Vatican News

Dome of St. Peter's basilica, Vatican City.

Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion

Apr 8, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

In the declaration, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith cautions against threats to human dignity that begin at... Read more

Born via surrogacy in the United States in 1991, Olivia Maurel is now a leading campaigner for the abolition of “womb renting,” a practice which Pope Francis has called “deplorable.”

Woman born of surrogacy shares why she supports Pope Francis’ call for a global ban

Apr 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Born via surrogacy in the United States in 1991, Olivia Maurel is now a leading campaigner for the abolition of... Read more

The Divine Mercy image is displayed at St. Peter's Square before Pope Francis Regina Caeli prayer on April 7, 2024.

Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday: The ‘fullness of life’ is ‘realized in Jesus’ 

Apr 7, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“Every living encounter with Jesus enables us to have more life,” Pope Francis said in his reflection.  Read more

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis.

Diocese of Rome shake-up: Pope Francis transfers vicar to Vatican post

Apr 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The reassignment of Cardinal Angelo De Donatis is part of a major reform of the Diocese of Rome by Pope... Read more

Pope Francis blesses a baby at his Wednesday general audience on March 20, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Benedict XVI defended me in face of accusations ‘that I promoted gay marriage’

Apr 3, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Francis related that he had “a very beautiful visit with him when some cardinals came to see him, surprised by... Read more

Pope Francis holds a rosary and New Testament that belonged to a slain 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier as he appeals for peace during his general audience on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Pope Francis makes peace appeal while holding rosary of slain Ukrainian soldier

Apr 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in St. Peter’s Square on April 3, the pope revealed that the rosary belonged to a boy named Oleksandre,... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square gathered for his weekly general audience on April 3, 2024.

Pope Francis on Gaza conflict: ‘Without justice, there is no peace’

Apr 3, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The pope buttressed his plea with a catechesis focused on the virtue of justice, noting that it is the building... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, pictured here in 2014, took up his new post as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2023.

Vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy

Apr 2, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See Press Office announced Tuesday that the new document, titled Dignitas Infinita (“Infinite Dignity”) (On Human Dignity), will... Read more

Pope Francis greets a woman religious at a Mass on the World Day of Consecrated Life, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on Feb. 2, 2024, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

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

Apr 2, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of April is that the dignity and worth of women be recognized throughout... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger celebrates the special "pro eligendo summo pontifice" (to elect Supreme Pontiff) Mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City on April 18, 2005.

Pope Francis: I was ‘used’ against Ratzinger in 2005 conclave, but he was ‘my candidate’

Apr 1, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

“The idea was to block the election of [Ratzinger],” Pope Francis explained. Read more

Pope Francis delivers the Regina Caeli address on Monday, Apr. 1, 2024

Pope Francis: The resurrection of Jesus changes our lives completely and forever

Apr 1, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“Brothers, sisters, the joy of the Resurrection is not something far away. It is very close; it is ours because... Read more

Pope Francis gives his urbi et orbi Easter blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 31, 2024.

Full text of Pope Francis’ urbi et orbi blessing for Easter 2024

Mar 31, 2024

By Pope Francis

Here is the full text of the pope’s urbi et orbi message and blessing from the central loggia of St.... Read more

Pope Francis gives his urbi et orbi message and blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 31, 2024.

Pope Francis on Easter: May the risen Christ open a path of peace in the Holy Land

Mar 31, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Easter Sunday blessing, Pope Francis asked the risen Lord to open paths of peace in the Holy Land,... Read more

Pope Francis presides over Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square on March 31, 2024.

Pope Francis celebrates Easter 2024: ‘Jesus Christ is risen’

Mar 31, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday 2024 before giving the traditional urbi et orbi... Read more

Tens of thousands gather outside of the Colosseum in Rome for the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross, on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.

Pope Francis skips Via Crucis in Rome while tens of thousands pray his meditations

Mar 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

In an apparent last-minute decision, Pope Francis skipped the Way of the Cross ceremony held at Rome’s Colosseum on Friday... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. March 29, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis celebrates Good Friday liturgy at the Vatican 

Mar 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

During the Good Friday liturgy, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa reflected on the triumph of the cross, noting that it is an... Read more

Pope Francis presides over Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome on Feb. 14, 2024.

Full text: Pope Francis’ Good Friday Way of the Cross meditations 

Mar 29, 2024

By Pope Francis

For the first time in his 11-year pontificate, Pope Francis has written his own spiritual meditations for Friday’s Via Crucis... Read more

Pope Francis arrives at the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter's Basilica on Good Friday on April 7, 2023.

What are the Good Friday Reproaches?

Mar 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as “Popule Meus” (“My people”), coming from the opening... Read more

Cardinal Mario Grech and Pope Francis at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 28, 2023.

Cardinal Grech’s controversial comments add to list of concerns on postsynodal study groups

Mar 29, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

The Maltese cardinal stated in a recent interview that a female diaconate would not be a “revolution” but a “natural... Read more

Pope Francis kisses the foot of one of the 12 women whose feet he washed at the Rebibbia Women’s Prison in Rome on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis washes the feet of inmates at women’s prison in Rome

Mar 28, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Holy Father has washed prisoners’ feet at numerous prisons around Rome through the years. Read more