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Pope Francis shakes hands with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 6, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis at general audience urges people to pray for Spain flood victims

Nov 6, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“I wished to greet the Virgen de los Desamparados,” the pope told the crowds of pilgrims at the Vatican after... Read more

The blood of St. Januarius liquefied on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, before a Mass in Naples, Italy, where Archbishop Domenico Battaglia said that the blood of the fourth-century martyr is a powerful reminder that “love is stronger than death.”

Pope Francis includes Naples, Italy, archbishop among new cardinals

Nov 5, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

During his tenure in Naples, Italy, the archbishop has spoken out strongly against the violence of organized crime in the... Read more

At the Angelus on Nov. 3, 2024, Pope Francis asked for prayers for Valencia, a region in southeast Spain that was hit by devastating flash flooding in late October.

Pope Francis: The heart of our faith is love

Nov 3, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

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

St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican: Swiss bishops mishandled sex abuse claims, but no cover-up found

Oct 25, 2024

By Daniel Payne

In September of last year the Swiss Bishops’ Conference revealed an ongoing Vatican-ordered investigation into the reported mishandling of sex... Read more

The Catholic Church of the Saviour, also called Xishiku Church or Beitang, in Xicheng District, Beijing, China.

Synod, Zen, and Sinicization: Vatican’s China deal sparks tensions 

Oct 19, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Cardinal Joseph Zen and George Weigel voice sharp critiques of the Synod on Synodality. Read more

More than 30 students — most of whom were from the U.S. — from over 10 universities attended “The University Students in Dialogue with Synod Leaders,” an Oct. 18, 2024, event organized by the General Secretariat of the Synod held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Synod delegates urge young Catholics to learn how to listen to others in a polarized world

Oct 19, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich drew attention to the upcoming Nov. 5 U.S. elections and stressed the importance of seeing the person... Read more

The Vatican held four different public conferences from Oct. 9 and 16, 2024, in Rome to explain the “theological undertone of the synodal process,” according to a conference moderator and expert at this month’s Synod on Synodality. 

Why did the Synod on Synodality hold extra theological meetings in 2024?

Oct 18, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

At the forums, speakers drew heavily on the Church’s dogmatic constitution from Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, in their defenses of... Read more

In January 2025, Pope Francis will become the first sitting pontiff to publish an autobiographical memoir, which will be titled “Hope.”

Pope Francis to release ‘first memoir published by a sitting pontiff’ in January

Oct 16, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The original plan had been to release the memoir after his death. However, the pope decided to publish in light... Read more

Pope Francis prays with members of the Synod on Synodality during one of its meetings in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on the morning of Oct. 12, 2024.

Catholics invited to ‘adopt’ Synod on Synodality members in prayer

Oct 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The prayer campaign sends a daily email with guidance on how to pray for the “adopted” Synod on Synodality participant. Read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, 2023, where he also blessed the pallia for new archbishops.

Vatican shares Pope Francis’ schedule for December consistory to create cardinals

Oct 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Dec. 8, Pope Francis will preside at a Mass with the College of Cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica. Read more

Pope Francis prays at the Mass in suffrage for the cardinals and bishops who have died in the past year, Nov. 2, 2022.

Pope Francis writes letter to new cardinals: You express the Church’s unity

Oct 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis will add 21 members to the College of Cardinals at a consistory at the Vatican in December. Read more

Bishops and cardinals concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis to open the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square.

Synod debates on bishops, laypeople opened to public at theology forums

Oct 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Speakers claimed an important part of synodality is implementing the proper understanding of a bishop’s authority in his diocese. Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch speaks to journalists at the Synod on Synodality press briefing held at the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Non-Catholic delegates put Christian unity in focus at Synod on Synodality

Oct 10, 2024

By Kristina Millare

According to Cardinal Kurt Koch, the imperative for all Christian churches to journey, pray, and cooperate is Jesus’ own priestly... Read more

Brazilian Archbishop Jaime Spengler, OFM, speaks at a Synod on Synodality briefing on Oct. 8, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis’ Brazilian pick for cardinal urges openness to ordaining married priests in region

Oct 10, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Archbishop Jaime Spengler again indicated he is open to ordaining married men, so-called “viri probati,” to serve as priests —... Read more

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Pennsylvania priest laicized after investigation finds he sexually assaulted two minors

Oct 9, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Martin Boylan, 76, was removed from priestly ministry in 2016 after he was accused of sexual assault of a minor. Read more

Christian worshippers pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘Prayer and fasting are the weapons of love that change history’

Oct 7, 2024

By Kristina Millare, Elias Turk

In his letter to Catholics in the Middle East, the Holy Father expressed his closeness with those “who dwell in... Read more

Pope Francis holds his rosary beads during a rosary prayer for peace at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis prays rosary for peace on eve of first anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, the pope implored Our Lady, Queen of... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis urges married couples to ‘be open to life’

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the Holy Father asked couples to reflect on whether their married life is fully open... Read more

Pope Francis creates new cardinals at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including archbishops of Tehran and Toronto

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 142 cardinals from 70 countries at nine consistories. Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants of the first meeting of the full assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024.

At Synod on Synodality, pope says Church needs new ways for bishops to be ‘synodal’

Oct 2, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Never can a bishop, or any other Christian, think of himself ‘without others,’” Pope Francis said Wednesday at the first... Read more