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

French President Emmanuel Macron talks to the press as he leaves after a European Council Informal Meeting at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, southern Spain, on Oct. 6, 2023.

French president wants right to abortion added to constitution

Oct 6, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

In his speech for the 65th anniversary of the French Constitution, President Emmanuel Macron called for abortion to be included... Read more

Speaking at a press briefing on Oct. 6, Vatican spokesman Paolo Ruffini said that there needs to be “a certain amount of confidentiality about who takes the floor and who doesn't in order to leave the space open … for ‘conversation in the Spirit.’”

Secrecy at the Synod on Synodality: What we know about delegates’ confidentiality requirements  

Oct 6, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Synod on Synodality’s official regulations no longer allow Synod delegates to share their personal interventions with the public.  Read more

Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo arrives for a meeting of pre-conclave on March 9, 2013, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis remembers Cardinal Toppo of India for ‘zeal for the spread of the Gospel’

Oct 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Cardinal Telesphore Toppo was the “first and only cardinal of the tribal communities of Asia,” said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath. Read more

Emergency crew members work at the scene after a bus accident near Venice on Oct. 3, 2023, in Mestre, Italy.

Pope offers prayers to victims of deadly bus crash in Venice, Italy

Oct 6, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Authorities reported that the bus broke out in flames after crashing. At least 21 people were reported dead by Friday... Read more

null

Read some of the reactions to the pope’s ‘heartfelt appeal’ on climate change

Oct 5, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the environment and the threat of climate change was met with praise both by Catholic... Read more

Cardinal Raymond Burke was part of a panel that convened on the eve of the Synod on Synodality, Oct. 3, 2023.

The dubia were not meant as an attack on the pope, Cardinal Burke says

Oct 5, 2023

By Solène Tadié

The cardinal was speaking at a conference in Rome on Oct. 3 on the theme “the synodal Babel” to discuss... Read more

Synod on Synodality delegates in small groups listen to Pope Francis' guidance for the upcoming weeks on Oct. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis to Synod on Synodality: ‘Do not sadden the Holy Spirit’

Oct 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pointing synod delegates to texts by St. Basil on the Holy Spirit, the pope emphasized the importance of listening over... Read more

St. Peter’s Square was illuminated by candlelight the night of Saturday, May 20, 2023, as pilgrims prayed the rosary in a procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Peter’s Basilica to offer nightly Eucharistic adoration during Synod on Synodality

Oct 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The basilica will also host weekly candlelight rosary processions at 9 p.m. each Saturday in the month of October. Read more

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

Pope Francis issues new call for dramatic climate change measures

Oct 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The pope wrote that the effects of climate change “are here and increasingly evident.” Read more

The opening Mass of the Synod on Synodality in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality’s primary task ‘to refocus our gaze on God’

Oct 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis underlined that “the primary task of the synod” is to “refocus our gaze on God, to be a... Read more

Post Francis' post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia in Vatican City on April 8, 2016.

Here’s the full text of the Vatican’s response to dubia on divorced and remarried Catholics

Oct 3, 2023

By CNA Staff

Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka had submitted to the Vatican a request for pastoral guidance. Read more

Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka speaks at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 10, 2021.

Vatican responds to Cardinal Duka’s dubia on divorced and remarried Catholics

Oct 2, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Originally submitted by the archbishop emeritus of Prague on July 13, the DDF’s response had been issued to the Czech... Read more

The Christian community in Qaraqosh, in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, was devastated last week after a fire broke out at a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration.

Pope Francis sends telegram to Iraqi Christian community after tragic wedding fire

Oct 2, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

An Iraqi Christian community in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, was devastated by a massive fire at a crowded wedding reception that... Read more

Left to right: German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, Mexican Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, American Cardinal Raymond Burke, and Chinese Cardinal Zen Ze-Kiun.

The 5 cardinals behind the latest dubia issued to Pope Francis

Oct 2, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The prelates, who also issued a “Notification to Christ’s Faithful,” hail from the diverse ecclesiastical landscapes of Europe, Asia, Africa,... Read more

Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández was appointed by Pope Francis on July 1, 2023, to become the next prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Vatican releases Pope Francis’ responses to pre-synod dubia, criticizes cardinals

Oct 2, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope’s responses, originally issued July 11, responded to requests for doctrinal clarification on the development of doctrine, same-sex unions,... Read more

null

Read Pope Francis’ response to the dubia presented to him by 5 cardinals

Oct 2, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Five cardinals have sent a set of questions known as “dubia” to Pope Francis to express their concerns and seek... Read more

Five children representing five continents speak with Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Oct. 1, 2023. The pope will hold a meeting with children at the Vatican on Nov. 6, 2023.

Pope Francis to hold meeting with children at the Vatican on Nov. 6

Oct 1, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

The theme of the event in the Paul VI Audience Hall will be “Let us learn from boys and girls.”  Read more

The Sept. 30, 2023, prayer service, called “Together,” which was organized by the ecumenical community Taizé, included eight minutes of silence for personal prayer.

Pope Francis calls silence ‘essential’ at prayer vigil for Synod on Synodality

Sep 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Before thousands of young people and Christian leaders from around the world, Francis emphasized the importance of silent prayer. Read more

Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals for the Catholic Church on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The men, whose ages range from 49 to 96, come from 15 different countries and five continents.

We asked the new cardinals: How should the Church evangelize the world today?

Sep 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

From digital communication to hope to listening to the Gospel, here is what 12 of the cardinals told CNA they... Read more

Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals from across the world at a Saturday morning consistory in St. Peter’s Square, Sept. 30, 2023.

Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals, expanding body’s geographic diversity

Sep 30, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope shared a guiding image for the College of Cardinals: that of “a symphony orchestra, representing the harmony and... Read more