Vatican News

Pope Francis preaches at Vespers during a meeting with the 12th international pilgrimage of altar serves in St. Peter's Square, July 31, 2018.

Pope Francis to altar servers: Holiness is not for the lazy

Jul 31, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Everyone is called to pursue sainthood through living the Works of Mercy, though it is not for the weak of... Read more

Archbishop Philip Wilson. Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Pope accepts resignation of Australian archbishop convicted of not reporting abuse

Jul 30, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis accepted Monday the resignation of Archbishop Philip Wilson following calls for the prelate’s removal as head of the... Read more

Pope Francis makes the Sign of the Cross April 18, 2018.

Pope Francis: Faith is measured by one's treatment of the poor

Jul 29, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

The love with which individuals and communities treat the poor, the weak, and the hungry, is the best measure of... Read more

Cardinal McCarrick.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of McCarrick from College of Cardinals

Jul 28, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Saturday Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Theodore McCarrick from the College of Cardinals, suspending him from the rights and... Read more

Pope Francis receives absolution during a penitential celebration at St. Peter's Basilica, March 28, 2014.

Pope to theologians: Spiritual conversion should precede pastoral solutions

Jul 27, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On moral, theological issues, conversion of heart – in Greek, metanoia – should take place before the development of pastoral... Read more

The Supreme Court Chamber in the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania AG asks Pope Francis for help releasing grand jury report

Jul 26, 2018

The Pennsylvania Attorney General has appealed to Pope Francis for help in publishing a report on clerical sexual abuse in... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope sends condolences to victims of tragedies in Laos and Greece

Jul 24, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Tuesday sent his condolences to victims of wildfires in Greece and flooding caused by the collapse of a... Read more

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

McCarrick, the bishops, and unanswered questions

Jul 23, 2018

By JD Flynn

A new allegation of child sexual abuse was leveled against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick last Thursday, one month after the June... Read more

Pope Francis with the Shroud of Turin in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Turin on June 21, 2015.

Stains on Shroud of Turin painted on? Experts question new study

Jul 23, 2018

Several experts have questioned the scientific validity of a study on the Shroud of Turin that concluded that almost half... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

CDF laicizes Ecuadorian priest for abuse of minors

Jul 23, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

An Ecuadorian priest accused of the sexual abuse and possible torture of minors was dismissed from the clerical state by... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 20, 2017.

Do you want to grow in love? Keep Jesus close, pope says

Jul 22, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Christian can stay on the right path to Heaven, and grow in love for God and his neighbor, only... Read more

Is Church teaching changing on the death penalty?

Jul 20, 2018

By Ed Condon

The Church has consistently taught that the state has the authority to use the death penalty. But, in recent years,... Read more

Pope Francis speaks with Bishop Juan Pineda during an ad limina visit Sept. 4, 2017.

Honduran auxiliary bishop accused of sexual misconduct resigns

Jul 20, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Juan José Pineda, auxiliary bishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, following a Vatican investigation into... Read more

Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., editor in chief of La Civilta Cattolica.

Papal aides say prosperity gospel is distorted take on the ‘American Dream’

Jul 19, 2018

By Elise Harris

After publishing a highly controversial essay in July 2017 alleging the existence of an “ecumenism of hate” between Catholics and... Read more

Pope Paul VI.

On 'Humanae vitae'- Pope Paul VI did not act alone

Jul 19, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Humanae vitae is not a “pre-conciliar” encyclical, Bl. Paul VI did not develop the final draft in solitude, and, the... Read more

Bl. Nunzio Sulprizio.

19th-century Italian teen to be canonized during youth Synod

Jul 19, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Bl. Nunzio Sulprizio, who died at the age of 19 from bone cancer, will be declared a saint Oct. 14... Read more

Cardianl Jean-Louis Tauran, who was camerlengo from December 2014 until his July 5, 2018 death.

The Church is without a camerlengo

Jul 17, 2018

With the July 5 death of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the office of camerlengo is now vacant. A sensitive position, above... Read more

Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio speaks at a Vatican press conference Sept. 8, 2015.

Vatican's former legal chief says canon law should include care of creation

Jul 17, 2018

By Elise Harris

Church law should include care of creation, Vatican legal expert says  Read more

Syrian refugees on the Syria/Turkey border.

Holy See hopes UN migration agreement will defend human dignity

Jul 16, 2018

The Vatican’s representative at the United Nations expressed hope that a new UN agreement on best practices for international migration... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates a wedding in Vatican City, July 14, 2018. Photo: provided by Fr. Arnoldo Rodrigues

Surprise! Pope Francis unexpectedly celebrates Vatican wedding

Jul 16, 2018

By CNA Staff

Surprise! Pope Francis unexpectedly celebrates Vatican wedding Read more