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

On his second day in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Feb. 1, 2023, Pope Francis listened to the stories of victims of violence from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s conflict-ridden eastern region.

14 Catholics killed in Democratic Republic of Congo after refusing to convert to Islam

May 30, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano reported that the 14 Catholics were killed in North Kivu by members of an ISIS-affiliated... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives at his general audience on Wednesday, May 29,  2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis opens new catechetical cycle on Holy Spirit’s role in salvation

May 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Titled “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit Guides God’s People Toward Jesus Our Hope,” the new cycle will... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2024, at the Vatican.

Vatican apologizes after pope’s derogatory remark on gay men in Catholic seminaries

May 28, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists that the pope “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he... Read more

Former La Plata Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre.

‘It pains me to leave’: Pope Francis accepts resignation of Argentinian archbishop

May 27, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre said he was leaving office “with deep peace and total rectitude of conscience.” Read more

Pope Francis greets thousands of children and their families as he makes his way through St. Peter's Square during the first World Children's Day, Sunday, May 26, 2024.

World Children’s Day: Pope Francis instills key lesson on Holy Spirit at Mass with children

May 26, 2024

By Rachel Thomas

The pope gathered with tens of thousands of children in St. Peter’s Square for Mass and provided a lively lesson... Read more

Pope Francis watches a friendly soccer game between Italian professional soccer players with children clad in uniforms as part of the first World Children’s Day on May 25, 2024, at Olympic Stadium in Rome.

Pope Francis meets with 50,000 for World Children’s Day in Rome’s Olympic Stadium

May 25, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“In you, children, everything speaks of life and the future. The Church, as a mother, welcomes you and accompanies you... Read more

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Bishop Conley asks Pope Francis to provide ‘encouragement, clarity, support’ to U.S. bishops

May 24, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

In a recent letter, the bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, encouraged the pope to “familiarize himself” with the American episcopate before... Read more

Elena Guerra, Marie-Léonie Paradis, and Giuseppe Allamano are among the Blesseds whom Pope Francis paved the way for canonization in a decree on May 23, 2024. 

Pope Francis paves the way for the canonization of new saints with zeal for mission work

May 24, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See said Pope Francis “has decided to convene a consistory, which will also concern the canonization” of four... Read more

Pope Francis speaks from the window of the Apostolic Palace on a rainy Sunday in Rome on Feb. 11, 2024.

Pope Francis lambasts the scourge of human trafficking 

May 23, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis today urged the abolition of human trafficking, “one of the most terrible scourges of our time” that disrespects... Read more

Carlo Acutis.

Carlo Acutis to be first millennial saint: Pope Francis recognizes miracle for canonization

May 23, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Italian computer-coding teenager who died of cancer in 2006 is known for his great devotion to the real presence... Read more

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Pope Francis to palliative care symposium: Euthanasia is a ‘failure of love’

May 22, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis sent a message to an interfaith symposium on palliative care taking place in Toronto May 21–23. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Humility ‘is the source of peace in the world and in the Church’

May 22, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“Humility is everything. It is what saves us from the evil one,” the pope said. Read more

Pope Francis delivers a video message to the conference “100 Years Since the ‘Concilium Sinense’” at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Pope Francis praises historic council in China as ‘an authentic synodal journey’

May 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In a video message to a conference in Rome, the pope noted that Chinese Catholics have endured “times of patience... Read more

People participate in a funeral procession of president Ebrahim Raisi and his seven aides in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, on May 21, 2024.

Pope expresses ‘spiritual closeness’ to Iran after death of president in helicopter crash

May 21, 2024

By Daniel Payne

In a telegram, the Holy Father sent “condolences upon the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and ... Read more

Pope Francis sits down for an interview with Norah O'Donnell on CBS' "60 Minutes," which aired Monday, May 20, 2024.

Pope Francis on female deacons: ‘No’

May 21, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Holy Father stressed the importance of women’s roles in the Catholic Church, describing them as “the ones who move... Read more

Bishop-elect Joseph A. Williams.

Pope Francis names Bishop Joseph Williams as coadjutor bishop of Camden, New Jersey

May 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Williams, 50, has served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis since 2022. Read more

Queen Mathilde of Belgium meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023.

Pope Francis to travel to Luxembourg and Belgium in September

May 20, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope will make a one-day stopover in Luxembourg on Sept. 26 before visiting the Catholic universities of Leuven and... Read more

In an interview with "60 Minutes" anchor Norah O'Donnell, Pope Francis discusses a wide range of issues.

Here’s what Pope Francis said in his ‘60 Minutes’ interview

May 20, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The pope spoke with “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell at the Vatican via a Spanish translator. Read more

Pope Francis participates in Mass on the solemnity of Pentecost, May 19, 2024.

Pope Francis on Pentecost: The Holy Spirit’s work in us is powerful

May 19, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope explained that the Holy Spirit’s “work in us is powerful, as symbolized by... Read more

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at the Synod of Bishops on Oct. 9, 2015.

Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Tagle as special envoy to National Eucharistic Congress 

May 18, 2024

By Zoe Romanowsky

The Vatican announced Saturday that the pope has appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle,as his special envoy to the National... Read more