Latest Catholic News

Pope Francis carries the statue of the Child Jesus to place in the Nativity scene inside St. Peter's Basilica at the end of Mass on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, surrounded by children dressed in traditional clothing from their countries.

Pope Francis on Christmas 2024: God is our hope

Dec 24, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The 88-year-old Pope Francis presided over Mass during the Night on Christmas Eve after opening the Holy Door to officially... Read more

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025.

Pope Francis launches Jubilee 2025 with opening of Holy Door

Dec 24, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The 88-year-old Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the... Read more

The Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, in December 2024. The building stands on the rubble of the original St. Nicholas Church, where “Silent Night” was first performed in 1818.

‘Christ, the Savior, is here:’ 200 years of ‘Silent Night’ in its Austrian birthplace

Dec 24, 2024

By Rudolf Gehrig

More than 200 years later, the carol is sung in over 300 languages and was even praised by Pope Francis... Read more

Greek icon of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the Theotokos.

Becoming the mother of God: Did Mary have a choice?

Dec 24, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Did Mary have free will, or did she have to consent to being Jesus’ mother? Two theologians weigh in. Read more

A marble sculpture of St. Cajetan holding the infant Jesus identifies the spot where the saint’s vision occurred in the crypt of the Chapel of the Nativity, the side chapel to the right of the main altar of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The little-known story of a saint’s Christmas vision of the infant Jesus in Rome

Dec 24, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The experience of the newborn Jesus occurred within the storied walls of the Marian basilica’s Chapel of the Nativity, where... Read more

A variety of fish dishes served on Christmas Eve.

Where does the ‘Feast of the 7 Fishes’ Christmas Eve tradition come from?

Dec 24, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The Feast of the Seven Fishes stems from the southern part of Italy and spans generations. Read more

Deacon Nathan Ledoux and his friend Michael Figura at the National Art Gallery in London on Dec. 27, 2023.

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

Dec 23, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Here’s what five NAC seminarians from the United States are doing this Christmas, what they’ve done in the past, and... Read more

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, lights a candle in the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza during his visit there on Dec. 22, 2024.

PHOTOS: Cardinal Pizzaballa shares Christmas message after Gaza visit

Dec 23, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

The press conference was not only a chance for the Latin patriarch to share an annual Christmas message but also... Read more

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, speaks with EWTN News during an interview at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2024.

Christians in Gaza, Syria ‘need everything,’ Vatican cardinal says

Dec 23, 2024

By CNA Staff

“They need everything and we cannot give anything,” Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti told EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser in a... Read more

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix.

Trump vows executive action ‘on Day 1’ to end ‘transgender lunacy’

Dec 23, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

“With the stroke of my pen, on Day 1, we’re going to stop the transgender lunacy,” President-elect Donald Trump said... Read more

“Hollywood Priest: The Story Of Father ‘Bud’ Kieser,” is scheduled to air on PBS World at 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Dec. 25, and is also available on demand for subscribers to PBS Passport.

‘Hollywood Priest’: PBS documentary tells life story of Father Bud Kieser

Dec 23, 2024

By Matt McDonald

“Hollywood Priest: The Story of Father ‘Bud’ Kieser,” is scheduled to air on PBS World at 5 a.m. and 11... Read more

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Pope Francis praises bocce, calling it a sport for ‘normal people’

Dec 23, 2024

By Zelda Caldwell

The Holy Father recalled the popularity of the sport in rural villages in the past and its tendency to help... Read more

CNA

Knights of Columbus donate mobile broadcasting unit to Vatican for 2025 Jubilee

Dec 23, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new vehicle, unveiled on Dec. 21, was blessed by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes... Read more

Papal preacher Father Roberto Pasolini on Dec. 20, 2024, urged Church leaders to embrace the quality of “littleness” ahead of the Christmas holiday, calling on the faithful to imitate Christ and arguing against the need to feel “important in the eyes of others.” 

Papal preacher urges ‘littleness’ ahead of Christmas

Dec 23, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Father Roberto Pasolini told members of the Roman Curia on Dec. 20 that God “sees littleness not as a limitation... Read more

King Baudouin salutes during the playing of the Belgian national anthem on March 31, 1981.

Vatican officially opens beatification process for late Belgian King Baudouin

Dec 23, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis announced the opening of the cause for beatification and canonization of King Baudouin during his recent apostolic journey... Read more

President Joe Biden on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, commuted the death row sentences of more than three dozen federal prisoners, ordering that the formerly condemned inmates serve out life sentences instead of being executed by the government.

Biden commutes death row sentences of 37 federal prisoners

Dec 23, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The White House announced the clemencies on Monday morning, stating that the president was “commuting the sentences of 37 individuals... Read more

Father Juan Manuel Gutiérrez in interview with “EWTN Noticias” anchor Nathalí Paredes on Dec. 19, 2024.

Miraculous cure of former atheist, now priest, clinches canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati

Dec 23, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The story of Juan Manuel Gutiérrez, a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, whose life is now directly linked... Read more

Daniel Turek, left, and Noah Mullins are two Detroit-area students studying at Grand Valley State University who design and sell Kingdom Kneelers, foam kneeling pads for prayer. Mullins came up with the idea for Kingdom Kneelers after attending the 2024 SEEK Conference in St. Louis.

More prayer, less pain: 2 college students design faith-inspired kneeling pads

Dec 23, 2024

By Daniel Meloy

Inspired by the SEEK conference, Noah Mullins and his friend Daniel Turek have launched 'Kingdom Kneelers' pads for prayer at... Read more

Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie visits Emelyne, a little girl he has sponsored since 2023, in Rwanda.

‘So powerful’: Jonathan Roumie on sponsoring African children through Catholic charity

Dec 23, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

In 2023, Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie partnered with Unbound, a Catholic child-sponsorship charity, to support the organization’s 1 millionth child. Read more

Cathedral of Christ the King in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Who is St. Thorlak, the patron of Iceland?

Dec 23, 2024

By CNA Staff

The Scandinavian island nation of Iceland celebrates its national patron, St. Thorlak Thorhallsson, on Dec. 23. Read more