Vatican News

Pope Francis participates in Mass on the solemnity of Pentecost, May 19, 2024.

Pope Francis on Pentecost: The Holy Spirit’s work in us is powerful

May 19, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope explained that the Holy Spirit’s “work in us is powerful, as symbolized by... Read more

Pentecost painting.

Everything you need to know about Pentecost

May 19, 2024

By CNA Staff

This weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year, which concludes the Easter... 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.

Fernández: Vatican’s new apparitions guidelines stress ‘caution’ in discernment process

May 17, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“The Church has stated that the faithful are never forced to believe in this phenomenon. They are never obliged. There’s... 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

Pope Francis converses with Metropolitan Agathangelos, director general of the Apostolikí Diakonía of the Greek Orthodox Church, at the Vatican on May 16, 2024.

Pope Francis: Young people ‘can break the chains of antagonism’ between Catholics, Orthodox

May 16, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis has placed in young people his hope that Catholics and Orthodox may be “united in diversity” and “break... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Italian actor Roberto Benigni on Dec. 7, 2022.

Italian actor Roberto Benigni to join Pope Francis for World Children’s Day

May 16, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On the second day of the event, Benigni, best known for his Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful,” will give a... Read more

Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo.

Chiara Corbella’s beatification cause to take a step forward in June

May 16, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Diocese of Rome announced Wednesday that it will hold the closing session of the diocesan phase of her cause... Read more

On March 30, 1926, Cardinal van Rossum, prefect of Propaganda Fide, announced Pope Pius XI’s decision to consecrate the first six Chinese bishops, a ceremony that was held in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 28 of that year.

It’s been 100 years since the Catholic Church’s first Council in China

May 15, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The council had a dual purpose: to initiate the process of ecclesial inculturation and to decouple the missions from the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 15, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis at general audience: ‘Love is charity’

May 15, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pointing to the Sermon on the Mount and repeating twice “love your enemy,” the pope noted that this teaching “embraces... Read more

“EWTN News Nightly” host Tracy Sabol speaks with Dr. Erin Lothes, a Catholic environmental theologian and senior manager of the Laudato Si’ Animators Program with the Laudato Si’ Movement, on on May 9, 2024.

As ocean temps hit record, Vatican hosts discussions on climate change, offers resources

May 14, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform provides resources for the Church to achieve real and lasting solutions to environmental problems.  Read more

The Medjugorje Youth Festival, in its 34th edition, held July 26–30, 2023, at the site of alleged Marian apparitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What has the Vatican already said about discerning Marian apparitions?

May 14, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Officials from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith discussed problems that could come up in examining apparitions in... Read more

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Francis: Do not abandon grandparents and elderly; remain close to them

May 14, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Vatican released the message ahead of the fourth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which takes place on... Read more

Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman, winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011, attends the Trento Economy Festival 2023 at Palazzo Geremia on May 25, 2023, in Trento, Italy.

Israeli embassy blasts Yemeni laureate for ‘genocide’ comments at Vatican event

May 14, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“The world is silent in front of the genocide and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Tawakkol... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Syro-Malabar Church on May 13, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: The devil is threatening the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church with division

May 13, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Pope Francis urged the faithful present at the Vatican’s Consistory Hall on Monday to “press forward” in obedience to the... Read more

Pope Francis opens the Holy Doors at St. Peter's Basilica to begin the Year of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015.

How to obtain a plenary indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee

May 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The decree provides Catholics with the opportunity to gain indulgences by making pilgrimages, prayerfully visiting churches, or practicing works of... Read more

"We reflect with gratitude on all mothers, and let us also pray for mothers who have gone to heaven. We entrust mothers to the protection of Mary, our heavenly mother," said Pope Francis on May 12, 2024.

Pope Francis on Mother’s Day: Let us pray also for mothers in heaven

May 12, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On Mother’s Day, Pope Francis entrusted all mothers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking everyone to remember to also pray... Read more

Govenor Gavin Newsom of California.

International summit on climate change to bring California, New York governors to the Vatican

May 11, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The joint summit “From Climate Crisis To Climate Resilience,” will be held at the Vatican from May 15–17 at the... Read more

Vatican Dicastery for Communications prefect Paolo Ruffini and Vatican Secretary-General Sister Raffaella Petrini inaugurate the photographic exhibition titled “Changes” on May 7, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Vatican opens photographic exhibition on effects of climate change

May 10, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

A photographic exhibition titled “Changes” opened this week in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, showcasing the effects of climate... Read more

Pope Francis meets with participants of the “Care Is Work, Work Is Care” event sponsored by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on May 8, 2024, at the Vatican.

Migration helps offset serious problem of low birth rate in rich countries, Pope Francis says

Addressing participants at an event titled “Care Is Work, Work Is Care,” the Holy Father reflected on decent work and... Read more

Pope Francis at vespers following the proclamation of the papal bull “Spes Non Confudit,” meaning “Hope does not disappoint,” at the Vatican, Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Full Text of ‘Spes Non Confundit,’ papal bull for the 2025 Jubilee Year

May 9, 2024

By Pope Francis

The pope presided over a formal reading of the Jubilee’s Papal Bull of Indiction in the atrium of St. Peter’s... Read more