, 2017 / 05:14 am

Pope Francis told the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications, which is holding their first plenary assembly this week, that given a growing digital culture throughout the world, new media must become a primary platform for spreading the Gospel.

Vatican group talks new ways to help poor, marginalized

May 2, 2017 / 10:33 am

Traditional solutions to the problem of poverty typically take a top-down welfare approach, focused on fulfilling a person's most basic needs, such as food and shelter – but which don't address the issue of societal participation and inclusion.

Francis prays for victims of the ongoing crisis in Venezuela

Apr 30, 2017 / 04:13 am

In his Regina Coeli address on Sunday, Pope Francis called attention to the violence in Venezuela, offering up his prayers for the victims and appealing to the government and citizens to seek solutions to the crisis.

Pope Francis talks nuclear war, North Korea during in-flight presser

Apr 29, 2017 / 13:50 pm

During a press conference Saturday aboard the papal plane from Egypt to Rome, Pope Francis said that in the face of conflict and the possibility of nuclear war, United Nations leaders need to provide a strong leadership, focusing on diplomacy and peaceful negotiation.

Egyptians filled with hope by Pope Francis' message of peace

Apr 29, 2017 / 11:58 am

As Pope Francis returns from his April 28-29 trip to Cairo, Egyptians of all faiths were pleased by his visit and his message – one that filled them with hope for the future, they said.

Our only 'fanaticism' should be love, Pope tells Egypt's Catholics

Apr 29, 2017 / 02:40 am

On Saturday Pope Francis told Egyptian Catholics that truly living the faith means ridding ourselves of hypocritical attitudes and focusing on the only obsession that counts: loving others, no matter how hard it is.

Pope Francis in Egypt: To kill in the name of God is blasphemy

Apr 28, 2017 / 08:22 am

In his first speech in Egypt on Friday, Pope Francis denounced all forms of violence and hatred, saying that they are blasphemous when carried out in the name of God, or under the pretense of religion.