Vatican News

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square from his window in the Apostolic Palace during his Angelus address on the solemnity of All Saints, Nov. 1, 2024.

Pope Francis in All Saints’ Day Angelus highlights Christians’ ‘identity card’

Nov 1, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

In his Angelus address on Friday, the solemnity of All Saints, Pope Francis spoke about the “identity card” of the... Read more

Top, left to right: St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Paul II, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Francis de Sales. Bottom, left to right: St. John Henry Newman, St. Gertrude of Helfta, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Thomas Aquinas.

‘Dilexit Nos’: wisdom from 20 saints on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Nov 1, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“Dilexit Nos,” meaning “He Loved Us,” describes how devotion to the heart of Christ “reappears in the spiritual journey of... Read more

Pope Francis with members of “Project Hope,” a program of accompaniment for the spiritual and emotional healing of women and men who suffer the consequences of having chosen abortion, on Oct. 30, 2024.

Pope Francis to parents of aborted children: Evil does not have the last word

Oct 31, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis received in audience members of “Project Hope,” a program of accompaniment for the healing of those who suffer... Read more

Pope Francis meets with participants of Italy’s Educational Commitment Movement of Catholic Action (MIEAC) national congress on Oct. 31, 2024, at a private audience held in the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Secular world needs teachers with ‘a big heart’ and high ideals

Oct 31, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“Christian education crosses unexplored terrain, marked by anthropological and cultural changes, on which we are still seeking answers ...,” the... Read more

An academic congress — “From the Council to the Synod: Rereading a Church’s Journey, 60 Years on Since Lumen Gentium (1964–2024)” — was hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from Oct. 28–30, 2024.

In Rome, theologians reflect on ‘reception’ stage of Synod on Synodality

Oct 30, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The academic congress was hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from Oct. 28–30. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims as he enters St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for his Wednesday general audience on Oct. 30, 2024.

Pope Francis: Confirmation is the ‘sacrament of witness,’ not the ‘sacrament of goodbye’

Oct 30, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Holy Father during his Wednesday general audience said confirmation is a “gift of God” and a “milestone” that should... Read more

Pope Francis says Mass for All Souls' Day at the Laurentino Cemetery outside Rome, Nov. 2, 2018.

Here’s what Pope Francis is doing for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days 2024

Oct 30, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

For All Souls’ Day, Francis will continue his custom of holding a Mass in a local cemetery to pray for... Read more

Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley attends a press conference to present the first report of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Oct. 29, 2024, at the Vatican.

Cardinal O’Malley: Church acknowledges damage of abuse but ‘celibacy is not the cause’

Oct 29, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Cardinal Seán O’Malley stated that he has “never seen any serious studies that have indicated that celibacy and sexual abuse... Read more

Pope Francis joines the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Vatican publishes first report on Church safeguarding efforts worldwide

Oct 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The 50-page report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is the first in an annual series that... Read more

Cardinals outside the Paul VI Hall.

Pope Francis cuts salaries of Vatican cardinals again

Oct 28, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Pope Francis has decided to cut the salaries of the cardinals working at the Vatican again, a measure that will... Read more

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, who served for 16 years as the top Vatican diplomat to the United Nations and headed up two key pontifical councils in Rome for several years, died Oct. 28, 2024, at age 91.

Cardinal Renato Martino, longtime Vatican diplomat, dies at 91

Oct 28, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, who served for 16 years as the top Vatican diplomat to the United Nations, has died. Read more

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in L’Aquila, Italy.

Pope Francis to open Holy Door in Roman prison on feast of St. Stephen for 2025 Jubilee

Oct 28, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Holy Father will open the second of five Holy Doors for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome’s... Read more

The official mascot for the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year is named “Luce,” which is Italian for “light.”

Meet ‘Luce’: The Vatican’s cartoon mascot for Jubilee 2025

Oct 28, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The mascot, named Luce — which means “light” in Italian — is intended to engage a younger audience and guide... Read more

A candle of St. Jude.

Why is St. Jude the patron saint of lost causes?

Oct 28, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

On Oct. 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, one of the 12... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Sunday Angelus message from a window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 27, 2024.

Pope Francis in Angelus address mourns Catholic priest murdered in Mexico

Oct 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope called the slain priest “a zealous servant of the Gospel and God’s faithful people” and said he joined... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at a Mass and canonization of 14 new saints in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024

Live updates: Synod on Synodality concludes with Pope Francis forgoing apostolic exhortation

Oct 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Follow EWTN News’ live coverage of the 2024 Synod on Synodality at the Vatican. Get real-time updates, expert analysis, and... Read more

Pope Francis addresses bishops gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican for the Synod on Synodality closing Mass on Oct. 27, 2024.

In synod closing Mass, Pope Francis calls for ‘a Church that hears the cry of the world’

Oct 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

At the Synod on Synodality closing Mass on Sunday, Pope Francis said that a synodal Church must be “on the... Read more

Pope Francis gives a blessing to participants at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, Oct. 26, 2024.

10 questions (and answers) about the Synod on Synodality’s final document

Oct 27, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

From its magisterial status to proposals on Church governance, here are answers to the most pressing questions about the synod’s... Read more

Lawyer Laura Sgro, left, sits with Gloria Branciani, center, and Marjiam Kovač during a press conference in Rome on Feb. 21, 2024. Branciani and Kovač allege that they were subjected to spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse by famous mosaic artist Father Marko Rupnik.

Victims feel ‘betrayed’ as Vatican investigation of Rupnik hits one year with no answers

Oct 27, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

One year after the Vatican announced it would open a canonical case on Father Marko Rupnik, victims say they feel... Read more

Participants of the Synod on Synodality gather for a group photo on Oct. 26, 2024.

The Synod on Synodality’s final document: What you need to know

Oct 26, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The text also addresses accountability measures, calling for enhanced financial transparency, and protocols for abuse prevention. Read more