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.

Pope Francis: What to expect in 2019

Jan 15, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The finalization of a Curial reform process, a reshuffle in some Vatican positions, and an eventual consistory to “refill” the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops in Rome, May 2018.

Pope Francis meets with Chilean bishops to discuss abuse crisis

Jan 14, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis met for three hours Monday with leaders of the Chilean bishops’ conference, as the bishops face a sexual... Read more

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Administrator of the Archdioce of Washington, D.C.

Analysis: The fall of Cardinal Wuerl

Jan 14, 2019

By Ed Condon

It now looks clear that Wuerl’s mandate to lead, and whatever was left of his legacy as a reformer, are... Read more

Pope Francis baptizes a baby in the Sistine Chapel Jan. 13, 2019.

Children must see the faith lived at home, pope tells parents

Jan 13, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

At Mass in the Sistine Chapel Sunday, Pope Francis baptized 27 babies, reminding their parents that the first space in... Read more

Catholics attending Mass. Stock photo/Shutterstock

U.S. Catholics losing trust in clergy, survey finds

Jan 11, 2019

Trust in the clergy has declined sharply over the last year, a new Gallup poll shows. Only 31 percent of... Read more

Then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick arrives at the Vatican on March 5, 2013.

Analysis: The non-trial of Theodore McCarrick

Jan 7, 2019

By Ed Condon

Sources at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith have confirmed that allegations against McCarrick are being considered through... Read more

Pope Francis with Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria in Cairo, Egypt on April 28, 2017.

Pope Francis sends Christmas greetings to Coptic Christians

Jan 7, 2019

Pope Francis sent Christmas and New Year’s greetings to Coptic Christians and all Egyptians upon the inauguration of a major... Read more

A bishop's skullcap.

Conversion or reform: What will the bishops choose in 2019?

Jan 4, 2019

By Ed Condon

Expectations that there can be one practical solution to solve the crisis are likely to prove false hopes. It has... Read more

Burned car in the center of city after unrest in Odesa, Ukraine.

How 'Pope for Ukraine' aims to help displaced families

Jan 3, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

“Pope for Ukraine” is a Vatican initiative that aims to collaborate with non-Catholic entities to respond to the emergency humanitarian... Read more

US bishops in retreat, Mundeline Seminary, Jan. 2019.

Pope calls for unity and conversion in letter to US bishops

Jan 3, 2019

Pope Francis has written to the bishops of the United States calling for a “change of mindset” to restore the... Read more

Pope Francis blesses a woman at the Dec. 5, 2018 General Audience.

On Holy Family feast, Pope Francis offers advice for healing family wounds

Dec 30, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayerfully entrusted troubled families to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth Sunday and offered his advice... Read more

 The former KGB prison now a museum in the city of Vilnius.

Meet the Jesuit who survived the KGB

Dec 26, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

When Pope Francis visited a former KGB building in Vilnius, Lithuania Sept. 23, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius was the only bishop... Read more

In Michelangelo's Pietà, the Virgin Mary holds her Son as she did at his birth.

St. Stephen’s Day connects Christ’s birth to his salvific mission, Pope Francis says

Dec 26, 2018

By Courtney Mares

The feast of the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, falls the day after Christmas —  timing that contains an important... Read more

Pope Francis gives the Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing Dec. 25, 2018.

Pope’s Christmas Wish: Peace & brotherhood in world’s conflicts

Dec 25, 2018

By Courtney Mares

On Christmas, Pope Francis prayed for peace and renewed brotherhood in Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other parts of the... Read more

Pope Francis says the Midnight Mass of Christmas, Dec. 24, 2017.

Pope Francis: Invite God to dwell in your heart this Christmas

Dec 24, 2018

By Courtney Mares

God offers himself to us in the manger in Bethlehem, Pope Francis said in his Christmas homily Monday night, inviting... Read more

Officials look through the wreckage of damaged buildings in Carita, Indonesia on December 23, 2018.

Pope Francis asks for prayers for Indonesia after deadly tsunami

Dec 23, 2018

By Courtney Mares

After a deadly tsunami struck Indonesia Saturday night, killing more than 200 people and injuring hundreds more, Pope Francis has... Read more

Dec. 21, 2018: Pope Francis delivers his annual pre-Christmas address to the Roman Curia.

Pope Francis tells Curia: 'Spare no effort' in bringing abusers to justice

Dec 21, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis strongly condemned clerical sex abuse in his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia Friday, promising that the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad Dec. 20, 2018.

Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad

Dec 20, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met Thursday with the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, a survivor of ISIS enslavement and an... Read more

Pope Francis.

Analysis: How the Vatican is preparing for its February abuse summit

Dec 19, 2018

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Preparations in the Vatican are underway for a summit of the bishops to discuss the problem of clerical sexual abuse.... Read more

Pope Francis in the Paul VI hall Dec. 13, 2017.

Pope Francis: Make space for wonder this Christmas

Dec 19, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Make space for wonder and surprise this Christmas, Pope Francis urged Wednesday, explaining that the first Christmas had many surprises... Read more