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 Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square on June 24, 2015.

Pope Francis: Synod was about affirming family, indissoluble marriage

Oct 24, 2015

At the conclusion of the 2015 Synod on the Family, Pope Francis emphasized that the gathering had been about recognizing... Read more

Newly married couples meet Pope Frnacis in St. Peter's Sqaure during the general audience on Sept. 9, 2015:

Marriage doesn't take away your freedom – quite the opposite, Pope says

Oct 21, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis on Wednesday said that contrary to modern notions, fidelity in marriage does not rob us of personal freedom... Read more

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi at the Vatican Press Office on Feb. 11, 2015.

Vatican calls rumors over Pope Francis' health false and irresponsible

Oct 21, 2015

By Ann Schneible

The director of the Holy See press office has denied reports in the Italian press that Pope Francis is suffering... Read more

Pope Francis addresses the United States Congress, Sept. 24, 2015.

In wake of papal visit, pro-life opinion rises in United States

Oct 20, 2015

Pope Francis’ visit to the United States has given a boost to Americans’ stated support for the pro-life cause, the... Read more

Cardinal Wilfird Napier speaks at the Vatican Press Office on Oct. 14, 2014.

That notorious 2014 synod report? We got it an hour after the media did, cardinal says

Oct 20, 2015

By Elise Harris

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier says the highly controversial midterm report from last year's synod gave weight to issues discussed by only... Read more

Pope Francis with Archbishop Charles Chaput at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on June 24, 2015.

Archbishop Chaput: In Philly and in synod, support for Francis is obvious

Oct 19, 2015

In an Oct. 19 interview, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said that despite an implied assertion in America Magazine over... Read more

Pope Francis canonizes four new saints in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 18, 2015.

Pope Francis: Four new saints point to humility – not worldly power

Oct 18, 2015

By Elise Harris

On Sunday Pope Francis canonized four new saints, whose greatest legacy he said was their tireless imitation of Jesus in... Read more

Pope Francis makes a visit to Rome's new dorms for homeless men on Oct. 15, 2015.

Pope Francis makes secret stop at new dorms for Rome's homeless

Oct 16, 2015

By Elise Harris

After last night’s synod session Pope Francis didn’t go back to his residence at the St. Martha house as usual,... Read more

Pope Francis blesses Esperanza Ticona with her father, miner Ariel Ticona, and Esteban Rojas in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 14, 2015.

Pope meets with Chilean miners five years after 'miraculous' rescue

Oct 15, 2015

Pope Francis met this week with a group of Chilean miners who spent more than two months in a collapsed... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Wednesday general audience on June 18, 2014.

Do aliens exist? Pope Francis tackles this (and other things) in new interview

Oct 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis discussed in a new interview topics ranging from his reasons for canonizing the parents of St. Therese of... Read more

Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 3, 2014.

Pope Francis asks forgiveness for scandals in the Church

Oct 14, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis opened this Wednesday's general audience by apologizing for unspecified scandals that have recently arisen in the Vatican.  Read more

Pope Francis' dorm for the homeless 'Gift of Mercy' in Rome, Italy 2 on Oct. 12, 2015.

Pope Francis establishes new dorm for Rome's homeless men

Oct 13, 2015

Pope Francis and his brother Jesuits in Rome have converted an old travel agency building into a new homeless shelter... Read more

Pope Francis bowed in prayer in St. Peter's Basilica on September 2, 2015.

Pope Francis leads synod in praying for peace in the Middle East

Oct 9, 2015

By Elise Harris

This morning, Pope Francis offered one of the synod’s daily moments of prayer for peace in the Middle East, and... Read more

Extraordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family. Oct. 2014.

'Flawed, inadequate' – bishops skewer synod's working doc in new report

Oct 9, 2015

By Elise Harris

A controversial working document for the Vatican's synod on the family took a hard hit from numerous bishops who've called... Read more

Pope Francis is greeted by children with flowers in Santiago de Cuba on Sept. 22, 2015.

For Cubans, the Pope’s visit brought hope - but will it last?

Oct 9, 2015

By Kevin J. Jones

After Pope Francis’ visit as a “missionary of mercy,” Cuba is now in a prime moment to move forward in... Read more

Opening Mass for the synod of bishops on the family, Oct. 8, 2015.

African bishops throw swift punch at 'ideological colonization'

Oct 8, 2015

By Elise Harris

Heavy criticism of the West imposing secular values on Africa in exchange for aid emerged as a theme from the... Read more

Pope Francis embraces a baby during the general audience in St. Peter's square on Aug. 26, 2015.

What saves us from loneliness? Family! Pope Francis says

Oct 7, 2015

By Elise Harris

Family rescues us from indifference and loneliness and teaches us the essentials of life, Pope Francis said – adding that... Read more

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

Pope Francis could visit Mexico in first half of 2016

Oct 6, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis is seriously considering a trip to Mexico in 2016, the vice director of the Holy See Press Office... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City during Vespers on Sept. 24, 2015.

Here's what it was like when Pope Francis visited the homeless in DC

Oct 5, 2015

By Matt Hadro

Pope Francis’ visit to homeless men and women in Washington, D.C., was “life-changing,” said the head of Catholic Charities in... Read more

Pope Francis at the Wednesday General Audience in St Peter's Square on May 20, 2015.

A warning from Pope Francis: Don't politicize the synod

Oct 5, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis opened the Synod on the Family with a reminder that it's not a forum whereby leaders come to... Read more