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

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered for the Mass for the Jubilee of Catechists on Sept. 28, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Catholics must respond to AI threat to authentic, human communication, Vatican says

Sep 29, 2025 / 10:50 am

The pope’s choice of theme for the 60th World Day of Social Communications 2026, published Monday, is “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.”

AI-generated photographs of Pope Leo XIV appearing to fall down a flight of stairs outside St. Peter’s Basilica circulated on the internet in June. Credit: CNA/Screenshot

Vatican struggles against spread of ‘deepfake’ images of Pope Leo XIV

Sep 25, 2025 / 09:57 am

The Vatican communications team said it has reported hundreds of accounts, mostly on YouTube, posting deepfakes of Pope Leo XIV.

A 13th-century fresco of St. Francis of Assisi by the Florentine painter Cimabue, one of the earliest depictions of the saint, is located in the lower church of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.  Credit: Jacob Stein/Crux Stationalis

Italy moves to make feast of St. Francis of Assisi a national holiday

Sep 24, 2025 / 13:02 pm

The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Italy’s Parliament, voted to pass the bill on Sept. 23, with 247 votes in favor of the proposal and two against.

Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, on Sept. 24, 2025, was named coadjutor bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Credit: Leo Song, Seminarian, Pontifical North American College

Bishop Checchio to join troubled Archdiocese of New Orleans as coadjutor

Sep 24, 2025 / 06:25 am

Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, will assist Archbishop Gregory Aymond in the leadership of over half a million Catholics in New Orleans.

Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. shares his perspective on how a legal system can provide for mercy during a conversation with Monsignor Laurence Spiteri (left) at the Vatican’s judicial headquarters on Sept. 20, 2025. Credit: Hannah Brockhaus/CNA

Justice Alito speaks at the Vatican about justice and mercy

Sep 21, 2025 / 14:24 pm

United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. spoke about the role that mercy can play in the legal system during an event at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV waves to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus and listen to his Sunday message on Sept. 21, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV on Palestinians: ‘Those who truly love them work for peace’

Sep 21, 2025 / 10:34 am

Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to those living in the Gaza Strip during his weekly Angelus message on Sept. 21.

Then-Archbishop Van Thuan meets St. Teresa of Calcutta during her first visit to Vietnam as mother superior of the Missionaries in Charity in 1991. Credit: Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Nguyen

Vatican urges faithful to revive efforts for sainthood cause of Cardinal Van Thuan

Sep 21, 2025 / 06:00 am

The beatification cause of Venerable Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan is being revived 50 years after he was imprisoned by the communists in Vietnam.

Pope Leo XIV addresses thousands of Church and civil lawyers, judges, and others who work in the legal environment during the Jubilee of Workers of Justice, part of the yearlong Jubilee of Hope, in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 20, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Forgiveness is fundamental to justice, Pope Leo XIV tells legal professionals at jubilee

Sep 20, 2025 / 10:30 am

Pope Leo XIV addressed thousands of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Workers of Justice on Saturday.

“Nuns vs. The Vatican” includes the detailed stories of Gloria Branciani (left) and Mirjam Kovac, two of three former members of the Loyola Community in Slovenia in the 1980s and early 1990s, when Father Marko Rupnik, a co-founder of the community, is accused of having committed sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against dozens of women religious. Credit: Filippo Piscopo/Film2 Productions

Documentary brings Father Marko Rupnik abuse allegations to big screen

Sep 20, 2025 / 07:00 am

The documentary “Nuns vs. The Vatican” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month.

Pope Leo XIV greets the families of the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV: Family is ‘a gift and a task’ for the Church, society

Sep 19, 2025 / 10:00 am

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV addressed participants in a meeting on the challenges to families in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Pope Leo XIV presides over his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV: My priority is the Gospel, not solving the world’s problems

Sep 18, 2025 / 08:30 am

Pope Leo XIV gave an interview for the biography “Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century,” out now in Spanish and next year in English.

A general view of a wreath laid by mourners outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria on Sept. 11, 2025, following the fatal shooting of U.S. youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk while speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Credit: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

Cardinal Parolin on Charlie Kirk death: ‘We are against all types of violence’

Sep 11, 2025 / 12:11 pm

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in comments responding to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, said the Vatican condemns violence against those with whom one disagrees.

Cardinal Raymond Burke gives the final blessing after celebrating a Traditional Latin Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica during the third edition of the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage in Rome on Oct. 25, 2014. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Cardinal Burke to celebrate Traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

Sep 9, 2025 / 11:00 am

The Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage was not able to receive authorization to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s in 2023 and 2024.

Pope Leo XIV feeds fish during the Sept. 5, 2025, inauguration of Borgo Laudato Si’, an ecological village on the papal estate of Castel Gandolfo, 18 miles south of Rome. Credit: Vatican Media

Castel Gandolfo renaissance as Pope Leo XIV spends day at papal retreat

Sep 9, 2025 / 10:30 am

The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV “will continue his activities” from Villa Barberini — his residence in Castel Gandolfo, 18 miles south of Rome — Sept. 8-9.

People attend a vigil at Lynnhurst Park to mourn the dead and pray for the wounded after a gunman opened fire on students at Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Vatican experts say Minneapolis shooting victims could qualify as ‘new martyrs’

Sep 8, 2025 / 09:15 am

Vatican experts said the victims of last month’s shooting at a Minneapolis church could one day be included on a list of “new martyrs and witnesses of the faith.”

Pope Leo XIV meets young adults from the Mediterranean Youth Council in the Hall of the Consistory in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sept. 5, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Peace starts in our hearts, Pope Leo tells Mediterranean Youth Council

Sep 5, 2025 / 10:00 am

Pope Leo XIV told members of the Mediterranean Youth Council to combine prayer and action to promote peace in the Mediterranean region.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Israel President Isaac Herzog in a private audience at the Vatican on Sept. 4, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV discusses Gaza, 2-state solution with Israeli president

Sep 4, 2025 / 12:14 pm

Pope Leo XIV discussed the conflict in Gaza, including a two-state solution, with Israel President Isaac Herzog in a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday morning. 

Pope Leo XIV poses on a custom BMW R 18 papal motorcycle gifted to him by the Christian Jesus Bikers at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Jesus Bikers rev up support for charity with motorcycle for Pope Leo XIV

Sep 3, 2025 / 12:30 pm

A group of black-clad bikers rumbled into St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday to present Pope Leo XIV with a custom cruiser motorcycle destined for charity.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for help for Sudan during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 3, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV pleads for help for ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ in Sudan

Sep 3, 2025 / 08:00 am

Pope Leo XIV pleaded for assistance for the people of Sudan, who are experiencing violence, famine, natural disasters, and disease.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Care of Creation at Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV supports ‘important and urgent’ Creation Day Sept. 1

Sep 1, 2025 / 13:00 pm

Pope Leo XIV has voiced his support for the Sept. 1 celebration of the World Day of Prayer for Creation, an ecumenical initiative encouraged by Pope Francis.