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 hugs a former homeless girl Glyzelle Palomar at a youth rally in Manila Jan. 18

What Pope Francis learned from homeless girl: 'Cry with the suffering!'

Jan 17, 2015

Pope Francis praised Filipino former homeless girl Glyzelle Palomar for asking why God allows children to suffer, saying her tearful... Read more

Pope Francis laughs during his Jan. 16 homily at Manila's Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Here's why Pope Francis goes off script

Jan 17, 2015

By Elise Harris

In a press briefing with journalists in the Philippines, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi ventured to explain the reason why... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass inside Manila's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 16, 2015.

Pope Francis to Philippines cardinal: 'this visit is really for me'

Jan 17, 2015

By Elise Harris

On his return flight from the Philippine city of Tacloban to Manila, where he met with and shared in the... Read more

Fr. Federico Lombardi speaks at a press conference Feb. 11, 2013.

Prayers asked for woman killed in freak accident at papal Mass

Jan 17, 2015

A local woman was killed at an airport near Tacloban, Philippines where Pope Francis had just celebrated Mass for thousands... Read more

Pope Francis met with street children during his visit to the Philippines on Jan. 16, 2015.

A simple, intense encounter: Pope Francis and Manila's street kids

Jan 17, 2015

By Elise Harris, Alan Holdren

Deviating from his schedule of events in the Philippines, Pope Francis had a brief but emotionally intense encounter with former... Read more

Ensemble Tropical Rainfall Potential Map for  Mekkhala passing over the Philippines.

What the Pope wasn't able to say in the Philippines

Jan 17, 2015

On Jan. 17, Pope Francis visited the Philippine city of Tacloban, which is still recovering from the devastating effects of... Read more

Pope Francis says Mass at Tacloban in the Philippines Jan. 17.

Pope Francis' heartfelt words for typhoon survivors: Jesus is there for you!

Jan 16, 2015

Pope Francis on Saturday spoke to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in an impromptu homily, voicing compassion for their plight and... Read more

Blessed Junípero Serra.

California bishops to Pope: Thanks for the new saint!

Jan 16, 2015

Two California bishops have voiced elation and gratitude at Pope Francis’ announcement that he will canonize Blessed Junípero Serra, OFM,... Read more

Pope Francis speaks with journalists aboard the papal plane Jan. 12, 2015.

Paul VI was right to warn against contraception, Pope Francis says

Jan 16, 2015

Pope Francis took the opportunity during an address to families in the Philippines to praise Blessed Pope Paul VI’s encyclical... Read more

Pope Francis at the Encounter with Families in Manila, Jan. 16, 2015.

What threatens families? Redefining marriage, Pope says

Jan 16, 2015

Warning that “every threat to the family is a threat to society itself,” Pope Francis called on the people of... Read more

Pope Francis presented this 16th century atlas from the Vatican Library to the President of the Philippines on Jan. 16, 2015.

Here's what Pope Francis gave the president of the Philippines

Jan 16, 2015

During his first full day in the Philippines, Pope Francis met with President Benigno Aquino and other officials at the... Read more

Sister and brother, Dolorosa and Joay, traveled 12 hours by boat from their home province of Aklan to Manila to see Pope Francis, Jan. 15, 2015.

Twelve hours on a boat to tell Pope Francis 'I love you'

Jan 16, 2015

By Elise Harris

Dolorosa and Joay traveled on a 12-hour boat trip from their home province in the Philippines to Manila, where they... Read more

Pope Francis laughs during his Jan. 16 homily at Manila's Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Pope Francis sees 'powerful missionary potential' in Philippines

Jan 15, 2015

Pope Francis on Friday repeated his praise for the Philippines’ Christians as he encouraged bishops, clergy, vowed religious and seminarians... Read more

Pope Francis receives an image of St. Therese of Lisieux from journalist aboard the papal plane.

Gift from heaven? Pope receives unexpected visit from St. Therese of Lisieux

Jan 15, 2015

By Elise Harris, Alan Holdren

During his flight to the Philippines, Pope Francis thanked a French journalist who gave him an image of St. Therese,... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to journalists on his flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines on Jan. 15, 2015.

Pope on Charlie Hebdo: Don't kill in God's name but don't insult faith

Jan 15, 2015

By Alan Holdren

During an in-flight press conference Pope Francis spoke on the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, saying that freedom of expression has... Read more

Pope Francis to canonize evangelizer of the Wild West

Jan 15, 2015

By Alan Holdren

In a surprise addition to his fall 2015 trip to the U.S., Pope Francis is planning to canonize the founder... Read more

Pope Francis.

An environment encyclical in March? Pope Francis hopes so

Jan 15, 2015

During an in-flight press conference on his way to the Philippines, Pope Francis said he plans to have his much-anticipated... Read more

Father Gregory Gaston departing for the Philippines Jan. 15.

Overwhelming welcome for Pope Francis foreseen in Philippines

Jan 14, 2015

By Alan Holdren

Pope Francis can expect a warm and enthusiastic welcome in the Philippines, say two natives of the country who work... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary at Madhu in Sri Lanka, Jan. 14, 2015.

'Mary forgave her son's killers': The Pope on healing in Sri Lanka

Jan 14, 2015

At a Marian shine during his three-day trip to Sri Lanka, Pope Francis touched on the country's brutal decades-long civil... Read more

Pope Francis addresses interreligious faith leaders in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Jan. 13, 2015.

Don't use religion as a weapon of war, Pope Francis insists

Jan 13, 2015

In an oft-repeated message to interreligious groups, Pope Francis stressed again that believers must unite in condemning violence and insist... Read more