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 arrives for his general audience in the San Damaso Courtyard at the Vatican, Sept. 2, 2020.

Tourists in Rome surprised by chance to see Pope Francis

Sep 2, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Tourists in Rome had an unexpected chance to see Pope Francis at his first public audience for almost six months.  Read more

Pope Francis arrives for his general audience in the San Damaso Courtyard at the Vatican, Sept. 2, 2020. All photos: Daniel Ibañez/CNA.

Pope Francis calls for solidarity at first audience with pilgrims after lockdown

Sep 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

In his first Wednesday audience with pilgrims since Italy’s lockdown, Pope Francis called for solidarity to reawaken unity and bring... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 3, 2015.

Cardinal Parolin stresses ‘spiritual consonance’ between Pope Francis and Benedict XVI

Sep 1, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has written an introduction to a book describing the continuity between Pope Francis and his predecessor Pope... Read more

Pope Francis pictured in St. Peter’s Square March 16, 2016.

Pope Francis says pandemic is ‘a wake-up call’ to care for creation

Sep 1, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis released a message Tuesday for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in which he... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured in St. Peter's Square Oct. 14, 2017.

Family of nurses who treated coronavirus patients to meet Pope Francis

Aug 31, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Four adult siblings, all nurses who worked with coronavirus patients during the worst of the pandemic, will on Friday meet... Read more

Pope Francis holds a soccer ball in St. Peter's Square in 2015.

Book collects Pope Francis' words of encouragement to athletes

Aug 29, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican is publishing a new book collecting Pope Francis’ notable speeches to athletes of all kinds, and which includes... Read more

Pope Francis prays in the Basilica of St. Augustine in Campo Marzio, Rome, which contains relics of St. Monica.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to Rome’s Basilica of St. Augustine

Aug 28, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Basilica of St. Augustine on Thursday to pray at the tomb of... Read more

Vatican and China flags.

Analysis: Is Vatican silence on China strategic?

Aug 27, 2020

By Ed Condon

The Holy See faces mounting criticism for its silence on human rights abuses in China ahead of the expected renewal... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Aug. 26.

Pope Francis to resume general audiences with the public

Aug 26, 2020

Members of the public will be able to attend Pope Francis’ general audiences again from Sept. 2 after an almost six-month... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Aug. 26.

Pope Francis: Catholics should combat ‘dismal’ economic inequality with hope

Aug 26, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Wednesday encouraged Catholics to work to address the injustice of wealth inequality and its effects in the world,... Read more

Pope Francis waves from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during an Angelus address.

Pope Francis: ‘Christian charity is not simple philanthropy’

Aug 23, 2020

Christian charity is more than simple philanthropy, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Sunday.  Read more

Pope Francis pictured in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 23, 2019.

Pope Francis calls Mozambique bishop after Islamist militants seize port city

Aug 21, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis made an unexpected phone call this week to a bishop in northern Mozambique, where militants linked to the... Read more

Pope Francis places a bouquet before a Marian icon in Piazza Armerina, central Sicily, Sept. 15, 2018.

Pope Francis supports project to ‘free’ Virgin Mary from mafia exploitation in Italy

Aug 20, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has praised a new initiative aimed at countering the abuse of Marian devotions by mafia organizations, who use... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 26, 2020.

Catholic bishops in southern Africa thank Pope Francis for 300,000 euro donation

Aug 20, 2020

The bishops’ conferences of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi thanked Pope Francis last week for his gift of 300,000 euros to... Read more

Flag of Nigeria on soldiers arm.

Islamic militants kidnap hundreds in raid on Nigerian town

Aug 19, 2020

Militants with the Islamic State West Africa Province attacked the town of Kukawa in northeastern Nigeria on Tuesday, abducting hundreds of... Read more

Pope Francis gives his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Aug. 19.

Pope Francis: Make coronavirus vaccine available to all

Aug 19, 2020

A potential coronavirus vaccine should be made available to all, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Medical equipment donated to hospitals in Brazil by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis donates ventilators and ultrasounds to coronavirus-hit Brazil

Aug 17, 2020

Pope Francis has donated ventilators and ultrasound scanners to hospitals in coronavirus-ravaged Brazil.  Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square April 3, 2019.

Pope Francis: Be witnesses to the experience of God’s beauty

Aug 17, 2020

Pope Francis invited participants in an annual Catholic festival Monday to join him “in witnessing to the experience of the... Read more

Pope Francis pictured in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 2, 2019.

Pope Francis tells Brazil's consecrated Catholics: Jesus must be your 'first and only love'

Aug 17, 2020

Pope Francis has urged consecrated men and women in Brazil to remember that Jesus must be their “first and only... Read more

Pope Francis prays the Angelus on June 21, 2020.

Pope Francis calls for justice and dialogue in Belarus 

Aug 16, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis offered a prayer for Belarus Sunday asking for respect for justice and dialogue following a week of violent... Read more