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Pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis has died. What happens next? 

Apr 21, 2025

By Andrea Gagliarducci

With the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church has entered the sede vacante period. What happens next?  Read more

Pope Francis (1936–2025), who led the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, emphasized God’s infinite mercy throughout his pontificate.

Pope Francis: The pope of the peripheries who shook up the Church

Apr 21, 2025

By CNA Staff

The first Latin American and Jesuit pope was determined to lead a more welcoming, pastoral, and merciful Church outward to... Read more

EWTN Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw meets with Pope Francis during an audience with participants in the plenary meetings of the Dicastery for Communication, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.

EWTN CEO Michael Warsaw: Death of Pope Francis a ‘moment of personal grief’ for Catholics

Apr 21, 2025

By Daniel Payne

"Together with our entire EWTN Family, I mourn his passing and join the Church in prayers for the repose of... Read more

A reliquary containing relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Church of Sant'Angela Merici in Rome, Oct 11, 2021.

Vatican postpones Carlo Acutis canonization following Pope Francis’ death

Apr 21, 2025

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced Monday that the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis. Read more

Pope Francis dies at 88: The Holy See has confirmed the passing of the first Latin American pontiff.

BREAKING: Pope Francis dies at 88, ending historic pontificate marked by mercy and reform

Apr 21, 2025

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years as its first Latin American pontiff, has died... Read more

Pope Francis wishes the crowd a “happy Easter” from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Pope calls for peace, warns against ‘logic of fear’ in Easter message ‘urbi et orbi’

Apr 20, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The pope’s traditional blessing, “urbi et orbi,” was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, but Pope Francis later toured St. Peter’s... Read more

Iman Hijaze and her mother, Hadidza, at St. Joseph’s House.

How a stolen rosary led one young woman to the Catholic Church

Apr 20, 2025

By Alexey Gotovskiy

Iman Hijaze was raised in a culturally Shiite Muslim household and considered herself an atheist until she picked up a... Read more

Rows of daffodils decorate St. Peter's Square during Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican on April 20, 2025.

‘Run’ to seek Christ in everyday life, Pope Francis says in Easter Sunday homily

Apr 20, 2025

By AC Wimmer

“We must look for him without ceasing,” the pope’s prepared text emphasized. “Because if he has risen from the dead,... Read more

Incense is dispensed at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 19, 2025.

PHOTOS: Holy Saturday Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica

Apr 19, 2025

By CNA Staff

The liturgy was celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Read more

Catholics gather for Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Pope Francis in Easter Vigil homily: Christ is the ‘turning point’ in human history

Apr 19, 2025

By Courtney Mares

“It falls to us to proclaim this Easter hope, this ‘turning point’ where darkness becomes light,” the pope wrote in... Read more

State capitol in Dover, Delaware.

‘Government-sanctioned suicide’: Delaware governor set to sign assisted suicide bill

Apr 19, 2025

By Daniel Payne

The measure will “[permit] a terminally ill individual who is an adult resident of Delaware to request and self-administer medication... Read more

Texas capitol in Austin.

Texas bishops hail passage of school choice bill in state Legislature

Apr 19, 2025

By María J. Moriarty

The bill would create a $1 billion Education Savings Account program, giving eligible families up to $10,000 per student to... Read more

U.S. Vice President JD Vance shares a moment of laughter with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, during their meeting at the Vatican on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Vance visits Vatican: U.S. vice president and Cardinal Parolin address global concerns

Apr 19, 2025

By AC Wimmer

During Holy Saturday talks at the Vatican, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin reaffirmed their... Read more

The custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, anoints the statue of Jesus on the Stone of Anointing during the ceremony known as the “funeral procession” on Good Friday night 2024. According to the tradition and the Status Quo, on the evening of Good Friday — both Catholic and Orthodox — the rite of preparing Jesus’ body for burial is reenacted on this stone during the so-called “funeral procession.”

Amid ongoing war and blockades, Holy Land Christians insist on celebrating Easter

Apr 19, 2025

By Sanad Sahelia

This year’s Easter celebrations in the Holy Land are expected to unfold under a complex and emotional landscape as war... Read more

Joseph Lovskiy (left), the only Catholic in his Russion Orthodox family, with his wife (right) and their youngest son, a Russian Orthodox priest, and his family.

Catholic-Orthodox families prepare with joy to celebrate shared Easter date

Apr 19, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Two families of mixed Catholic and Orthodox Christian members are looking forward to celebrating Easter together on the same date... Read more

Thousands of faithful bearing candles surround the illuminated Colosseum in Rome during the traditional Via Crucis ceremony on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, where Cardinal Reina presided over the solemn procession.

Rome’s ancient Colosseum hosts Way of the Cross with pope’s theme of renewal

Apr 18, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Unable to attend the Good Friday ceremony in person for the third consecutive year, the pope offered deep meditations for... Read more

Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome, guard the entrance to Ponte Sant’Angelo, welcoming pilgrims as they begin their journey toward St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Angels of Rome’s Ponte Sant’Angelo guide pilgrims through Christ’s passion

Apr 18, 2025

By Daniel Ibañez

The recently restored Ponte Sant’Angelo in Rome features 10 angels holding symbols of Christ’s passion, creating a profound spiritual journey... Read more

Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, gives the homily during a two-hour Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

On Good Friday, Vatican preacher says authentic intelligence is found in self-giving love

Apr 18, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, in his homily emphasized the importance of self-gift over self-reliance and on surrender of one’s... Read more

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (right) and his family attend the Vatican’s Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Vice President JD Vance attends Vatican Good Friday service

Apr 18, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus, Tyler Arnold

On his trip, Vance — who is a convert to Catholicism — will also be visiting cultural and religious sites... Read more

A damaged bus and vehicles after a Russian missile strike on Sumy, Ukraine, on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Palm Sunday bombing in Ukraine claims 34 victims, including 15 children

Apr 18, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news that you might have missed this week. Read more