Vatican

The Latest

Statue of St. Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican publishes papal primacy document aimed at ‘a reunited Church’

Jun 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The study document is the first Vatican text since Vatican II to outline the entire ecumenical debate on papal primacy. Read more

The 38th (Irish) Brigade marches at the Vatican in June 1944.

Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops

Jun 12, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear his Angelus address on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Vatican to publish new document on papal primacy

Jun 11, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The document, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogue and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum... Read more

Massimo Bianchi and Cristiane Murray address attendees at a June 11, 2024, Vatican press conference regarding the upcoming Vatican Observatory conference to take place June 17–24, 2024.

From the Big Bang to black holes: Vatican, scientists to explore questions of the universe

Jun 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Dozens of astrophysicists and cosmologists will explore the Big Bang and other topics of the universe next week at a... Read more

Bernini's famous baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican arrests ex-employee for attempted extortion using allegedly stolen Bernini manuscript

Jun 6, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The art historian and former Vatican employee was reportedly questioned and arrested by Vatican gendarmes on May 27. Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis appoints new members to Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Jun 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new appointments come as the Vatican office continues to grapple with the ecumenical fallout from Fiducia Supplicans. Read more

Elena Guerra, Marie-Léonie Paradis, and Giuseppe Allamano are among the Blesseds whom Pope Francis paved the way for canonization in a decree on May 23, 2024. 

Pope Francis paves the way for the canonization of new saints with zeal for mission work

May 24, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See said Pope Francis “has decided to convene a consistory, which will also concern the canonization” of four... Read more

Shanghai Bishop Shen Bin speaks to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin at a Vatican conference on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Bishop of Shanghai defends China’s religious freedom record at Vatican conference

May 22, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The controversial Chinese bishop was a featured speaker at a Vatican conference beside Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Humility ‘is the source of peace in the world and in the Church’

May 22, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“Humility is everything. It is what saves us from the evil one,” the pope said. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

German priests do not support Synodal Way, new study finds

May 21, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The study, officially titled “Who Becomes a Priest?”, found that priests are “alienated from the concerns of Church reform,” lead... Read more

Bishop-elect Joseph A. Williams.

Pope Francis names Bishop Joseph Williams as coadjutor bishop of Camden, New Jersey

May 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Williams, 50, has served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis since 2022. Read more

Pope Francis participates in Mass on the solemnity of Pentecost, May 19, 2024.

Pope Francis on Pentecost: The Holy Spirit’s work in us is powerful

May 19, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope explained that the Holy Spirit’s “work in us is powerful, as symbolized by... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Italian actor Roberto Benigni on Dec. 7, 2022.

Italian actor Roberto Benigni to join Pope Francis for World Children’s Day

May 16, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On the second day of the event, Benigni, best known for his Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful,” will give a... Read more

Stained-glass window at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis.

Vatican halts some parish closures in St. Louis following appeals

May 15, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

As part of the archdiocese’s major pastoral planning initiative, the archbishop announced that the number of parishes would be reduced... Read more

Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman, winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011, attends the Trento Economy Festival 2023 at Palazzo Geremia on May 25, 2023, in Trento, Italy.

Israeli embassy blasts Yemeni laureate for ‘genocide’ comments at Vatican event

May 14, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“The world is silent in front of the genocide and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Tawakkol... Read more

Pope Francis at vespers following the proclamation of the papal bull “Spes Non Confudit,” meaning “Hope does not disappoint,” at the Vatican, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Full Text of ‘Spes Non Confundit,’ papal bull for the 2025 Jubilee Year

May 9, 2024

By Pope Francis

The pope presided over a formal reading of the Jubilee’s Papal Bull of Indiction in the atrium of St. Peter’s... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the crowd at the proclamation of the papal bull “Spes Non Confudit,” meaning “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” at the Vatican on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Pope Francis proclaims 2025 Jubilee papal bull: ‘Hope does not disappoint’

May 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The papal bull declares that the Jubilee will officially begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s... Read more

The French 19th-century three-masted barque Belem is seen from the Palais du Pharo in the southern port city of Marseille on May 8, 2024, before the Olympic Flame arrival ceremony, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Belem is set to reach Marseille on May 8 and ten thousand torchbearers will then carry the flame across 64 French territories.

Vatican prepares for summer Olympics with conference on faith and sports

May 8, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The three-day international conference on sport and spirituality is titled “Putting Our Lives on the Line.” Read more

Aboriginal dancers perform an Indigenous welcome ceremony at the opening Mass formally celebrating the start of World Youth Day 2008 at Barangaroo on July 15, 2008, in Sydney.

From Australia to the Vatican: ‘Aboriginal Mass’ seeks official recognition

May 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The liturgy has been celebrated for over 50 years in the Diocese of Broome, where some 13,000 Catholics live in... Read more

Pope Francis on May 7, 2024, appointed Father James Mark Beckman, 61, a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville.

Pope Francis appoints new bishop to Diocese of Knoxville

May 7, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See Press Office announced that Father James Mark Beckman, 61, will be installed as the new bishop of... Read more