Vatican News

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 16, 2019.

Pope Francis approves Caritas Internationalis’ new statutes

Feb 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced Feb. 17 that Pope Francis had approved changes to Caritas Internationalis’ governing statutes and internal rules.  Read more

Police officer on duty at St Peter's square in Vatican City.

Vatican official raided over London property deal investigation

Feb 18, 2020

Vatican authorities have seized documents and computers belonging to a senior curial official as part of an investigation into financial... Read more

Pope Francis.

In new series, Pope Francis offers insights on the Nicene Creed

Feb 17, 2020

An Italian television station released on Monday the first in an eight part series of interviews designed to highlight reflections... Read more

A Raphael-designed tapestry hangs in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, Feb. 17, 2020.

500 years later, Raphael tapestries rehung in Sistine Chapel

Feb 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Five hundred years after the death of Renaissance artist Raphael, the Vatican Museums has returned the tapestries he designed to... Read more

Pope Francis May 15, 2019.

Pope Francis requires year of missionary work for future Vatican diplomat priests

Feb 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has requested that priests in formation for the Holy See’s diplomatic service be required to spend one year... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square June 7, 2017.

Pope Francis: God's law brings freedom

Feb 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

God gives the grace both to follow his law exteriorly and to accept it in one’s heart, which is what... Read more

Pope Francis leads a prayer at the start of the 2018 youth synod. CNA file photo.

Next ordinary synod of bishops to be held in 2022

Feb 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The next ordinary assembly of the synod of bishops is to be held in the fall of 2022, according to... Read more

Pope Francis May 12, 2019.

Pope Francis speaks about financial reforms to Vatican tribunal

Feb 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

As the Holy See awaits the results of a scheduled financial inspection, Pope Francis spoke about ongoing financial reform and... Read more

Pope Francis meets with bishops of the USCCB's Region XIII at the Vatican, Feb. 10, 2020.

Pope Francis discusses 'Querida Amazonia' with US bishops in Rome

Feb 14, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis this week discussed his new post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Querida Amazonia, with United States bishops in Rome for their... Read more

Pope Francis meets with officers and directors of the Knights of Columbus, and their families, in the Vatican's Capella Paolina, Feb. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis meets again with Knights of Columbus

Feb 14, 2020

Pope Francis met with leadership of the Knights of Columbus on Wednesday, for the second time in a week, in... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the Vatican Press Office on Oct. 17, 2014.

Analysis: 'Querida Amazonia' and the German synod

Feb 14, 2020

By Ed Condon

Following the German reaction to Querida Amazonia, it is not clear what, if anything, could bring their synodal discussions to... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at World Youth Day in Panama City, Jan. 24, 2019.

Pope Francis to laity: 'It is time for you' to share the Gospel

Feb 14, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Laypeople have a mandate to spread the Gospel in their concrete circumstances through the witness of their lives, Pope Francis... Read more

St. John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica, March 25, 1983.

Pope Francis on St. John Paul II: 'I learned from him'

Feb 13, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a newly published book, Pope Francis answers questions about himself and St. John Paul II, saying he learned the... Read more

Via Amazonian Crucis in the Vatican. Photo: Anthony Johnson/CNA

5 things to know about 'Querida Amazonia'

Feb 12, 2020

Here are five things to know about Querida Amazonia.  Read more

Pope Francis delivers his General Audience address at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Feb. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis: The gift of tears is precious

Feb 12, 2020

During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis discussed the second beatitude, Blessed are those who mourn for they shall... Read more

Vatican officials at a Feb. 12 press conference.

Vatican officials: 'Querida Amazonia' is magisterium, Amazon synod's final doc is not

Feb 12, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis' post-synodal exhortation on the Amazon is part of ordinary magisterium -- that is official Church teaching -- while... Read more

Pope Francis leads the opening procession for the Amazon synod in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 7, 2019.

Inculturation is a 'necessary process' in the Amazon, Pope Francis says

Feb 12, 2020

Pope Francis has highlighted the need for spiritual inculturation in the Amazon region, and praised indigenous expressions of religiosity, while... Read more

Pope Francis greets a woman Oct. 1, 2014.

In Querida Amazonia, pope calls for women in Church leadership, but not diaconate

Feb 12, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the Amazon calls for women in the South American region to be included in new... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for World Missionary Day Oct. 20, 2019.

Querida Amazonia: What Pope Francis said, and didn't, on priesthood and marriage

Feb 12, 2020

While Pope Francis was expected to focus in the apostolic exhortation published today on a proposal to ordain married priests... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of Amazon synod October 27, 2019.

Pope Francis' Amazon exhortation calls for holiness, not married priests

Feb 12, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis published his response to the Vatican’s 2019 Amazon synod in an apostolic exhortation Wednesday. Despite widespread speculation following... Read more