Vatican News

Pope Francis shared a stage with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on May 12, 2023, to speak at a two-day conference on “The General State of the Birth Rate,” held at Conciliazione Auditorium close to the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Birth rate is a key indicator of a country’s hope

May 12, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis shared the stage on May 12 with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a two-day conference on “The... Read more

Cardinal James Michael Harvey presided over a eucharistic procession at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelicum, in Rome on May 11, 2023. The 22nd edition of the annual procession was attended by about 130 students, faculty, and community members.

PHOTOS: Eucharistic procession brings Jesus to halls of Rome university

May 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

An estimated 130 students, faculty, and community members participated in the 22nd annual procession at Rome’s University of St. Thomas... Read more

Pope Francis receives relics of the Coptic martyrs from Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, May 11, 2023. Pope Francis also announced that the 21 men will be added to the Church’s official list of saints.

Pope Francis adds Coptic Orthodox martyrs to liturgical book of saints

May 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

After receiving relics of the Coptic martyrs beheaded by ISIS, Pope Francis announced the 21 men will be added to... Read more

Lybicheva Nina, 72, along with her grandchildren receives food items during a distribution to about 3,000 people by the local branch of Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic charity organization, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 27, 2022.

Drama swirls as Caritas Internationalis delegates prepare to elect new leaders

May 10, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Calling it a “brutal power grab,” an ousted general secretary of the Vatican’s global charity has written a letter criticizing... Read more

Kryzysztof Gawrysiak and his wife, Aneta, (at center) spent more than two hours with Pope Francis at his Vatican residence on May 4, 2023, to discuss their new online initiative, pray4teens.org, which they started after learning more about the rates of depression — and suicide attempts — among adolescents around the world.

Pope Francis welcomes program to spiritually adopt a struggling teen

May 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The online initiative was started after a Polish couple learned about the rates of depression — and suicide attempts —... Read more

Pope Francis and the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pope Tawadros II, led the general audience at the Vatican on May 10, 2023.

Pope Francis holds general audience with Tawadros II

May 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a change from the usual pattern of Pope Francis’ weekly public audience, the two leaders sat together on the... Read more

Pope Francis with Tawadros II, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, in Cairo, Egypt, April 28, 2017.

Pope Francis, Tawadros II to mark 50 years of renewed Catholic-Coptic Orthodox relations

May 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pope Tawadros II, will celebrate a liturgy in the Papal Basilica... Read more

Cardinal Sean O'Malley briefs reporters during the Vatican abuse summit.

Vatican abuse commission now more ‘impact-focused,’ Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley says

May 8, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Cardinal Sean O’Malley said the commission’s recent actions “represent a major shift towards a more impact-focused direction.”  Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Regina Caeli on May 7, 2023.

Pope Francis: Jesus calls us to set our sights on heaven

May 7, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

Pope Francis on Sunday warned against the danger of living life without a sense of purpose or a destination to... Read more

A new Swiss Guard swears to protect the pope, even sacrificing his life if necessary, during a ceremony on May 6, 2023.

6 things to know about the Swiss Guard and its swearing-in ceremony

May 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A group of new Swiss Guard recruits officially joined the ranks after swearing to “faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in an audience May 5, 2023.

Pope Francis invites child protection group to have ‘a spirituality of reparation’

May 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“The sexual abuse of minors by clergy and its poor handling by Church leaders has been one of the greatest... Read more

Bishop Robert Francis Prevost was named prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops on Jan. 30, 2023.

Vatican’s new bishops’ prefect shares his ‘portrait of a bishop’

May 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A bishop should nurture closeness to Christ, share the beauty of the faith, use social media wisely, and have a... Read more

Fra’ John T. Dunlap, was sworn in as grand master of the Order of Malta on May 3, 2023.

Order of Malta elects Canadian lawyer as 81st grand master

May 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Order of Malta this week elected Fra’ John Dunlap as prince and 81st grand master of the Order of... Read more

A screenshot from Pope Francis' May 4 video message to young people attending World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

‘See you in Lisbon,’ Pope Francis shares message 3 months before World Youth Day 2023

May 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The message was published on May 4, just under three months before the Aug. 1-6 international gathering. Read more

Pope Francis greets His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales at the canonization of St. John Henry Newman at the Vatican on Oct. 13, 2019.

Vatican to send representative of Pope Francis to British coronation

May 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Pietro Parolin will join other high-ranking guests at the ceremony, including world leaders, representatives of European monarchies, and royal... Read more

Photograph of a girl at the border with Ukraine, part of the “Women’s Cry” photo exposition at the Vatican during the month of May 2023.

‘Women’s Cry’ photo exposition at Vatican depicts suffering of women throughout the world

The photo exhibition will be on display during the month of May in St. Peter’s Square. Read more

Father Dario E. Viganò, president of the MAC Foundation, shares about the foundation in a May 2, 2023, presentation at the Vatican’ Apostolic Library

Italian foundation aims to preserve and share Catholic audiovisual heritage

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The MAC Foundation is working to create a digital library that will be “a single online access point” for historic... Read more

Metropolitan Anthony, chairman for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, greets Pope Francis after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 3, 2023.

Pope Francis greets Russian Orthodox metropolitan after audience

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The brief encounter in St. Peter’s Square with Metropolitan Anthony took place days after the pope said secret peace talks... Read more

Pope Francis spoke about the Christian roots of Hungary during his general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 3, 2023.

Pope Francis: Freedom is under threat in Europe

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis spoke about Europe, its roots, and the problem of consumerism during his weekly audience with the public May... Read more

Pope Francis prays at his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 12, 2023.

This is Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of May

May 2, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis’ prayer video is promoted by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which raises awareness of monthly papal prayer intentions. Read more