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

What actually makes a marriage invalid?

Jun 17, 2016

By Matt Hadro

A virtual brouhaha erupted Thursday after Pope Francis said in unscripted remarks that “the great majority” of marriages today are... Read more

Pope Francis visits the elderly priest-residents of Casa San Gaetano in Rome, June 17, 2016.

Priests in Rome get a surprise visit from Pope Francis

Jun 17, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Friday afternoon Pope Francis visited two communities of priests in Rome as part of his “Mercy Friday” initiative to... Read more

A Sryian refugee family prepares to board the papal plane from Lesbos to Rome with Pope Francis April 16, 2016.

Vatican lends hand in welcoming new group of Syrian refugees to Rome

Jun 17, 2016

By Elise Harris

Since 2015, when the refugee crisis reached a fever pitch in Europe, five Syrian families fleeing civil war have found... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, April 13, 2016.

Updated: Most marriages today are invalid, Pope Francis suggests

Jun 16, 2016

Pope Francis said Thursday that the great majority of sacramental marriages today are not valid, because couples do not enter... Read more

Participants in the Jubilee for Circuses perform for Pope Francis in the Pope Paul VI Hall on June 16, 2016.

You are 'artisans of wonder,' Pope Francis tells performers

Jun 16, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis told a group of nearly 6,000 traveling performers that while their work is demanding and at times unstable,... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal plane, August 14, 2014.

How the Pope's visit to Auschwitz will shape World Youth Day

Jun 16, 2016

Since the very first World Youth Day in 1986, the international Catholic event has been marked by prayer, music, and... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his June 15, 2016 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Are you 'bothered' by the cry of the poor? If so, it’s a problem, Pope says

Jun 15, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Wednesday that we must listen to the cries of the poor and needy, resisting the temptation to... Read more

Pope greets graduates of Rome course on protecting minors from abuse

Jun 14, 2016

By Ann Schneible

The first graduates of an international diploma course on safeguarding minors received a special greeting from Pope Francis, who encouraged... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the WFP Rome headquarters, June, 13, 2016.

Don't become immune to poverty, Pope tells UN's food agency

Jun 13, 2016

By Ann Schneible

In a world where information is brought instantly to our fingertips, society is becoming increasingly anesthetized to the suffering brought... Read more

Pope Francis prays at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 2, 2013.

Pope horrified by deadly attack in Orlando

Jun 12, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis has offered his prayers and compassion for those affected by Saturday night's shooting at a nightclub in Orlando.  Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Square, June 12, 2016.

Pope: Disabled persons should be loved, not hidden from society

Jun 12, 2016

By Ann Schneible

On Sunday, Pope Francis denounced the increasingly prevalent mentality which claims that sick and disabled persons cannot be happy, and... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, April 13, 2016.

Behind Pope Francis' diplomacy is a small school with a big impact

Jun 11, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The pontificate of Pope Francis has a diplomatic style of its own, and many of his diplomats share a common... Read more

Pope Francis greets participants of the Convention for Persons with Disabilities at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, June 11, 2016.

Pope Francis calls it – discrimination against the disabled is 'ugly'

Jun 11, 2016

By Elise Harris

No single person is more valuable than another, especially when it comes to those with disabilities, Pope Francis said on... Read more

Pope Francis prepares to greet Queen Elizabeth II at the Vatican April 3, 2014.

Pope Francis: Let’s be clear – assisted suicide is 'false compassion'

Jun 10, 2016

Physician-assisted suicide is part of a “throwaway culture” that offers a “false compassion” and treats a human person as a... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims inside St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Feb. 11, 2015.

Pope Francis calls young priest with cancer in Chile

Jun 10, 2016

On Saturday, June 4, right around lunch time, Chilean priest Father Francisco Rencoret Mujica received an unexpected call.  Read more

Prayer candle at a Military Chaplaincy in the Ukraine. Photo Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need.

Pope sets up group to allocate crisis funds in Ukraine

Jun 9, 2016

By Elise Harris

After raising funds for humanitarian relief in Ukraine through a special collection in Europe, Pope Francis has established a committee... Read more

Pope Francis embraces an individual with disabilities at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Jan. 27, 2016.

Sick, disabled to take on main roles in jubilee Mass at Vatican

Jun 9, 2016

By Elise Harris

The sick and disabled have always held a special place in Pope Francis’ heart, and have been the recipients of... Read more

Pope Francis laughing outside of St. Peter's Basilica during the general audience on April 1, 2015.

Pope Francis: Want to celebrate well? Drink wine.

Jun 8, 2016

By Elise Harris

In an in-depth look at Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana, Pope... Read more

Thailand's Mount Carmel Parish, Paphanawan-Thare plant 800 tree saplings on World Environment Day Jun 5, 2016.

How Pope Francis inspired a Thailand parish to plant 800 trees

Jun 7, 2016

Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for creation, and concerned by environmental threats around them, Catholic parishioners in Thailand... Read more

Mobility scooter.

A scooter from Pope Francis – elderly couple receives gift of mobility

Jun 6, 2016

An elderly couple with disabilities on the outskirts of Rome now has an electric scooter, thanks to a gift from... Read more