Hannah Brockhaus

Hannah Brockhaus

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency’s senior Vatican correspondent. After growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, she earned a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri. In 2016, she moved to Rome, Italy, where in her spare time she enjoys reading and going on adventures with her husband and son.

Articles by Hannah Brockhaus

Pandoro or panettone? 5 American seminarians in Rome share their Christmas traditions

Dec 23, 2024 / 17:45 pm

Here’s what five NAC seminarians from the United States are doing this Christmas, what they’ve done in the past, and a little bit about their favorite Christmas traditions.

Pope Francis praises faith of Catholics in French Corsica

Dec 15, 2024 / 13:00 pm

During the Dec. 15 trip, the pontiff encouraged the island’s Catholic majority to continue to foster its traditional piety as secular culture grows in Europe.

Bethlehem artist defends presence of Palestinian keffiyeh in Nativity scene after backlash

Dec 13, 2024 / 12:50 pm

The keffiyeh was visible during the presentation of the Bethlehem Nativity to Pope Francis in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Dec. 7.

5 things to know about popular piety and Pope Francis’ trip to Corsica

Dec 13, 2024 / 06:00 am

Part of the pope’s itinerary for the short trip is to speak at the closing of a conference on popular piety in the Mediterranean region.

5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas

Dec 6, 2024 / 04:00 am

How much do you know about the man whose feast falls on Dec. 6?

Experts laud Italian ban on surrogacy abroad as step toward universal abolition

Dec 5, 2024 / 10:00 am

On Oct. 16, Italy’s Senate passed a bill making it possible to prosecute Italian citizens for pursuing surrogacy abroad.

Mercedes-Benz presents Pope Francis with new modified G-Wagon ‘popemobile’

Dec 4, 2024 / 13:30 pm

Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, presented the pope with a white and chrome key fob inside a white box after showing off the new open-air vehicle.

A lagoon in St. Peter’s Square? Vatican Nativity scene set to make a splash

Dec 4, 2024 / 06:00 am

For the first time, a crèche in St. Peter’s Square will feature a large body of water thanks to the creativity of the residents of a small island Italian town.

Rome’s famous tailor prepares for the Catholic Church’s new cardinals

Dec 3, 2024 / 06:00 am

Close to the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, one of the city’s oldest and most popular ecclesiastical tailors is ready for Saturday’s consistory.

English seminary in Rome commemorates Martyrs’ Day on St. Ralph Sherwin’s feast

Dec 2, 2024 / 17:45 pm

On Dec. 1, the Venerable English College in Rome commemorates the martyrdom of some of the school’s former students.

Prosecutor confirms existence of Vatican dossier on disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi

Nov 29, 2024 / 10:00 am

The Vatican “found” the file, it does “exist,” the Vatican’s promoter of justice, Alessandro Diddi, said, according to Italian media.

Pope Francis confirms plans to visit Turkey for historic Nicaea council anniversary

Nov 28, 2024 / 06:30 am

The Council of Nicaea took place in the ancient city of Nicaea in 325 A.D. in the former Roman Empire, which is now the present-day city of İznik, in northwestern Turkey

Vatican may add ‘spiritual abuse’ to crimes in Church law

Nov 26, 2024 / 12:40 pm

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is forming a working group with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts with “the task of analyzing this possibility and presenting concrete proposals” on the matter,

Vatican to point live webcam at St. Peter’s tomb, publish monthly magazine

Nov 25, 2024 / 14:35 pm

The Vatican on Monday publicized further initiatives undertaken by St. Peter’s Basilica in light of the 2025 Jubilee Year — including a new magazine and a livestream of the tomb of St. Peter.

Prestigious Ratzinger Prize awarded to Notre Dame theologian, Japanese sculptor at Vatican

Nov 22, 2024 / 14:35 pm

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation chooses the annual recipients of the award, which is named in honor of the late Pope Benedict XVI.

PHOTOS: St. Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music, rests in Roman basilica named for her

Nov 22, 2024 / 12:45 pm

St. Cecilia, widely known as the patron saint of music and musicians, is buried in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Nov 21, 2024 / 12:30 pm

An online petition posted to change.org in mid-October garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen being chopped down.

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

Nov 21, 2024 / 08:03 am

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

Vatican simplifies funeral rite for popes

Nov 20, 2024 / 12:55 pm

The second edition of the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis” (“Order of Funerals for Roman Pontiffs”) is a revision of the version published in 2000.

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

Nov 15, 2024 / 12:45 pm

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