Vatican News

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis lauds Catholic saint who fought to end slavery in Africa

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

St. Daniele Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh: ‘Silence the weapons’

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Speaking to more than 15,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said Wednesday that he was troubled by the... Read more

Father Marko Rupnik.

Rupnik’s victims say Diocese of Rome’s statement ‘ridicules’ their pain

Sep 19, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The diocese described the Aletti Center — where Father Marko Rupnik has been accused of abuse — as having “a... Read more

Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Ill., mother church of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Credit: Edlane De Mattos/Shutterstock.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of two Chicago auxiliary bishops

Sep 19, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Auxiliary Bishops Andrew P. Wypych and Joseph N. Perry will step down after the Holy Father accepted their resignations. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky on Sept. 18, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with new Russian ambassador to the Vatican

Sep 18, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The meeting comes days after papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Beijing to discuss efforts to bring about peace in... Read more

Pope Francis addressed pilgrims and tourists at his first outdoor general audience after the summer on Sept. 6, 2023.

Synod 2023: What has Pope Francis said about synodality?

Sep 17, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Synodality isn’t “a chapter in an ecclesiology textbook” or a “fad or a slogan to be bandied about in our... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his Angelus address on Sept. 17, 2023.

Pope Francis: Forgiveness is the cure that heals ‘the poisons of resentment’

Sep 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus, the pope said forgiving is “not a good deed that we can choose to do or not... Read more

Pope Francis greets a delegation of Korean Catholics at the Vatican on Sept. 16, 2023.

Pope Francis: Catholics in Korea called ‘to a burning faith’

Sep 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“With the prophecy of martyrdom, the Korean Church reminds us that we cannot follow Jesus without embracing his cross,” Pope... Read more

Cardinal Mario Grech, who serves as secretary general of the global Synod on Synodality, speaks to EWTN Rome Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser for an exclusive interview that aired on EWTN on May 22, 2023.

Cardinal Grech shares blessing for Synod on Synodality to be given after Sunday Mass

Sep 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The general secretary of the synod has asked for prayers from all Catholics around the world for the upcoming session... Read more

Pope Francis met Maria Campatelli, director of the Aletti Center, at the Vatican on Sept. 15, 2023. The Aletti Center was founded in Rome by the former Jesuit priest Father Marko Rupnik.

Pope Francis meets close collaborator of Rupnik

Sep 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In June, Maria Campatelli published a letter defending Rupnik against “a media campaign based on defamatory and unproven accusations.” Read more

Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 28, 2017.

Ordination of women should not be focal point of synod, Scandinavian cardinal says

Sep 14, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Cardinal Anders Arborelius said the issue of ordaining women “cannot lead further, as priestly ministry is reserved to men in... Read more

Wiktoria Ulma with six of her children.

The Vatican says a newborn martyr had a ‘baptism of blood.’ What does that mean?

Sep 14, 2023

By Joe Bukuras, Andrea Gagliarducci

All nine members of the Ulma family, who were murdered by the Nazi regime for sheltering two Jewish families, were... Read more

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white, rather than the customary black, when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican. She arrived at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023, wearing a white mantilla veil and a white dress.

Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope

Sep 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

She has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco,... Read more

Former President Bill Clinton and Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, former President Clinton to have ‘special conversation’ at foundation meeting

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Clinton Global Initiative 2023 meeting will open Sept. 18 with “a special conversation” between Clinton and the pope via... Read more

Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, former editor in chief of La Civilta Cattolica, was appointed undersecretary for the Dicastery for Culture and Education on Sept. 14, 2023.

Pope Francis appoints Father Spadaro to culture and education post

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Father Antonio Spadaro, known popularly as “the pope’s mouthpiece,” announced Thursday that he was leaving the Jesuit-run La Civiltà. Read more

The Vatican announced in September 2023 the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome will be open to the public.

Vatican allows a peek at historic palazzo in heart of Rome

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The palace was originally home to Cardinal Raffaele Riario, known for having invited Michaelangelo to Rome after being impressed by... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican at his general audience on Sept. 13, 2023.

Controversial Iraqi Christian didn’t meet with Pope Francis privately, Vatican confirms

Sep 13, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

On social media Sept. 7, Al-Kildani shared photos and videos that seemed, at least to some observers, to imply that... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (right), relator general of Synod on Synodality, speaks to the media on June 20, 2023, at the temporary headquarters of the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City. Beside him is Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops.

What you need to know about the Synod on Synodality

Sep 13, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Church’s synodal process will culminate in two global assemblies at the Vatican. The first will take place Oct. 4–28... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 13, 2023.

Pope Francis highlights life of service of Venezuelan blessed at general audience

Sep 13, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Wednesday presented the life of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros as an example of the Gospel in... Read more

Pope Francis and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the Vatican on Aug. 24, 2023.

Cardinal Zuppi heading to Beijing to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine

Sep 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Tuesday that the cardinal will be in the Chinese capital as the pope’s peace... Read more