Vatican News

Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández was appointed by Pope Francis on July 1, 2023, to become the next prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Vatican: Small part of cremated ashes can be kept in personal place in certain cases

Dec 12, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The guidance came from a letter written by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who serves as the prefect for the Dicastery... Read more

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Pope to Vatican employees: Lure of corruption is dangerous and ‘we must be vigilant’

Dec 12, 2023

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis received in an audience on Monday the members of the Office of the Auditor General. Read more

Pope Francis meets with the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on Dec. 11, 2023.

Pope Francis expresses concern about Italy’s low birth rate

Dec 11, 2023

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis on Monday received the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus message on Dec. 10, 2023.

Pope at Angelus: ‘Through silence and prayer, we make space for Jesus’ 

Dec 10, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis highlighted the importance of listening to God by embracing the example of John the Baptist.  Read more

The Vatican unveiled its annual Nativity scene on Dec. 9, 2023, paying special tribute to the origins of the beloved tradition on its 800-year anniversary.

Vatican unveils Nativity scene honoring St. Francis of Assisi and devotion’s 800-year-old origin 

Dec 9, 2023

By CNA Staff

The scene in St. Peter’s Square depicts not only Mary and Joseph standing beside the manager, but also St. Francis... Read more

Pope Francis gazes at a nativity scene during a meeting with two delegations at the Vatican Dec. 9, 2023 — a community from Macra, located in the Alps who provided this year’s Christmas tree, and people from the Diocese of Rieti, who donated this year's Nativity scene.

Pope Francis: Vatican Nativity scene should prompt prayers for the Holy Land 

Dec 9, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope made his remarks in a Saturday morning audience in Paul VI Hall with two delegations who donated the... Read more

The House of Mary community poses for a photo on Dec. 8, 1994, in St. Peter's Square, the first time they brought their blue banner with the words "The Immaculate Conception will Triumph" to the Angelus with Pope John Paul II. The group has continued to bring the banner to every Sunday Angelus for 29 years.

The story behind the Immaculate Conception banner at every Vatican Angelus

Dec 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The banner’s declaration recalls the Marian spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception. Read more

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis honors Virgin Mary on solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a... Read more

Pope Francis waves from the window of the Apostolic Palace as he gives his Angelus address for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis announces Catholic Church’s first World Day of Children

Dec 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The event was inspired by a 9-year-old boy named Alessandro, who proposed the idea to the pope to have an... Read more

Pope Francis greets members of Italy's National Association of St. Paul on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.

Pope Francis reads speeches unassisted for the first time in nearly two weeks

Dec 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope seemed to show improvement Thursday by reading out his speeches during his various meetings on Dec. 7.  Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience at the Vatican on Dec. 6, 2023.

Pope Francis’ cardinal advisers hear from 2 female professors on women’s role in the Church

Dec 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s Council of Cardinals has been discussing the role of women in the Church since February 2022. Read more

St. Nicholas, by Jaroslav Čermák (1831-1878).

5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas

Dec 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

How much do you know about the man whose feast falls on Dec. 6? Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis signs interfaith climate statement as part of COP28 summit in Dubai

Dec 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

“Our faith instills in us a sacred duty to cherish not only our human family but also the fragile ecosystem... Read more

Papal aide Monsignor Paolo Braida reads Pope Francis' prepared remarks for the Sunday Angelus on Dec. 3, 2023, from the chapel at the papal residence at Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis on first Sunday of Advent: ‘I’m improving, but my voice still doesn’t work’

Dec 3, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis, for the second consecutive Sunday, was assisted by an aide in praying the Angelus, as he continues to... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis to COP28: Environmental destruction is ‘an offense against God’

Dec 2, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis canceled his scheduled trip to Dubai days before the climate summit at the request of his doctors. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Father Federico Lombardi, president of the Ratzinger Foundation and Vatican spokesman during Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate (left), and the 2023 Ratzinger Prize recipients Father Pablo Blanco Sarto (center) and Professor Francesc Torralba (right) at the Vatican on Nov. 30, 2023.

2023 Ratzinger Prize reflects on theological legacy of late Pope Benedict XVI

Dec 1, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation awarded its annual Ratzinger Prize this week to two Spaniards. Read more

Baby Indi Gregory was baptized on Sept. 22, 2023. Despite not being religious, Dean Gregory, her father, expressed that his time in court fighting for his daughter’s life felt like he had been “dragged to hell.” The experience moved him to decide to have his daughter baptized.

Pope Francis sends condolences to family of Indi Gregory at British baby’s funeral

Dec 1, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The pope “sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Cardinal Parolin will represent Pope Francis at climate conference

Dec 1, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The pope was advised by his doctors earlier this week not to travel to Dubai due to a bronchial infection. Read more

Bishop Stefan Oster.

German bishop says divisions within local Church are a ‘disaster for the faithful’

Nov 30, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Bishop Stefan Oster did not shy away from identifying profound theological disagreements as the source of division within the Church... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope to Orthodox patriarch: ‘Bonds of faith, hope and charity’ unite two churches

Nov 30, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

On the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, Pope Francis sent a message to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. Read more