Popes

The Latest

The fresco of St. Leo the Great, doctor of the Church, in the cupola of the Church of St. Maximus of Turin, Italy.

St. Leo the Great: The pope who clarified the humanity and divinity of Christ

Nov 10, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

The worldwide Church celebrates St. Leo the Great, the 45th bishop of Rome and one of only 38 doctors of... Read more

A papal ring, part of Father Richard Kunst’s “Vatican Unveiled” exhibit.

Priest’s collection of ‘old, rare and unique’ papal artifacts coming to Mall of America

Oct 15, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Spanning 19,000 square feet, the “Vatican Unveiled” exhibit features “artistic items with old-world craftsmanship” as well as “papal artifacts that... Read more

A statue of Pope Gregory I, also known as St. Gregory the Great, with his famous Catholic iconography of a dove sitting on his shoulder, sits outside of St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.

The pope who was first called ‘servant of the servants of God’

Sep 3, 2025

By CNA Staff

St. Gregory the Great, one of the most admired popes in history, was the first of the bishops of Rome... Read more

The statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

7 popes are buried at St. Mary Major; Pope Francis will soon be the eighth

Apr 26, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis will be buried today at Santa Maria Maggiore — who are the other popes buried there? Read more

Palma il Giovane (1550-1628), “Portrait of Pope Pius V.”

St. Pius V, safeguard of the faith

Apr 30, 2024

By Jim Graves

Preferring the peace of the cloister to public life, St. Pius V is remembered for ridding the Church of the... Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

The remarkable life and papacy of Blessed Pope Pius IX

Feb 7, 2024

By ACI Prensa

He convened Vatican Council I, proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and declared St. Joseph “Patron of the Church.” Read more

Jacob Matham's portrait of Leo XI, who reigned April 1-27, 1605.

The shortest papacies of all time? Pope John Paul I barely makes the list

Sep 18, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Blessed John Paul I did not serve as Roman Pontiff for long, but 10 other popes had shorter pontificates than... Read more

Cardinal Gerhard Müller at a penance service in St. Peter's Basilica on March 29, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Cardinal Müller: Media image of ‘two popes’ threatens papacy as a ‘principle of unity’

Jan 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office has said that today’s media environment is undermining theological truths that are... Read more

The Gammarelli store-front after the announcement of a consistory of cardinals in October, 2010.

Gammarelli legacy passes to sixth generation of papal tailors

Jul 15, 2016

By Elise Harris

For five generations the Gammarellis have dressed and shod the Vicar of Christ through their family business, Rome’s historic Ditta... Read more

Dante portrait by Domenico di Michelino.

Dante's biggest fans? The 'poet of popes' and his legacy at the Vatican

Mar 20, 2015

By Ann Schneible

With this year marking the 750th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s birth, the Vatican is taking a closer look the author... Read more

CNA

Pope Francis prays at John Paul II's tomb on anniversary

Apr 3, 2013

Pope Francis spent a “long time” kneeling in silent prayer before the tomb of Blessed John Paul II on April... Read more