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 at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 14, 2018.

Pope offers words of encouragement to African missionaries

May 17, 2019

Pope Francis spoke to African-based missionaries gathered at the Vatican on Friday, applauding their efforts to show compassion to the... Read more

Pope Francis on the popemobile kiss child in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis tells medical professionals to defend life

May 17, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Friday encouraged medical professionals to defend and promote life, highlighting the practice of conscientious objection in today’s healthcare... Read more

Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin during a meeting with President of Ukraine, June, 2016.

Beijing and Rome can work together, Parolin tells Chinese media

May 13, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pietro Parolin welcomed the opportunity for China and the Holy See to work together to “build a more secure and prosperous world.”  Read more

Medjugorje.

Pope permits pilgrimages to Medjugorje as apparitions continue to be studied

May 12, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has given the green light for Catholics to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje, a site of alleged Marian apparitions,... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to new priests May 12, 2019.

Confused about life? Listen to the Good Shepherd, Pope Francis advises

May 12, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Sunday, Pope Francis advised listening to and speaking with Christ the Good Shepherd in prayer, so that one can... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Feb. 6, 2019.

Pope Francis invites young economists, entrepreneurs to Italy in 2020

May 11, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has personally invited young economists and entrepreneurs to join him in Assisi, Italy, in 2020, to discuss how... Read more

Pope Francis during a visit in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz - Birkenau, July 2016.

What do Jews and Christians have in common? Love of neighbor, Pope Francis says

May 9, 2019

The love of neighbor is a common commitment among Christians and Jews, Pope Francis said Tuesday, to teachers and students... Read more

Demonstrators from Georgetown University outside the 2018 USCCB Fall General Assembly in Baltimore.

Analysis: Is Pope Francis' new abuse plan the answer Catholics are looking for?

May 9, 2019

By JD Flynn

Pope Francis, the “pope of surprises,” lived up to his nickname this morning, by releasing a comprehensive canonical plan to... Read more

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis issues norms for reports of abuse of minors, seminarians, and religious

May 9, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

New Vatican norms for the Church’s handling of sex abuse, issued Thursday, place seminarians and religious coerced into sexual activity... Read more

Pope Francis' in-flight press conference returning from North Macedonia May 7, 2019.

Pope Francis: No plans for female deacons, but study continues

May 7, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Tuesday that the Vatican commission exploring the possibility of female deacons continues its study, but does not... Read more

Pope Francis greets young people in Skopje, North Macedonia May 7, 2019.

Make something beautiful with your life, Pope tells Macedonian youth

May 7, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis encouraged youth in North Macedonia Tuesday to follow Mother Teresa’s example and make something beautiful out of their... Read more

Pope Francis holds a small sculpture of Mother Teresa in Skopje's cathedral May 7, 2019.

Pope Francis in North Macedonia: History is written by people like Mother Teresa

May 7, 2019

By Courtney Mares

In the first-ever papal visit to North Macedonia Tuesday, Pope Francis lauded the lasting legacy of Mother Teresa, a saint... Read more

Interreligious meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria May 6, 2019.

Pope Francis in Bulgaria: Peace is a gift and a task

May 6, 2019

By Courtney Mares

At an interreligious meeting in Bulgaria Monday, Pope Francis told Orthodox, Muslim, and other religious leaders that peace is both... Read more

Pope Francis meets Catholics in Bulgaria May 6, 2019.

The parish should be 'a home with open doors,' Francis tells Catholics in Bulgaria

May 6, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The parish should be at the center of the community, a place where God’s presence is felt and hope and... Read more

Pope Francis said a First Communion Mass in Rakovski, Bulgaria May 6, 2019.

Pope Francis says First Communion Mass in Bulgaria

May 6, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Monday gave First Communion to 245 boys and girls in Rakovski, Bulgaria, telling them the Lord wants them... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Capitalism must consider impact on humanity, environment

May 3, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Friday offered a critique of captialism’s impact on the environment, calling for a response that hears “the cry... Read more

 Pope Francis walk at the end of his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square.

Analysis: Serious and unserious allegations of papal heresy

May 2, 2019

By Ed Condon

Despite the recent open letter’s strident claims, the arguments advanced by its authors do not appear to make a legal,... Read more

Pope Francis greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St Peter's square.

Theologians accuse pope of heresy

May 1, 2019

A group of nineteen Catholics, including some prominent academics, have published an open letter to the bishops of the world... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square March 14, 2018.

Satan is real, Pope Francis says

May 1, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Wednesday reminded those who think belief in the devil is antiquated or outdated that Satan really exists and... Read more

Couple at sunset, Via Shutterstock.

Study shows marriage prep can drive down divorce

Apr 30, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

States that require some form of marriage preparation see lower rates of divorce, a new IFS study has shown.  Read more