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

Pope Francis delivers his Sunday Angelus message to about 20,000 faithful in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus: ‘We must not be slaves to any earthly power’

Oct 22, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis spoke to the faithful on the importance of the correct relationship between the Church and... Read more

Synod on Synodality spokesman Paolo Ruffini speaks to the media during a press briefing at the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2023.

Synod on Synodality: LGBT issues, female diaconate discussed in emotional third week

Oct 20, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The process has been driven by what the Synod on Synodality calls “active listening and speaking from the heart.” Read more

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Catholics around the world join in prayer for peace in the Holy Land

Oct 19, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Many Catholics worldwide participated in an international day of prayer and fasting Oct. 17, called for by the Church in... Read more

Pope Francis meets with World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder at the Vatican on Oct. 19, 2023.

World Jewish Congress leader asks pope to use ‘moral authority’ to help Israeli hostages

Oct 19, 2023

By Daniel Payne

In his meeting with the pope, Ronald Lauder urged the pontiff “to use your power, to use your strength, to... Read more

Pope Francis presides over his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis announces prayer vigil, day of fasting for peace in Israel-Hamas war

Oct 18, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

An interfaith vigil will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in St. Peter’s Square, where the faithful will join... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience at St. Peter's Square on Oct. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis stresses need to put Jesus at the center of our lives

Oct 18, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

At the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 18, the pope announced that Oct. 27... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Angelus address on Oct. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with U.S. LGBT group previously denounced by Vatican

Oct 17, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Pope Francis on Tuesday at his residence met with leadership from the U.S. LGBT organization New Ways Ministry. Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 6, 2023.

A papal visit to the South Pole? Pope Francis looks to new peripheries

Oct 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a new interview, the pope said someone had recommended he make a visit to Antarctica the next time he’s... Read more

Pope Francis smiles during his general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis in new interview: ‘Church has to change’ in favor of human dignity

Oct 17, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

Pope Francis, speaking in a new interview published by a media outlet in his native Argentina, said the Church must... Read more

Pope Francis prays at the opening Mass for the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis says his Argentinian friends may be among Hamas attack victims

Oct 17, 2023

By ACI Digital

Israeli journalist Henrique Cymerman posted on his social networks a video of the telephone conversation he had with the pope... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Angelus address on Oct. 15, 2023.

At Angelus, Pope Francis reminds the faithful: The Lord ‘does not impose’ and ‘does not give up’

Oct 15, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

God continuously “extends the invitation” until the faithful respond to it, the pope said. Read more

St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Pope Francis highlights ‘little greatness’ of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in apostolic letter

Oct 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also called “The Little Flower,” was a French Carmelite nun who died in 1897 from tuberculosis... Read more

Actress Whoopi Goldberg attends the "Sister Act" screening at Westfield World Trade Center at The Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center on Aug. 3, 2017, in New York City.

Whoopi Goldberg reveals ‘remarkable’ meeting with Pope Francis 

Oct 13, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The Oscar-winning actress provided an account of the visit in a series of Instagram posts. Read more

Pope Francis received President-Designate of COP28 UAE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the Vatican.

COP28 president-designate meets with Pope Francis to discuss common climate goals 

Oct 12, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber from the UAE met the pope on Wednesday at the Vatican ahead of the COP28 meeting... Read more

Jedidiah Murphy was executed by the state of Texas on Oct. 10, 2023.

Texas executes prisoner despite pleas for clemency from Catholic anti-death-penalty group

Oct 11, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Jedidiah Murphy was put to death by lethal injection at the execution chamber in Huntsville on Tuesday night. Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 6, 2023.

Pope Francis has lunch with Rome’s poor who tell him ‘what they expect from the Church’

Oct 11, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Like the synod assembly participants, the lunch guests were asked “what they expect from the Church,” Paolo Ruffini told journalists... Read more

Josephine Bakhita.

Pope Francis highlights St. Josephine Bakhita’s example of forgiveness

Oct 11, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The Sudanese-Italian saint’s life story is “an existential parable of forgiveness,” the pope said Wednesday. Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 11, 2023.

Pope Francis calls for immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

Oct 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Some 130 Israeli hostages were taken by the militant Islamist group Hamas during its attack on Israel last weekend. Read more

Palestinians move towards the Nahal Oz border crossing with Israel, east of Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023.

Pope Francis calls Gaza priest as Israel announces blockade

Oct 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in... Read more

Pope Francis waves from a window of the Apostolic Palace during his weekly Sunday address and Angelus on Oct. 8, 2023. He spoke about the importance of having gratitude for the gifts one has received, especially the gifts of life and faith from God.

Pope Francis: Do not forget your life and faith are a gift from God

Oct 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Jesus reminds us what happens when a person deceives himself into thinking that he does things on his own, and... Read more