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 prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea on Aug. 14, 2014.

Pope: murdered Missionaries of Charity are martyrs of indifference

Mar 6, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis lamented the world’s indifference to the recent killing of four Missionaries of Charity, calling them the... Read more

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

How Pope Francis changed the life of a California teen inmate

Mar 5, 2016

When a juvenile inmate in a California prison wrote to Pope Francis, he did not expect a response.   Read more

Pope Francis kisses a baby at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Nov. 11, 2015.

How do you defend life? Show its beauty, Pope Francis says

Mar 4, 2016

Cultural trends and hardened hearts can obscure the value of human life. But true virtues, compassion and beauty are the... Read more

UPDATED: Four sisters dead in attack on Missionaries of Charity home in Yemen

Mar 4, 2016

At least 16 people are dead after two gunmen attacked a Missionaries of Charity convent and nursing home for elderly... Read more

Penitential celebration with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica on March 4, 2016.

God did not create us to remain crushed by sin, Pope says

Mar 4, 2016

By Elise Harris

Leading his annual penitential service on Friday, Pope Francis told attendees to stand tall and be open to forgiveness, and... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on June 19, 2014.

What the Church has done about sex abuse

Mar 4, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The movie Spotlight’s Best Picture win at the Academy Awards has brought renewed attention to the Catholic sex abuse scandals... Read more

Pope Francis goes to confession as part of a penitential Mass at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on March 28, 2014.

Pope Francis will hear confessions on Friday at St. Peter's

Mar 2, 2016

The office of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has announced that Pope Francis will hear confessions from the faithful at St. Peter’s... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, March 2, 2016.

Pope Francis: The Church doesn't need 'dirty money'

Mar 2, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday, Pope Francis issued a harsh condemnation of those who exploit others and then donate to the Church, telling... Read more

Pope Francis greets Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, at the Vatican, Feb. 29, 2016.

Pope to Oriental Orthodox leader: Ecumenism of martyrs calls us to unity

Feb 29, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Today's martyrs have become “the seed of Christian unity,” Pope Francis said Monday during an audience with the leader of... Read more

Pope Francis makes a visit to the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Rome on Feb. 8, 2015.

Pope Francis meets with CEO of Instagram

Feb 26, 2016

The CEO and co-founder of Instagram, Kevin Systrom, was received in a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican's Apostolic... Read more

Pope Francis prays with staff and patients at  the Fr. Mario Picchi Italian Center for Solidarity in Marino, Feb. 26, 2016.

Pope Francis spends his Friday with people in drug, alcohol recovery

Feb 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

Continuing his knack for surprises, Pope Francis made an unscheduled stop at a rehabilitation center for those addicted to drugs... Read more

Pope Francis with a group of disabled children, led by Unitalsi Lazio in Santa Martha on May 29, 2015.

God's love is the 'beating heart' of the Church, Pope Francis says

Feb 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis marked the 10th anniversary of Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” by telling participants in a conference commemorating... Read more

 Pope Francis outside of St. Peter's Basilica during the general audience in St. Peter's Square on April 1, 2015.

Did Pope Francis like to dance? And other questions from kids

Feb 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his first children's book Pope Francis touches on a variety of both lighthearted and sensitive topics from war and... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his March 25, 2015 general audience.

Pope Francis cancels appointments due to a slight fever

Feb 25, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Thursday Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ announced that after Pope Francis celebrated his usual morning Mass, he canceled... Read more

al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.

Pope Francis wants more dialogue with Islam. Is Egypt the key?

Feb 25, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

For Pope Francis, dialogue with Islam is a core issue. He recently voiced hopes to meet a major Sunni leader:... Read more

Pope Francis speaks with journalists on the papal plane on the return flight to Rome from Africa, Nov. 30, 2015.

Paul VI, nuns and contraception: did Pope Francis get it right?

Feb 24, 2016

If Vatican watcher Sandro Magister is right, Pope Francis cited an urban legend about Blessed Paul VI’s alleged approval of... Read more

Pope Francis gives a rosary to a disabled child during his general audience Feb. 24, 2016.

Pope: wealth and power are good, but only when used to serve

Feb 24, 2016

By Elise Harris

On Wednesday Pope Francis cautioned that unless wealth and power are put at the service of society, especially the poor,... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis to Curia: Your job is to be faithful

Feb 23, 2016

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis celebrated the feast of the Chair of St. Peter with a reflection and Mass for members of the... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on April 16, 2014.

Pope Francis against the death penalty: criminals too have the right to life

Feb 21, 2016

Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday.  Read more

Pope Francis touches the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 12, 2014.

When Pope Francis looks back at Mexico trip, he sees Our Lady of Guadalupe

Feb 21, 2016

Pope Francis on Sunday said the visit to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was the “central point” of his... Read more