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

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.

Italy’s Mafia-fighting ‘street priest’ Archbishop Domenico Battaglia to become a cardinal

Nov 14, 2024 / 11:55 am

Battaglia’s reputation as a “street priest” close to drug addicts and the poor has also led some to view him as Pope Francis’ Italian counterpart.

Vatican, Catholic leaders from Europe discuss sexual abuse in the Church

Nov 13, 2024 / 13:05 pm

The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is hosting a conference on safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Europe from Nov. 13–15.

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

Nov 13, 2024 / 09:20 am

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

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

Nov 12, 2024 / 10:15 am

The pope declared that part of the archives and library be moved to a building on extraterritorial Vatican property at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

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

Nov 11, 2024 / 11:30 am

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

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

Nov 9, 2024 / 04:00 am

The church is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the seat of the bishop of Rome, the pope. The adjoining palace served as the papal residence until the 14th century.

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

Nov 7, 2024 / 06:00 am

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

European leaders pledge cooperation with Trump after historic comeback victory

Nov 6, 2024 / 12:15 pm

European leaders expressed readiness to work with Donald Trump following his historic reelection, emphasizing transatlantic cooperation and shared values.

Vatican opens visitor center for St. Peter’s Basilica

Nov 5, 2024 / 11:40 am

The space, inaugurated Oct. 31, is intended to provide practical, artistic, and spiritual information to visitors of the Vatican basilica.

Pope Francis includes Naples, Italy, archbishop among new cardinals

Nov 5, 2024 / 07:00 am

During his tenure in Naples, Italy, the archbishop has spoken out strongly against the violence of organized crime in the southern Italian city.

Pope Francis appoints Chicago auxiliary bishop to lead Milwaukee Archdiocese

Nov 4, 2024 / 14:00 pm

With the Nov. 4 appointment, 63-year-old Bishop Jeffrey Grob will be returning to his birth state of Wisconsin. He was born to dairy farmers in Cross Plains in 1961.

Pope Francis: The heart of our faith is love

Nov 3, 2024 / 13:35 pm

Every Sunday, Pope Francis appears at a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to give a brief spiritual reflection before leading the Angelus prayer.

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

Oct 30, 2024 / 15:25 pm

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

Here’s what Pope Francis is doing for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days 2024

Oct 30, 2024 / 10:10 am

For All Souls’ Day, Francis will continue his custom of holding a Mass in a local cemetery to pray for the dead, especially the holy souls in purgatory.

Victims feel ‘betrayed’ as Vatican investigation of Rupnik hits one year with no answers

Oct 27, 2024 / 05:00 am

One year after the Vatican announced it would open a canonical case on Father Marko Rupnik, victims say they feel disappointed and betrayed.

Pope Francis ratifies Synod on Synodality’s final document, marking new approach to Church reform

Oct 26, 2024 / 16:10 pm

Pope Francis has announced that the final Synod on Synodality document will be adopted without a traditional papal exhortation.

Sacred Heart encyclical ‘key’ to Pope Francis’ pontificate, theologian says

Oct 24, 2024 / 12:00 pm

Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto, Italy, presented Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”) at a press conference at the Vatican on Oct. 24.

Pope Francis: The Holy Spirit is ‘essential’ for unity in marriage

Oct 23, 2024 / 13:35 pm

“What can the Holy Spirit have to do with marriage, for example? A great deal, perhaps the essential…” the pope said during his general audience Oct. 23.