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 delivers the homily during Mass on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 8, 2024.

Pope Francis links Mary’s humility to modern church at Mass with new cardinals

Dec 8, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis celebrated the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with the news cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, calling Christians to... Read more

Pope Francis arrives for a consistory at St. Peter's Basilica with visible bruising on his face, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained that the pope suffered a contusion after hitting his chin on a bedside table the previous morning.

Pope Francis: Notre Dame reopening shows ‘sadness and mourning give way to joy’

Dec 7, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration, and praise,” the Holy Father wrote in his message to Archbishop... Read more

Pope Francis places the red biretta on Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, archbishop of Naples, during the consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 7, 2024.

Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals, including archbishops of Tehran and Toronto

Dec 7, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The pope highlighted that the term “cardinal” symbolizes a “hinge,” emphasizing their vital role as in holding the Church together. Read more

Left to right: Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, Archbishop Fernando Chomali, Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, and Bishop Mykola Bychok, CSsR, will be made cardinals in a consistory on Dec. 7, 2024.

New cardinals emphasize Church unity, evangelization ahead of consistory

“I am with my heart, and I would say with my whole body, for a synodal vision,” Archbishop Ignace Bessi... Read more

The last ordinary public consistory to create new cardinals took place on Sept. 30, 2023.

What is a consistory? Your questions answered

Dec 6, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Here’s everything you need to know about this Saturday’s consistory. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 4, 2024.

Pope Francis: Beauty urges us to take Christ out into the streets and bring him to people

Dec 5, 2024

By Kristina Millare

In a message to participants in this year’s conference on popular piety in Seville, Spain, from Dec. 4-8, the pope... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Dec. 4, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán talk Ukraine and family policies

Pope Francis received the prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, at the Vatican on Wednesday. Read more

Pope Francis is shown the new popemobile, an electric Mercedes, on Dec. 4, 2024, at the Vatican.

Mercedes-Benz presents Pope Francis with new modified G-Wagon ‘popemobile’

Dec 4, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, presented the pope with a white and chrome key fob inside a white box... Read more

Pope Francis blesses a toddler during his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis: Preaching must rely on Holy Spirit, keep homilies under 10 minutes

Dec 4, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“Preachers must preach an idea, a feeling, and a call to action. Beyond eight minutes the preaching starts to fade,... Read more

Cardinals outside the Paul VI Hall.

21 new cardinals to reflect Catholic Church’s unity amid geographic expansion

Dec 4, 2024

By Kristina Millare

While the College of Cardinals will still largely be European, after the Dec. 7 consistory more than 90 countries will... Read more

Nicaraguan academic and political activist Felix Maradiaga speaks during an interview with AFP in Managua on Feb. 11, 2021.

Pope Francis’ letter to Nicaraguan Catholics is ‘balm for our spirit,’ exiles say

Dec 3, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Catholics exiled from Nicaragua are expressing their gratitude for the recent letter of encouragement Pope Francis sent to the persecuted... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. 9, 2024.

This is Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December

Dec 3, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December is for pilgrims of hope.  Read more

The Holy Father's Dec. 2, 2024, letter to Catholics in Nicaragua comes at a critical time for the country.

Pope Francis to Nicaraguan Catholics: Faith and hope work miracles

Pope Francis has written a moving letter to Catholics in Nicaragua to express his closeness, affection, and incessant prayer. Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus address on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2024.

‘Raise your heads,’ Pope Francis tells faithful in first Advent message amid multiple conflicts

Dec 1, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis on Sunday addressed cosmic upheavals, modern anxieties, and current conflicts while emphasizing hope and spiritual vigilance. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2021.

A path toward unity: Pope Francis proposes joint Catholic-Orthodox celebration of Nicaea anniversary

Nov 30, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The letter was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch during his visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to members of the International Theological Commission at the Vatican on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.

Pope Francis confirms plans to visit Turkey for historic Nicaea council anniversary

Nov 28, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Council of Nicaea took place in the ancient city of Nicaea in 325 A.D. in the former Roman Empire,... Read more

Pope Francis receives Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Vatican, Nov. 27, 2024.

U.S. Secretary Blinken meets Pope Francis: Vatican talks address Middle East and Ukraine

Nov 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The State Department said discussions between Blinken and the pope focused on ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at the Vatican.

At general audience, Pope Francis pleads for Ukraine's children

Nov 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“Think of the Ukrainian children and young people who suffer at this time without heating in a very harsh winter,”... Read more

Pope Francis gave a special message to Chinese Catholics at the end of his Mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 3, 2023.

Pope Francis announces Chinese translations for weekly audiences

Nov 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“Next week, with Advent, the Chinese translation will also begin here publicly,” the pope said on Nov. 27 during his... Read more

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sept. 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sept. 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person.

Pope Francis calls for end to use of landmines as Biden allows U.S. mines in Ukraine

Nov 26, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

“These treacherous devices continue to cause terrible suffering to civilians, especially children,” the pope said.  Read more