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 speaks during a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome on Sept. 23, 2023, at the conclusion of a two-day visit to the southern French port city to take part in the Mediterranean Encounter, a meeting of young people and bishops.

‘You don’t play with life’: Pope Francis condemns euthanasia, abortion on papal plane

Sep 23, 2023

By CNA Staff

“Neither at the beginning nor at the end. It is not played with!” Pope Francis said on a flight from... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Sep 23, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

“Those who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome,” the Holy Father insisted. Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with local religious leaders at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis in Marseille: It’s ‘a duty of humanity’ to save migrants abandoned at sea

Sep 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“We can no longer watch the drama of shipwrecks, caused by the cruel trafficking and the fanaticism of indifference,” the... Read more

Pope Francis entrusted a meeting of Mediterranean bishops and youth to the Virgin Mary during the first appointment of a two-day trip to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023. The model ships hanging in Marseille's Basilica de Notre-Dame de la Garde are a testament to the faith of the sailors who have relied on the intercession of Our Lady over the centuries.

Pope Francis entrusts to Mary ‘Mediterranean Encounter’ with youth and bishops

Sep 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

After landing in Marseille, France, Sept. 22, the pope made his way to the Basilica of Notre Dame de la... Read more

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas.

Bishop Strickland: ‘no communication from Rome’ following apostolic visitation

Sep 22, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Bishop Joseph Strickland said if Pope Francis were to remove him from office he would respect the Holy Father’s authority... Read more

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sept. 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sept. 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person.

Vatican cardinal to make charity mission to Ukraine city hit by Russian drones

Sep 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is in Ukraine this week to open the House of Refuge “in the name of Pope Francis,... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis lauds Catholic saint who fought to end slavery in Africa

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

St. Daniele Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh: ‘Silence the weapons’

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Speaking to more than 15,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said Wednesday that he was troubled by the... Read more

Father Marko Rupnik.

Rupnik’s victims say Diocese of Rome’s statement ‘ridicules’ their pain

Sep 19, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The diocese described the Aletti Center — where Father Marko Rupnik has been accused of abuse — as having “a... Read more

Former President Bill Clinton and Pope Francis have a virtual conversation during the Clinton Global Initiative meeting at the Hilton Midtown on Sept. 18, 2023, in New York City.

Pope Francis says ‘no to war,’ urges climate action in livestreamed chat with Bill Clinton

Sep 18, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

“It is important to spread a culture of encounter, a culture of dialogue, a culture of listening and of understanding,”... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky on Sept. 18, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with new Russian ambassador to the Vatican

Sep 18, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The meeting comes days after papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Beijing to discuss efforts to bring about peace in... Read more

Pope Francis addressed pilgrims and tourists at his first outdoor general audience after the summer on Sept. 6, 2023.

Synod 2023: What has Pope Francis said about synodality?

Sep 17, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Synodality isn’t “a chapter in an ecclesiology textbook” or a “fad or a slogan to be bandied about in our... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his Angelus address on Sept. 17, 2023.

Pope Francis: Forgiveness is the cure that heals ‘the poisons of resentment’

Sep 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus, the pope said forgiving is “not a good deed that we can choose to do or not... Read more

Pope Francis met Maria Campatelli, director of the Aletti Center, at the Vatican on Sept. 15, 2023. The Aletti Center was founded in Rome by the former Jesuit priest Father Marko Rupnik.

Pope Francis meets close collaborator of Rupnik

Sep 15, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In June, Maria Campatelli published a letter defending Rupnik against “a media campaign based on defamatory and unproven accusations.” Read more

Our Lady of Sorrows at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Granada, Spain.

Our Lady of Sorrows: What are Mary’s seven sorrows?

Sep 15, 2023

By Katie Yoder

Catholics are invited to contemplate the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a special way on Sept. 15,... Read more

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white, rather than the customary black, when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican. She arrived at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023, wearing a white mantilla veil and a white dress.

Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope

Sep 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

She has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco,... Read more

Former President Bill Clinton and Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, former President Clinton to have ‘special conversation’ at foundation meeting

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Clinton Global Initiative 2023 meeting will open Sept. 18 with “a special conversation” between Clinton and the pope via... Read more

Father Antonio Spadaro, SJ, former editor in chief of La Civilta Cattolica, was appointed undersecretary for the Dicastery for Culture and Education on Sept. 14, 2023.

Pope Francis appoints Father Spadaro to culture and education post

Sep 14, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Father Antonio Spadaro, known popularly as “the pope’s mouthpiece,” announced Thursday that he was leaving the Jesuit-run La Civiltà. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican at his general audience on Sept. 13, 2023.

Controversial Iraqi Christian didn’t meet with Pope Francis privately, Vatican confirms

Sep 13, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

On social media Sept. 7, Al-Kildani shared photos and videos that seemed, at least to some observers, to imply that... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (right), relator general of Synod on Synodality, speaks to the media on June 20, 2023, at the temporary headquarters of the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City. Beside him is Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops.

What you need to know about the Synod on Synodality

Sep 13, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Church’s synodal process will culminate in two global assemblies at the Vatican. The first will take place Oct. 4–28... Read more

Latest news

Pope Francis speaks during a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome on Sept. 23, 2023, at the conclusion of a two-day visit to the southern French port city to take part in the Mediterranean Encounter, a meeting of young people and bishops.

‘You don’t play with life’: Pope Francis condemns euthanasia, abortion on papal plane

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for an estimated 50,000 people at the Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille, France, the last stop in his Sept. 22-23, 2023, visit to the port city to speak at an ecumenical meeting of young people and bishops called the “Rencontres Mediterraneennes,” or Mediterranean Encounter.

Pope Francis: Be Christians who ‘leap for joy’ in the face of life

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Jimmy Mitchell (front row, far left) leads a group of Jesuit High School students in Tampa, Florida, in a walking rosary after school.

Holy friendships continue to transform all-boys Catholic high school in Tampa

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio.

How an extraordinary healing led to the creation of The National Centre for Padre Pio

A truck traveled through Mexico City in September 2023 with a message against the indoctrination of children in schools.

Truck circulates in Mexico City with message against indoctrinating schoolchildren

Dominican Sister Lucía Caram on the television program “Cuentos Chinos” (“Tall Tales”) in Spain.

Dominican nun speaks in favor of homosexuals being able to marry in the Church

Priests celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for two new Canadian Saints in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 12, 2014.

Canadian bishops to meet Monday to discuss euthanasia, protection of minors

“This isn’t 1984, but 2023 —I should never have been arrested or investigated simply for the thoughts I held in my own mind,” Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic, said Sept. 22, 2023.

Woman arrested for silent prayer at UK abortion clinics gets police apology

Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with local religious leaders at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis in Marseille: It’s ‘a duty of humanity’ to save migrants abandoned at sea

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Sep 23
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Today's readings

Trending

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio.

How an extraordinary healing led to the creation of The National Centre for Padre Pio

Jimmy Mitchell (front row, far left) leads a group of Jesuit High School students in Tampa, Florida, in a walking rosary after school.

Holy friendships continue to transform all-boys Catholic high school in Tampa

Pope Francis speaks during a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome on Sept. 23, 2023, at the conclusion of a two-day visit to the southern French port city to take part in the Mediterranean Encounter, a meeting of young people and bishops.

‘You don’t play with life’: Pope Francis condemns euthanasia, abortion on papal plane

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for an estimated 50,000 people at the Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille, France, the last stop in his Sept. 22-23, 2023, visit to the port city to speak at an ecumenical meeting of young people and bishops called the “Rencontres Mediterraneennes,” or Mediterranean Encounter.

Pope Francis: Be Christians who ‘leap for joy’ in the face of life