Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

The Latest

St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican approves ‘spiritual experience’ connected to Trinity shrine of Maccio in Italy

Jul 24, 2024

By Kristina Millare

It is the fifth public announcement of the DDF since the office published norms for the discernment of “alleged supernatural... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presides over a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Vatican’s new document on Marian apparitions.

Vatican approves ‘Our Lady of the Rock’ shrine at alleged Marian apparition site in Italy

Jul 16, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

It is the DDF’s fourth public pronouncement related to alleged apparitions since issuing norms for the discernment of “alleged supernatural... Read more

The Lady of All Nations painting.

Vatican reveals details about 1974 ruling on alleged ‘Lady of All Nations’ apparition

Jul 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The DDF said that in 1974 the doctrinal office voted unanimously that the visions were not supernatural and would not... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis appoints new members to Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Jun 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new appointments come as the Vatican office continues to grapple with the ecumenical fallout from Fiducia Supplicans. Read more

A Marian apparition.

New norms give Vatican greater say on alleged apparitions

May 17, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Vatican’s doctrinal office is centralizing its authority over the investigation of alleged Marian apparitions and other religious phenomena under... Read more

Argentinian prelate Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández.

Vatican to publish new document on Marian apparitions next week

May 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will unveil new norms for discernment regarding “apparitions and other supernatural phenomena.” Read more

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery on the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks during a press conference about a new Vatican document on human dignity on April 8, 2024.

New Vatican document highlights Church’s ‘ever-greater understanding of human dignity’

Apr 8, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Dignity “belongs to the person… simply because he or she exists and is willed, created, and loved by God,” the... Read more

Dome of St. Peter's basilica, Vatican City.

Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion

Apr 8, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

In the declaration, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith cautions against threats to human dignity that begin at... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, pictured here in 2014, took up his new post as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2023.

Vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy

Apr 2, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See Press Office announced Tuesday that the new document, titled Dignitas Infinita (“Infinite Dignity”) (On Human Dignity), will... Read more

Archbishop Emeritus Héctor Aguer of La Plata, Argentina.

Argentine archbishop criticizes cardinals who back Fiducia Supplicans

Feb 5, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Archbishop Emeritus Héctor Aguer of La Plata, Argentina, criticized two cardinals who expressed support for the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans. Read more

CNA

Vatican doctrine office releases note on discerning the validity of the sacraments

Feb 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new document signed by Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Fernández is titled “Gestis Verbisque,” or “Deeds and Words.”  Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis: Small ideological groups oppose same-sex blessings; Africa a ‘special case’

Jan 29, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Pope Francis suggested that the opposition to the Vatican’s approval of nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples mostly comes from “small... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis: Blessings don’t require ‘moral perfection’

Jan 26, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis on Friday offered guidance to members of the Vatican’s doctrinal office for dealing with matters of faith. Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen preaches a sermon during a Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen: Fiducia Supplicans ‘creates confusion’; suggests Fernández should resign

Jan 25, 2024

By Edward Pentin

In a statement published Jan. 23 on his blog, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said the declaration contains numerous passages in... Read more

Luca Di Tolve.

Former gay activist: Fiducia Supplicans hurts those ‘struggling for chastity’

Jan 19, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Luca Di Tolve, Mister Gay Italy 1990 and a former homosexual activist, posted a reflection on his website regarding the... Read more

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Resurfaced Fernández book prompts concerns

Jan 18, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Some Catholics have raised concerns over both the tone and theology of a recently resurfaced sexually explicit book written by... Read more

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Rediscovered book by Cardinal Fernández features graphic erotic passages on ‘spirituality and sensuality’

Jan 8, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

The 1998 book’s provocative, sexually-charged themes are likely to add further scrutiny to the already embattled prefect of the Vatican’s... Read more

St. Peter's Dome.

Vatican responds to widespread backlash on same-sex blessing directive

Jan 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández maintained that the Vatican’s recent declaration on same-sex blessings was “clear and definitive about marriage and... Read more

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI).

Resistance to same-sex blessings grows in Africa, but bishops are divided globally

Jan 3, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

More than two weeks after the Vatican issued a declaration on blessings of same-sex couples, bishops remain divided over the... Read more

GOP Presidential Candidate Chris Christie at a town Hall in Bedford, New Hampshire on Dec. 19, 2023.

Chris Christie ties his shift on gay marriage to Vatican ruling on same-sex blessings

Dec 29, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Christie, who identifies as Catholic, told New Hampshire voters: “I don’t have any objection to it any longer. In the... Read more