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

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.

Zelenskyy delivers list of POWs in Russia to the Vatican to mediate their release

Mar 14, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

“The Holy See has received a list of Ukrainians being held in Russian prisons and camps. We are counting on... Read more

Participants gather at a previous Rome Marathon.

Rome marathon runners to hold 42-second silence for Pope Francis

Mar 14, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Over 30,000 runners will hold 42 seconds of silence for Pope Francis before the start of the Rome marathon on... Read more

Rosary beads and tributes are placed on the sculpture of St. John Paul II on March 13, 2025, at the main entrance of Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is being cared for. Today marks the 28th day since Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Feb. 14 and also 12 years since Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis.

Pope Francis marks 12th anniversary of pontificate and nearly 1 month in the hospital

Mar 13, 2025

By Courtney Mares

On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of his election to the papacy, Pope Francis received hundreds of drawings, messages,... Read more

Pope Francis with Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako in 2020.

Chaldean Catholic patriarch: ‘Many Muslims contact me to find out how Pope Francis is doing’

Mar 12, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, said most of the Iraqi population has been distressed by Pope... Read more

Hundreds of people gather to pray the rosary for Pope Francis’ health on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Cardinal Koch: ‘Suffering of illness’ a great challenge for aging Pope Francis

Mar 12, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Before leading Tuesday evening’s recitation of rosary, held inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, Koch drew parallels in the... Read more

People gather on a flooded street after a powerful storm struck the city of Bahia Blanca, 373 miles south of Argentina’s capital, on March 7, 2025.

Pope Francis, Argentine bishops express solidarity with flood victims

Mar 11, 2025

By Julieta Villar

In addition to prayers, the Church in Argentina has sent material aid to Bahía Blanca, which suffered severe flooding March... 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.

Pope Francis urges world not to forget countries in need of God’s ‘gift of peace’

Mar 10, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The 88-year-old pontiff has asked people to remember to pray for God’s “gift of peace” for those suffering in several... Read more

The Swiss Guard honored the soldiers who died in the Sack of Rome during a ceremony in Roman Protomartyrs Square in the Vatican on May 5, 2023.

What does the Swiss Guard do while Pope Francis is in the hospital?

Mar 10, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The mission of the Swiss Guard, the oldest military corps in the world, is to ensure the security of the... Read more

A balloon with an image of Pope Francis is pictured outside the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, on March 3, 2025.

Pope Francis: Temptations, falls do not end in failure for those who believe in God’s love

Mar 9, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Sunday said defeats are not definitive for those who believe in Jesus Christ and trust in God’s... Read more

Pope Francis is hugged by a young visitor at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

Praising pro-life efforts, Pope Francis addresses pilgrims from hospital

Mar 8, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The 88-year-old pontiff thanked the pro-life pilgrims on their organization’s 50th anniversary, praising their concrete support for mothers experiencing difficult... Read more

Maria Zuber, an American planetary scientist involved in multiple NASA missions (left), and Meng Anming, a Chinese developmental biologist specializing in embryonic research, are among five new members whom Pope Francis has appointed to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Vatican announced March 7, 2025.

Pope Francis appoints NASA scientist, Chinese biologist to Pontifical Academy of Sciences

Mar 7, 2025

By Courtney Mares

The new appointees include Maria Zuber, an American planetary scientist involved in multiple NASA missions, and Meng Anming, a Chinese... Read more

In a prerecorded audio message, Pope Francis thanked those gathered for the rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday night, March 6, 2025.

Vatican shares Pope Francis’ recorded message during rosary in St. Peter’s Square

Mar 6, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The Holy Father’s voice was hoarse, and he was noticeably out of breath in the brief audio message, which the... Read more

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis sprinkles ashes during the celebration of Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Sabina located on Rome’s Aventine Hill.

Pope Francis: Lent is a time to accept our fragility, rekindle hope in Jesus

Mar 5, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“Made of ashes and earth, we experience fragility through illness, poverty, and the hardships that can suddenly befall us and... Read more

Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, archbishop of Hong Kong, China

Cardinal Chow in tears during prayer for Pope Francis at China’s Sheshan basilica

Mar 4, 2025

By Courtney Mares

“I was genuinely touched, and I found myself in tears during the prayer,” Chow told the Sunday Examiner, the official... Read more

Pope Francis takes part in the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat in Ariccia, Italy, in March 2016.

Vatican to hold Lent retreat in ‘spiritual communion’ with sick Pope Francis

Mar 4, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The theme of the retreat, which will take place from the evening of March 9 through the morning of March... Read more

Pilgrims from Chicago are among those who are stopping by Gemelli Hospital to pray for Pope Francis.

Jubilee pilgrims adding visit to Gemelli Hospital to pray for Pope Francis

Just outside the hospital, hundreds of the faithful with their own stories stop to pray every day at the feet... Read more

Canadian sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz poses next to his sculpture on the theme of refugees and migration, “Angels Unawares,” in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Faith of migrants and refugees bears witness to ‘hope for the future’

Mar 3, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The Church will mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees from Oct. 4-5 to coincide with the two-day celebration... Read more

A Vatican flag waves over the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis warns of ‘planetary crisis’ in message to Vatican’s Academy for Life

Mar 3, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Academy for Life is holding a meeting of scientists, theologians, and historians March 3-4 at the Augustinianum Conference... Read more

The chapel at Gemelli Hosptial in Rome bears the name and contains a relic of another pope who knew these corridors well: St. John Paul II. The Polish pontiff was hospitalized here multiple times, including after an assassination attempt in 1981.

Pope rests well, drinks coffee, and reads newspapers as pneumonia treatment progresses

Mar 3, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Recovery for the 88-year-old Holy Father “will certainly not be imminent,” Vatican officials cautioned, indicating a potentially extended hospital stay. Read more

Left: Banners at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025.

Pope thanks faithful for prayers, meets with Vatican officials at hospital

Mar 2, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Vatican sources reported that the 88-year-old pontiff met Sunday morning with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and... Read more