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 and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Corsica on Dec. 15, 2024.

In meeting with France’s Macron, Pope Francis shares prayer for having a sense of humor

Dec 16, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The 40-minute private meeting took place in a room at Ajaccio’s Napoleon Bonaparte Airport, where the two leaders addressed several... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Filipino community at the Vatican's Consistory Hall on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

Pope Francis to Filipino community in Spain: The Church ‘is a warm and welcoming home’

Dec 16, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“It is a great joy for me to welcome you to the house of St. Peter, to the home of... Read more

Pope Francis presides over Mass on Gaudete Sunday on the island of Corsica, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.

Pope Francis praises faith of Catholics in French Corsica

Dec 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

During the Dec. 15 trip, the pontiff encouraged the island’s Catholic majority to continue to foster its traditional piety as... Read more

Pope Francis greets artists and participants of the 2024 Vatican Christmas Concert in the Clementine Hall on Dec. 14, 2024.

Pope Francis calls on Vatican Christmas concert artists to promote peace, reconciliation

Dec 14, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The pope emphasized the unique power of music to foster unity and communion, drawing parallels to the first Christmas. Read more

Pope Francis blessing a baby during a general audience.

Vatican opens first day care for employees’ children

Dec 13, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The Vatican’s first day care center is slated to begin operating next spring and will serve up to 30 children... Read more

Statue of St. Lucy at the New Chapel of St. Lucy in Pampanga province, Philippines.

Pope Francis: St. Lucy is an example of female leadership in the Church

Dec 13, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis said that “we need women’s work and their word in a Church that reaches out that it may... Read more

Pope Francis stops for a brief prayer in front of the Bethlehem Nativity in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall during its presentation and a meeting with some of the people involved in its creation on Dec. 7, 2024.

Bethlehem artist defends presence of Palestinian keffiyeh in Nativity scene after backlash

Dec 13, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The keffiyeh was visible during the presentation of the Bethlehem Nativity to Pope Francis in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 12, 2024.

Pope Francis: Throughout your life, listen to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dec 12, 2024

By Diego López Colín, David Ramos

Pope Francis emphasized the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego during the Mass celebrated Dec. 12... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall for his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis releases World Day of Peace message, renews call to end death penalty

Dec 12, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis on Thursday released his message for the 58th World Day of Peace, commemorated annually on Jan. 1, with... Read more

Pope Francis received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Dec. 12, 2024, for discussions focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prospects for peace in the Holy Land.

Pope Francis meets Palestinian leader Abbas amid Gaza crisis

Dec 12, 2024

By AC Wimmer

During the “cordial talks,” both parties “reiterated the condemnation of all forms of terrorism” while emphasizing the importance of protecting... Read more

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican for his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

Pope Francis: Gentleness, respect are more effective than ‘the strength of arguments’

Dec 11, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Holy Father said “the first and most effective form of evangelization” is the love we show others.  Read more

Father Juan Miguel Ferrer Grenesche of the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain is an expert in popular piety.

Pope Francis is a proponent of ​​popular piety, expert says

Dec 11, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Father Juan Miguel Ferrer Grenesche, an expert in liturgy and popular piety, says Pope Francis “has highly valued popular piety”... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

CNA explains: What do Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith consultants do?

Dec 11, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican body responsible for questions of doctrinal orthodoxy in the Church,... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi after Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on June 29, 2022.

Nancy Pelosi criticizes Pope Francis’ China deal in interview

Dec 10, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

The congresswoman from California and former speaker of the House of Representatives said she is “not too happy” about the... Read more

Cardinal Mykola Bychok is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic prelate.

World’s youngest cardinal is just 44 years old

Dec 10, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Among the new crop of cardinals created by Pope Francis on Dec. 7, Cardinal Mykola Bychok stands out. At 44,... Read more

The Holy House of Our Lady in the Shrine of Loreto.

How could the Holy House of Mary in Nazareth have ended up in Loreto, Italy?

Dec 10, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Catholic pilgrims have flocked to the Holy House of Loreto since the 14th century to stand inside the walls where... Read more

Pope Francis greets participants in the International Congress on the future of Theology promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Dec. 9, 2024.

Pope Francis: Theology can be a ‘guide on the journey’ through a midlife crisis

Dec 9, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis met with academic staff participating in the International Congress on the Future of Theology “Heritage and Imagination” conference... Read more

Cardinals follow the ceremony during the ordinary public consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024.

Analysis: What Pope Francis’ new cardinals reveal about future conclave

Dec 8, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

While he has appointed 78% of electors, factors including limited gatherings and logistical challenges suggest the next conclave’s outcome remains... Read more

Pope Francis gazes up at the bronze statue of Mary atop the 39.4-foot column at Rome’s Spanish Steps, Dec. 8, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis marks Immaculate Conception in Rome with prayer, surprise art visit

Dec 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis marked the Immaculate Conception by visiting to two of Rome’s most important Marian sites, followed by an unexpected... Read more

Pope Francis prays the Angelus on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2024.

World leaders must broker Christmas peace, Pope Francis urges during Angelus

Dec 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The pope also encouraged everyone to “open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus, born of Mary Immaculate” as... Read more