Pope Francis Latest News

These are the latest news about Pope Francis, the Vatican, and the Catholic Church, provided by the Vatican staff of Catholic News Agency, a service of EWTN News.

The Latest

The Swiss Guard honored the soldiers who died in the Sack of Rome during a ceremony in Roman Protomartyrs Square in the Vatican on May 5, 2023.

What does the Swiss Guard do while Pope Francis is in the hospital?

Mar 10, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The mission of the Swiss Guard, the oldest military corps in the world, is to ensure the security of the... Read more

A balloon with an image of Pope Francis is pictured outside the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, on March 3, 2025.

Pope Francis: Temptations, falls do not end in failure for those who believe in God’s love

Mar 9, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Sunday said defeats are not definitive for those who believe in Jesus Christ and trust in God’s... Read more

Pope Francis is hugged by a young visitor at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

Praising pro-life efforts, Pope Francis addresses pilgrims from hospital

Mar 8, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The 88-year-old pontiff thanked the pro-life pilgrims on their organization’s 50th anniversary, praising their concrete support for mothers experiencing difficult... Read more

Maria Zuber, an American planetary scientist involved in multiple NASA missions (left), and Meng Anming, a Chinese developmental biologist specializing in embryonic research, are among five new members whom Pope Francis has appointed to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Vatican announced March 7, 2025.

Pope Francis appoints NASA scientist, Chinese biologist to Pontifical Academy of Sciences

Mar 7, 2025

By Courtney Mares

The new appointees include Maria Zuber, an American planetary scientist involved in multiple NASA missions, and Meng Anming, a Chinese... Read more

In a prerecorded audio message, Pope Francis thanked those gathered for the rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday night, March 6, 2025.

Vatican shares Pope Francis’ recorded message during rosary in St. Peter’s Square

Mar 6, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The Holy Father’s voice was hoarse, and he was noticeably out of breath in the brief audio message, which the... Read more

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis sprinkles ashes during the celebration of Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Sabina located on Rome’s Aventine Hill.

Pope Francis: Lent is a time to accept our fragility, rekindle hope in Jesus

Mar 5, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“Made of ashes and earth, we experience fragility through illness, poverty, and the hardships that can suddenly befall us and... Read more

Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, archbishop of Hong Kong, China

Cardinal Chow in tears during prayer for Pope Francis at China’s Sheshan basilica

Mar 4, 2025

By Courtney Mares

“I was genuinely touched, and I found myself in tears during the prayer,” Chow told the Sunday Examiner, the official... Read more

Pope Francis takes part in the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat in Ariccia, Italy, in March 2016.

Vatican to hold Lent retreat in ‘spiritual communion’ with sick Pope Francis

Mar 4, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The theme of the retreat, which will take place from the evening of March 9 through the morning of March... Read more

Pilgrims from Chicago are among those who are stopping by Gemelli Hospital to pray for Pope Francis.

Jubilee pilgrims adding visit to Gemelli Hospital to pray for Pope Francis

Just outside the hospital, hundreds of the faithful with their own stories stop to pray every day at the feet... Read more

Canadian sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz poses next to his sculpture on the theme of refugees and migration, “Angels Unawares,” in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Faith of migrants and refugees bears witness to ‘hope for the future’

Mar 3, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The Church will mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees from Oct. 4-5 to coincide with the two-day celebration... Read more

A Vatican flag waves over the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis warns of ‘planetary crisis’ in message to Vatican’s Academy for Life

Mar 3, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Academy for Life is holding a meeting of scientists, theologians, and historians March 3-4 at the Augustinianum Conference... Read more

The chapel at Gemelli Hosptial in Rome bears the name and contains a relic of another pope who knew these corridors well: St. John Paul II. The Polish pontiff was hospitalized here multiple times, including after an assassination attempt in 1981.

Pope rests well, drinks coffee, and reads newspapers as pneumonia treatment progresses

Mar 3, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Recovery for the 88-year-old Holy Father “will certainly not be imminent,” Vatican officials cautioned, indicating a potentially extended hospital stay. Read more

Left: Banners at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025.

Pope thanks faithful for prayers, meets with Vatican officials at hospital

Mar 2, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Vatican sources reported that the 88-year-old pontiff met Sunday morning with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and... Read more

A statue of St. John Paul II is seen in front of the entrance to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, where Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for respiratory issues.

Pope’s health remains stable following respiratory crisis

Mar 1, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The pontiff received the Eucharist Saturday afternoon and dedicated time to prayer at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Read more

The chapel at Gemelli Hosptial in Rome bears the name and contains a relic of another pope who knew these corridors well: St. John Paul II. The Polish pontiff was hospitalized here multiple times, including after an assassination attempt in 1981.

Pope Francis ventilated after ‘sudden worsening’ of respiratory condition

Feb 28, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to a Feb. 28 medical bulletin from the Holy See, Pope Francis experienced in the early afternoon “an isolated... Read more

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Pope Francis tells liturgists to avoid ‘pageantry or prominence’

Feb 28, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The Holy Father said dioceses should “foster a liturgical style that expresses the following of Jesus.”  Read more

Pope Francis speaks on the phone during the weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on May 17, 2023. The Holy Father has called a Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza almost every evening since Oct. 9, 2023.

CNA explains: Pope Francis still calls Gaza parish every night

Feb 28, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Holy Family Parish in Gaza is a makeshift home to 500 people: mostly Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic Christians but also... Read more

People pray at the statue of John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, on Feb. 27, 2025.

Pope Francis’ medical condition continues to improve, Vatican says

Feb 27, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“Due to the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are needed to clarify the prognosis,” the... Read more

Pope Francis attends the general audience at the Vatican on Feb. 12, 2025.

Pope’s letter to grieving mother revealed as jubilee audience is canceled

Feb 27, 2025

By AC Wimmer

As Pope Francis continues his recovery from a respiratory infection, the Vatican reveals a touching letter he wrote to a... Read more

Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, leads Eucharistic adoration at the parish in December 2024.

Gaza priest after speaking with Pope Francis: ‘We rejoice to hear his voice’

Feb 26, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Father Gabriel Romanelli was able to speak with Pope Francis on Tuesday despite the fact that the pontiff remains hospitalized... Read more