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

Pilgrims arrive to Krakow, Poland on July 23, 2016.

For youth in Krakow, seeing Pope Francis will be 'out of this world'

Jul 25, 2016

By Elise Harris, Kate Veik

As thousands of youth are setting foot in Krakow for World Youth Day, many voiced their excitement not only to... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Dec. 16, 2015.

Pope prays for pilgrims en route to Krakow for WYD

Jul 24, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis has asked for prayers as he, and all the pilgrims attending this year's World Youth Day, prepare to... Read more

Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 3, 2014.

Pope responds to violence in Munich and Kabul with call for more prayer

Jul 24, 2016

By Ann Schneible

On Sunday, Pope Francis responded to recent acts of violence in Germany and Afghanistan, expressing his closeness to the families... Read more

A young religious sister prays at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Jan. 17, 2105.

Pope shakes up cloisters with new norms focused on prayer, centralization

Jul 22, 2016

By Elise Harris

Amid modern challenges emerging from a culture which provides increasingly easier access to outside distractions, Pope Francis has issued new... Read more

Appearance of Jesus Christ to Maria Magdalena by Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov, 1835. Public domain via Wikimedia.

Mary Magdalene – 'Apostle to the Apostles' – gets upgraded feast day

Jul 22, 2016

By Elise Harris

Faithful to the wish of Pope Francis, a new decree has bumped the liturgical celebration honoring St. Mary Magdalene from... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Feb. 6, 2016.

Pope Francis to meet Holocaust survivors during Auschwitz visit

Jul 20, 2016

By Elise Harris

Though rumors have been floating for some time, the Vatican confirmed that the Pope will meet with 10 Holocaust survivors... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, June 8, 2016.

Pope Francis is ready for World Youth Day – are you?

Jul 20, 2016

Even though World Youth Day doesn't start until next week, thousands of pilgrims from throughout the world are already descending... Read more

Pope Francis marries young deaf couple at Casa Santa Marta

Jul 20, 2016

Pope Francis does not ordinarily celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony. But on July 9, he made an exception for a... Read more

Inspired by Pope Francis, California legal clinic offers free services

Jul 19, 2016

Free legal counsel and advice may sound too good to be true, but in the Diocese of Oakland, it’s a... Read more

Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 3, 2014.

Pope leads prayers for victims of Nice attack

Jul 17, 2016

By Ann Schneible

On Sunday, Pope Francis led the crowds in St. Peter's Square in prayers for the victims of Thursday's attack in... Read more

 General Audience with Pope Francis, April 17, 2013.

As reforms roll out, Pope Francis proves a man of his word

Jul 15, 2016

By Elise Harris

Several recent appointments by Pope Francis to Vatican departments show that his reform of the Roman Curia is in tune... Read more

Fr. Federico Lombardi speaks about Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on Feb.11, 2013

Vatican condemns Nice attack as 'homicidal madness'

Jul 15, 2016

By Elise Harris

After a truck plowed through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing 84, the Vatican has... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, May 4, 2016.

Vatican department for Latin America gets surprise visit from Pope Francis

Jul 13, 2016

By Elise Harris

After a trip to the dentist Wednesday, Pope Francis made the spontaneous decision to stop by the Pontifical Commission for... Read more

Pope Francis at the Divine Mercy Vigil in St. Peter's Square, April 2, 2016.

Pope takes new step in relaunching dialogue with Al-Azhar

Jul 13, 2016

By Elise Harris

Less than two months after one of Sunni Islam’s highest authorities came to the Vatican following several years of icy... Read more

Kim Daniels.

Pope taps US religious freedom advocate for Vatican communications team

Jul 13, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday the Vatican released the names of 16 people appointed by Pope Francis to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications,... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis grieves over deadly train crash in Italy

Jul 12, 2016

After a head-on train collision killed 20 people in the southern Italian region of Puglia, Pope Francis voiced his grief... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his jubilee general audience March 12, 2016.

The Good Samaritan isn't just a parable, it's a way of life, Pope says

Jul 10, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis said the parable of the Good Samaritan isn’t just a nice passage to reflect on, but... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, June 15, 2016.

WYD pilgrims to receive a social doctrine app from the Pope

Jul 9, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis has established a tech-savvy track record as Pope, and now in addition to breaking records on Instagram and... Read more

Pope separates oversight, administration in ongoing reform of Vatican finances

Jul 9, 2016

By Ann Schneible

A new set of reforms further clarifying the roles of Vatican financial offices was announced July 9, implementing changes set... Read more

Pope Francis in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace together with cardinals, June 27, 2015.

This layman who refuted Nazism was declared a martyr by Pope Francis

Jul 8, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Friday Pope Francis moved eight martyrs a step further on the path to sainthood, one of whom is Josef... Read more