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

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

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

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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

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

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address via a video livestream from his Casa Santa Marta residence within the Vatican due to a cold on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.

Pope Francis calls for ‘ceasefire on all war fronts’ at Christmas

Dec 22, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“May the weapons be silenced and Christmas carols resound!” Pope Francis insisted on Sunday. Read more

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer and gives an address from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Vatican. The pope delivered his marks indoors due to the intense cold, combined with cold symptoms that have manifested in recent days, the Holy See Press Office said.

Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus before Christmas: ‘No child is ever a mistake’

Dec 22, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis emphasized that “no child is ever a mistake” during his last Angelus address before Christmas Day. Read more

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.

Pope Francis prays for victims as death toll in German Christmas market attack reaches 5

Dec 21, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis expressed shock and offered prayers after a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Germany killed five people,... Read more

Pope Francis addresses cardinals and senior Vatican officials during his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, Dec. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis warns against gossip, celebrates family life in Vatican Christmas messages

Dec 21, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis delivered Christmas messages at the Vatican, warning against gossip, while the Holy See announced he is experiencing cold... Read more

The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

A visual tour of the Holy Doors Pope Francis will open for the 2025 Jubilee

Dec 21, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The rite of opening the Holy Doors of the main basilicas of Rome to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee Year is... Read more

Pope Francis with Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago on Sept. 2, 2015.

Pope Francis appoints 5 new auxiliary bishops for Chicago Archdiocese

Dec 20, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“These fine archdiocesan priests reflect the people of this particular Church and the many talents of our local presbyterate,” Cardinal... Read more

Pope Francis meets with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday, June 14, 2024, after a session at the G7 summit, which is being held June 13–15 in the southern Italian region of Puglia.

Biden to meet with Pope Francis in January to discuss ‘peace’ 

Dec 19, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

U.S. President Joe Biden accepted an invitation to visit Pope Francis next month and discuss efforts to advance peace, the... Read more

Pope Francis blesses small mobile medical unit being donated to Ukraine.

Pope Francis sends special Christmas gift to the people of war-torn Ukraine

Dec 19, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

In addition to a small mobile medical unit, the Holy Father is sending to Ukraine six ultrasound machines. Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis prays for Cyclone Chido victims in France’s poorest overseas territory

Dec 18, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Wednesday prayed especially for Cyclone Chido victims in the French territory of Mayotte during his weekly general... 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 waves to pilgrims at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 9, 2024.

As he turns 88, 8 + 8 interesting things about Pope Francis

Dec 17, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

On the occasion of his 88th birthday, CNA highlights some interesting facts about Pope Francis. Read more

Pope Francis meets political authorities, civil leaders, and diplomats in the Republican Palace in Baghdad on March 5, 2021.

Pope Francis reveals he survived two threats to his life in Iraq

Dec 17, 2024

By Elias Turk

Pope Francis has revealed in a new book, “Spera,” that he narrowly escaped two attempts on his life during his... Read more

Pope Francis laughs with some religious sisters at his general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Aug. 30, 2023.

Pope Francis pens essay on humor: ‘Irony is a medicine’

Dec 17, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

“The Gospel, which urges us to become like little children for our own salvation (Matthew 18:3), reminds us to regain... Read more

Bishop-elect Iyad Twal was appointed by Pope Francis on Dec. 17, 2024, as auxiliary bishop of the patriarchal diocese of Jerusalem of the Latins for Jordan and as titular bishop of Siminia.

Pope Francis appoints new auxiliary bishop for Jordan and the titular see of Siminia

Dec 17, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for Father Iyad Twal’s appointments. Read more

Pope Francis is presented with a birthday cake aboard the papal plane on the return from his trip to Corsica on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.

Pope Francis at 88: Age-old wisdom, intergenerational dialogue at heart of evangelization

Dec 17, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Having instituted the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, the Holy Father is keeping true to his... Read more