Vatican

The Latest

Cardinal Kevin Farrell celebrates Mass for the World Meeting of Families 2022 on June 25, 2022.

Pope Francis assigns U.S. cardinal to carry out ‘urgent’ overhaul of Vatican pension fund

Nov 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a Nov. 21 letter to cardinals, prefects, and managers in the Roman Curia, the pope underlined the gravity of... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Angelus address on Nov. 10, 2024.

Pope Francis asks Rome’s Catholics to help combat ‘housing emergency’ during 2025 jubilee

Nov 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I want all diocesan realities that own real estate to offer their contribution to stem the housing emergency,” Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley on Nov. 14, 2024, at the Vatican ahead of a meeting of the Pontifical Academy for Life titled “Common Good: Theory and Practice” in which Mottley was a panelist. The academy’s meeting discussed the global financial system in light of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church and crises that have impacted the world.

Vatican meeting highlights ‘common good’ as key objective to reform global financial order

Nov 15, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The participants gathered to discuss the multifaceted and interconnected impacts of war, technology, health crises, and the environment. Read more

The Vatican and Microsoft have created a 3D digital model of St. Peter’s Basilica using the latest in artificial intelligence to offer a new way to experience the nearly 2,000-year history of the tomb of St. Peter.

PHOTOS: Discover the history of St. Peter’s Basilica in new Microsoft online AI-enhanced 3D model

Nov 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Accessible worldwide at virtual.basilicasanpietro.va, the free interactive platform allows anyone in the world to “visit” the virtual 3D model of... Read more

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Pope Francis urges ‘human-centered’ approach to ‘climate finance’ at UN COP29 summit

Nov 13, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis warned that both foreign debt and ecological debt are “mortgaging the future” of nations. Read more

The Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library, the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City, is one of the oldest libraries in the world.

Pope Francis moves part of Vatican library and archive to Rome seminary

Nov 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope declared that part of the archives and library be moved to a building on extraterritorial Vatican property at... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the delegations of the Diocese of Aosta, Italy, and the Congregation of the Canons of Great Saint Bernard on Nov. 11, 2024, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.

Pope Francis marks first millennium since birth of St. Bernard, patron of mountaineers

Nov 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Bernard, also known as St. Bernard of Menthon, lived from about 1020–1081 in what are now the countries of France,... Read more

Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's gorgeous bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massive
bronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair.

Historic ‘Chair of St. Peter’ on public display in Vatican basilica for first time in 150 years

Nov 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The relic dispayed just above the tomb of St. Peter will be accessible for public viewing until Dec. 8, the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in a training course promoted by the Roman Rota at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Sept. 27, 2018.

Rome’s most important church celebrates 1,700th birthday

Nov 9, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the seat of the bishop of Rome, the pope.... Read more

Pope Francis addresses journalists aboard the papal plane heading to Mongolia, with Cardinal-elect George Jacob Koovakad at left, on Aug. 31, 2023.

Meet Pope Francis’ personal travel agent — new cardinal George Koovakad

Nov 7, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pontiff introduced Father George Jacob Koovakad to the world in 2021 as someone who is “always smiling.” Read more

Archbishop Adrian Józef Galbas.

Pope Francis names Archbishop Galbas as new leader of Warsaw Archdiocese

Nov 4, 2024

By CNA Staff

The appointment was announced Monday by the apostolic nunciature in Poland. Read more

Pope Francis meets with participants of Italy’s Educational Commitment Movement of Catholic Action (MIEAC) national congress on Oct. 31, 2024, at a private audience held in the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Secular world needs teachers with ‘a big heart’ and high ideals

Oct 31, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“Christian education crosses unexplored terrain, marked by anthropological and cultural changes, on which we are still seeking answers ...,” the... Read more

An academic congress — “From the Council to the Synod: Rereading a Church’s Journey, 60 Years on Since Lumen Gentium (1964–2024)” — was hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from Oct. 28–30, 2024.

In Rome, theologians reflect on ‘reception’ stage of Synod on Synodality

Oct 30, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The academic congress was hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from Oct. 28–30. Read more

A worshiper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Vatican-China bishop deal renewed for four more years

Oct 22, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The renewal comes days after a report from the Hudson Institute detailed how seven Catholic bishops in China have been... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 9, 2024.

Pope Francis to release new encyclical ‘Dilexit Nos’ on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Oct 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The encyclical, titled “Dilexit Nos,” meaning “he has loved us,” will be published on Oct. 24. Read more

Believers gather at the Namugongo Shrine for the Martyrs’ Day Pilgrimage on June 3, 2024, in Uganda. The Catholic population in Africa surpassed 272.4 million people in 2022 after seeing a rise of more than 7.3 million people — the largest increase of any continent, according to Vatican statistics released in October 2024.

Vatican statistics: Catholic population shrinks in Europe, rises everywhere else

Oct 18, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The Catholic population decline coincided with a total population reduction on the continent, which recorded a net loss of 517,000... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

Pope Francis hopes for ‘reconciled differences’ with Orthodox and Protestant Christians

Oct 16, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope said “the climate of dialogue between the two Churches has lost the acrimony of the past and today... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the faithful during the Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘True wealth is being loved by God’

Oct 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“Let us remember this: True wealth is not the goods of this world. True wealth is being loved by God... Read more

Matthew Lee, Taiwan's ambassador to the Holy See, speaks at a celebration of Taiwan’s 113th National Day at a reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of China to the Holy See in Vatican City, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.

Taiwan’s ambassador to Vatican highlights partnership in charity and peace

Oct 10, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Ambassador Matthew Lee emphasized the importance of the Vatican-Taiwan partnership, particularly in promoting peace and religious freedom, in an interview. Read more

German film score composer and record producer Hans Zimmer performs during the “Hans Zimmer Live North American Tour 2024” at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 19, 2024, in Toronto.

Film composer Hans Zimmer to conduct Vatican concert for poor and homeless

Oct 10, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The legendary composer will take center stage at the Vatican’s “Concert with the Poor” on Dec. 7 in the Paul... Read more