Pope Francis Latest News

These are the latest news about Pope Francis, the Vatican, and the Catholic Church, provided by the Vatican staff of Catholic News Agency, a service of EWTN News.

The Latest

The population of Papua New Guinea is currently 30% Catholic, with growth at a rate of 40,000 baptized each year.

Some people in Papua New Guinea walked 3 weeks to see Pope Francis

Sep 6, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Some people even came from the Solomon Islands, about 885 miles to the east in the South Pacific.  Read more

Socorro Vázquez (left) together with Indonesian friends prior to attending a papal Mass in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Spanish expatriate reflects on gift of pope’s visit to predominantly Muslim Indonesia

Socorro Vázquez, a 27-year-old Catholic from Spain, reflected on her experience of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia and her faith... Read more

A young Catholic attends the papal Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis in Indonesia for his 45th apostolic journey

Sep 6, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Holy Father on Tuesday landed in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the first stop on what is to be... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates a Papal Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass with 100,000 worshippers in Indonesia

Sep 5, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Upon entering the stadium in a wheelchair, Pope Francis was immediately greeted by loud cheers and cries of “Viva Papa!”... Read more

In 2023, over half a million migrants headed toward the United States crossed the Darien Gap, the inhospitable jungle region between Colombia and Panama.

Catholic experts respond to Pope Francis on repelling migrants being ‘a grave sin’

Sep 4, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Catholic immigration experts and advocates on all sides agree that the current legal landscape endangers migrants and border communities. Read more

Pope Francis speaks next to Indonesian President Joko Widodo at a meeting with the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in Jakarta on Sept. 4, 2024.

Pope Francis begins Indonesia visit with call for Catholic-Muslim dialogue

Sep 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On Francis’ first full day in Indonesia on Wednesday, the pope called upon the political leaders to protect the country’s... Read more

Pope Francis at the apostolic nunciature in Jakarta with refugee children.

Pope Francis greets orphans and refugees in Indonesia

Pope Francis received a group of homeless people in Rome before departing for Southeast Asia and, upon arriving in Jakarta,... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope Francis sends telegram of condolence to Cardinal Parolin after mother’s death

Sep 3, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis assured Parolin of his closeness with him and his extended family during their “moment of human suffering.” Read more

Indonesian police direct traffic next to billboards displaying a welcome message for Pope Francis in Jakarta on Sept. 2, 2024.

Pope Francis begins historic apostolic journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania

Sep 2, 2024

By Kristina Millare

During his 11-day journey the 87-year-old pontiff will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste (East Timor), and Singapore from Sept.... Read more

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus prayer on Sept. 1, 2024, the pope called for peace in the Holy Land, urging the release of the remaining hostages and humanitarian aid for the polio outbreak in Gaza. The pope also expressed his closeness to the people of Burkina Faso after hundreds of people were killed in a terrorist attack there on Aug. 24. Afterward the pope asked for prayers for his apostolic journey beginning tomorrow to Oceania and Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis urges release of hostages, aid for polio outbreak in Gaza

Sep 1, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope appealed for peace in Gaza and for aid to continue and also expressed his closeness to the people... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his general audience on Wednesday, May 29,  2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

This is Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September

Sep 1, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

“Let us pray for the cry of the Earth,” Pope Francis urged the faithful in a video released Aug. 30. Read more

Pope Francis addresses members of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who are meeting in an extraordinary plenary assembly Aug. 29–30, 2024, to discuss the future of the Pontifical Urban University, which educates priests and religious from the Catholic Church’s mission territories.

Pope Francis opposes idea to ‘dissolve’ 400-year-old missionary university in Rome

Aug 30, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“There is some plan to ‘dissolve’ [the university] with the other universities: No, this will not do,” Francis said to... Read more

Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo leads a Christmas Mass at Jakarta Cathedral in Jakarta on Dec. 25, 2023.

Cardinal Suharyo decries how corruption in Indonesia is hurting the poor

Aug 28, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The cardinal emphasized that despite the country’s abundant natural resources, widespread corruption continues to undermine its potential. Read more

Pope Francis meets with the bishops of the Arabian region on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets Middle East Catholic bishops amid fears of all-out war in region

Aug 28, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy Father encouraged the bishops to “bear witness to faith in [the Lord], also through respectful and sincere dialogue... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus address on Aug. 25, 2024.

Pope Francis: Human dignity must be ‘common commitment’ of all Christian churches

Aug 28, 2024

By Kristina Millare

This year’s symposium is titled “What Is Man? In the Time of Anthropological Mutation” and is taking place in Trani,... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his general audience on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.

Pope Francis: Intentionally hurting migrants ‘is a grave sin’

Aug 28, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope spoke at length about the poor conditions of migrants who attempt to cross a sea or desert to... Read more

Pope Francis receives Edmundo Uribe on Aug. 26, 2024. The audience took place in the run-up to the International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in Quito, Ecuador, from Sept. 8–15, 2024.

Pope Francis receives Ecuador’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Edmundo Uribe

Aug 27, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis received at the Vatican Ecuador’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Edmundo Uribe Pérez. Read more

Vatican and China flags.

China officially recognizes formerly ‘underground’ bishop, Vatican says

Aug 27, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The bishop had reportedly once been placed under house arrest after refusing to join the church officially backed by the... Read more

Pope Francis visits the Basilica of St. Augustine in Rome on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to St. Monica’s tomb in Rome

Aug 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

During his Tuesday visit to the basilica near Piazza Navona in Rome’s historic center, the pope prayed in the side... Read more

Father Miguel holds aloft a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament at Mass.

First Indonesian priest ordained in the U.S. excited for Pope Francis’ visit

Aug 26, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Father Miguel Marie, a Franciscan Missionary of the Eternal Word, was born in West Java, Indonesia, and emigrated to northern... Read more