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

Iranian miners look on at the scene of a blast at a coal mine in Tabas in Iran’s Khorasan province on Sept. 22, 2024. The blast caused by a gas leak at the coal mine in eastern Iran has killed at least 50 people, state media said Sept. 22, in one of Iran’s deadliest work accidents in years.

Pope Francis offers prayers for victims of Iran coal mine explosion

Sep 25, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said Wednesday he is praying for the dozens of victims of a deadly coal mine explosion in Tabas,... Read more

Pope Francis during the 500th general audience of his pontificate, held in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 25, 2024, spoke about pornography and how to avoid the temptation to sin.

Pope Francis condemns pornography as ‘a language of the devil’

Sep 25, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis spoke about pornography and how to avoid the devil’s temptation to sin via the internet during his 500th... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, in the Diplomatic Corps Hall at the Vatican on Nov. 28, 2017.

Pope Francis offered asylum to Myanmar’s imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Sep 24, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has offered the Vatican as a place of refuge for Myanmar’s imprisoned prime minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. Read more

Pope Francis waves from a window of the Apostolic Palace at the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly Angelus address on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘True power is taking care of the weakest’

Sep 22, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

In his Angelus message at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said: “True power is taking care of the weakest;... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (right), relator general of Synod on Synodality, speaks to the media on June 20, 2023, at the temporary headquarters of the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City. Beside him is Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary general for the Synod of Bishops.

What you need to know about part 2 of the Synod on Synodality

Sep 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The second Vatican assembly for the global Synod on Synodality will kick off in October, bringing together clerics and laity... Read more

Pope Francis meets with priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians) on June 27, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis celebrates anniversary of his vocation to the priesthood

Sep 21, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

On Sept. 21, 1953, 71 years ago, a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s priestly vocation was born. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on May 1, 2020, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Pope Francis asks cardinals to achieve ‘zero deficit’ in the Catholic Church

Sep 20, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Pope Francis has called on cardinals to work to achieve the goal of “zero deficit” in the economy of the... Read more

​​Etsurō Sotoo is an enthusiastic advocate of the cause of canonization of Antoni Gaudí, known as “God's architect.”

Japanese sculptor, Notre Dame’s O’Regan to receive prestigious Ratzinger Prize

Sep 20, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

For the first time, a sculptor and native of Japan will be awarded the Ratzinger Prize. Read more

Family members of Mafia victims take part in a demonstration organized by Libera on the occasion of the National Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Remembering the Victims of the Mafia on March 21, 2023, in Milan, Italy.

Pope Francis: More needs to be done to restore dignity to organized crime victims

Sep 19, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Holy Father insisted it is neither “possible nor tolerable” to forget the damage done to the dignity of millions... Read more

Floods severely affected Heiligenkreuz in the Vienna Woods in Austria on Sept. 15, 2024.

Deadly floods in Central Europe damage famous monasteries, seminary

Sep 18, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Severe flooding across Central Europe has caused widespread damage to historic monasteries and seminaries, with over 20 deaths reported. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.

Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is ‘more alive’ outside of Europe

Sep 18, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his first general audience since returning from the longest international trip of his pontificate, the pope expressed gratitude to... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to Archbishop William Seng Chye Goh (left) after he elevated him to cardinal during a consistory to create 20 new cardinals on Aug. 27, 2022, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore ‘has revived the faith of our people,’ cardinal says

Sep 17, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

Cardinal William Goh, archbishop of Singapore, hailed the positive results of the recently concluded papal visit to his country. Read more

A reliquary containing relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Church of Sant’Angela Merici in Rome, Oct. 11, 2021.

Pope Francis tells young people to prioritize the Eucharist like Carlo Acutis

Sep 17, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“As Blessed Carlo Acutis said, the Eucharist is the highway to heaven,” the pope wrote in his message for diocesan... Read more

Pope Francis addresses young adults gathered in Tirana, Albania, for the Mediterranean Encounters 2024 conference on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.

Pope Francis: Diverse religious identities are ‘a gift from God’

Sep 17, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Contemplate the diversity of your traditions as a wealth, a wealth willed by God,” the pope told young adults gathered... Read more

Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matalgalpa, Nicaragua.

Bishop Álvarez chosen by Pope Francis to participate in Synod on Synodality

Sep 17, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez is slated to be among the participants in the second and last session of the... Read more

A worshipper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope’s Asia visit draws attention to Holy See’s delicate China diplomacy

Sep 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

As the Vatican-China deal nears renewal, Pope Francis’ Asia tour sparked debate on the future of the Holy See’s ties... Read more

A picture taken on March 27, 2019, shows a scaffold during the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, in Paris.

Pope Francis will not go to Paris for Notre Dame cathedral reopening

Sep 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On the plane back to Rome after his journey to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis definitively ruled out visiting Paris... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane during an in-flight press conference on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis: U.S. presidential election a choice between ‘the lesser evil’

Sep 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis encouraged U.S. Catholics to vote with their conscience in the upcoming Nov. 5... Read more

Pope Francis addresses elderly and sick people on his final day in Singapore on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, marking the conclusion of his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania — the longest trip of his pontificate to date.

Pope Francis concludes apostolic journey with elderly and youth of Singapore

Sep 13, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The interreligious meeting concluded his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania.    Read more

Archbishop Mark O’Toole was installed as the eighth archbishop of Cardiff in St. David’s Cathedral, Cardiff, Wales, in June 2022.

Pope Francis creates new archdiocese in Wales, appoints its first bishop

Sep 13, 2024

By AC Wimmer

The Bishops’ Conference of England Wales welcomed the move on Thursday as a “new chapter for the Catholic community in... Read more