Vatican

The Latest

Pilgrims cross the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Dec. 25, 2024.

More than 500,000 people pass through St. Peter’s Holy Door after Christmas opening

Jan 7, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis, the first “pilgrim of hope” to cross the Holy Door’s threshold, inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee Year by opening... Read more

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer and delivers an address from a window in the Apostolic Palace on Dec. 26, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis prays for persecuted Christians on feast of St. Stephen

Dec 26, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus address on Dec. 26, Pope Francis reflected on Stephen’s last words as he was being stoned to... Read more

Pope Francis delivers the urbi et orbi address in St. Peter's Square, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024.

Urbi et orbi: Pope Francis urges world leaders to pursue dialogue, peace in jubilee year

Dec 25, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis insisted that a “just and lasting peace” can only be achieved in our world if people first turn... 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

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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

Blessed Martyrs of Compiègne were guillotined for their faith on July 17, 1794.

Pope Francis declares French Martyrs of Compiègne saints via equipollent canonization

Dec 18, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Mother Teresa of St. Augustine and her 15 companions, who were guillotined in Paris as they sang hymns of praise,... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Filipino community at the Vatican's Consistory Hall on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

Pope Francis to Filipino community in Spain: The Church ‘is a warm and welcoming home’

Dec 16, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“It is a great joy for me to welcome you to the house of St. Peter, to the home of... Read more

Former Sistine Chapel choir director Monsignor Massimo Palombella leads the choir during a performance on May 9, 2018, in New York City.

Vatican: Former choir director, manager convicted of embezzlement, abuse of office

Dec 10, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Two Vatican officials and one of their wives have been found guilty of embezzlement as part of an investigation into... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 4, 2024.

Pope Francis: Beauty urges us to take Christ out into the streets and bring him to people

Dec 5, 2024

By Kristina Millare

In a message to participants in this year’s conference on popular piety in Seville, Spain, from Dec. 4-8, the pope... Read more

Chiara Porro, Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, presents her credentials to Pope Francis on Aug. 27, 2020.

Outgoing Australian ambassador notes growing momentum of women leadership in the Vatican

Nov 28, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro, said she has seen a rise in the participation and promotion of... Read more

Dr. Todd Ovokaitys speaks at the World Changers Ethical & Innovation Summit at the Pontifical Lateran University in Vatican City, Nov. 26, 2024

Scientists and CEOs share big ideas at Vatican ethical innovation summit

Nov 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

This week's World Changers Ethical & Innovation Summit at the Vatican's Pontifical Lateran University showcased groundbreaking ideas for innovation in... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at the Vatican.

At general audience, Pope Francis pleads for Ukraine's children

Nov 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“Think of the Ukrainian children and young people who suffer at this time without heating in a very harsh winter,”... Read more

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sept. 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sept. 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person.

Pope Francis calls for end to use of landmines as Biden allows U.S. mines in Ukraine

Nov 26, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

“These treacherous devices continue to cause terrible suffering to civilians, especially children,” the pope said.  Read more

Facade of St. Peter's Basilica

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

Nov 26, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is forming a working group with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the academic community of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences in the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024

Pope Francis urges marriage and family institute: Use the gospel to spread salvation

Nov 25, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The pope said it is necessary that the institute continues to develop a “critical understanding” of the anthropological and cultural... Read more

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation awards the Ratzinger Prize to Notre Dame theologian Cyril O’Regan and Japanese sculptor Etsurō Sotoo at in a ceremony at the Vatican on Nov. 22, 204.

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

Nov 22, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

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

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

Nov 21, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Describing nihilism as “perhaps the most dangerous plague of today’s culture,” the pope told dicastery members their institution should work... Read more

Despite an online petition posted to change.org in mid-October that garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen to be used for the Vatican Christmas tree being chopped down, the tree arrived as scheduled in St. Peter’s Square at 7 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Nov 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

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

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