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 looks out at the crowd gathered below his hospital window at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on March 23, 2025.

Missionaries of Mercy gather in Rome as Pope Francis praises their ‘ministry of forgiveness’

Mar 29, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis reflected on the profound connection between mercy and hope in his message. Read more

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin (right) meets with Polish President Andrzej Duda on March 28, 2025, at the Vatican. 

Pope’s recovery progresses as Vatican appoints new librarian, Polish president visits

Mar 28, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis continues to show gradual improvement as he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at his residence in Casa Santa Marta. Read more

Pope Francis gives an extraordianry urbi et orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square, March 27, 2020.

Pope Francis’ pandemic prayer 5 years later: ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’

Mar 27, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Before an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis held Eucharistic adoration and gave an extraordinary urbi et orbi... Read more

Pope Francis presides at Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican on March 24, 2024.

Vatican publishes Holy Week schedule without clarifying whether Pope Francis will preside

Mar 27, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The Vatican has published the official calendar of liturgical celebrations planned for Holy Week, but it has not clarified whether... Read more

“24 Hours for the Lord” at the Church of St. Lawrence in Piscibus on March 13, 2016.

Young adults’ Eucharistic devotion the inspiration behind ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ event

Mar 27, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Now in its 12th year, the Church’s “24 Hours for the Lord” Lenten initiative is believed to have been inspired... Read more

Pope Francis waves from a balcony at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025, following weeks of hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia.

Pope Francis: God desires to offer his love and mercy to those at the ‘crossroads’ of life

Mar 26, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“To go and proclaim the Gospel, we first need to set down the burden of our history at the feet... Read more

Pope Francis greets His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales at the canonization of St. John Henry Newman at the Vatican on Oct. 13, 2019.

King Charles postpones Vatican visit to give Pope Francis more recovery time

Mar 25, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

The royal couple was set to visit the Vatican in early April to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee but announced the... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the gathered faithful from the balcony at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025.

General audience, Angelus remain suspended despite Pope Francis’ return to Vatican

Mar 25, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Francis is not expected to meet with large groups of faithful until at least the end of May. Read more

Dr. Sergio Alfieri answers questions from the media at a press conference regarding Pope Francis’ health on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

Pope Francis’ doctor: ‘We really thought we wouldn’t make it’

Mar 25, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The head of the medical team that treated Pope Francis at Gemelli Hospital revealed that at one point they had... Read more

Pope Francis joins the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Pope Francis: When you protect children from abuse ‘you serve and honor Christ’

Mar 25, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Abuse prevention,” the Holy Father said, “is not a blanket to be spread over emergencies but one of the foundations... Read more

Young parishioners from the Church of St. Eugene in the Roman suburb of Parioli — Maddy (far left) and Constaza (far right) — emphasized the importance of continuing prayers for Pope Francis. The pope was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025. 

Children’s prayers for Pope Francis: ‘We can make him feel better’

Mar 24, 2025

By Kristina Millare

In an interview with CNA, three young parishioners from the Church of St. Eugene in the Roman suburb of Parioli... Read more

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia speaks at a press conference for a Vatican summit on longevity on March 24, 2025, at the Vatican.

Archbishop Paglia: Pope Francis is showing us the frailty of old age

Mar 24, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia spoke of the pope’s age and health during the Pontifical Academy for Life’s first Vatican Longevity Summit... Read more

Pope Francis waves from a balcony at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025, following weeks of hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia.

Pope Francis makes first public appearance in weeks, returns to Vatican

Mar 23, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The moment marked his first public engagement in weeks. Read more

Pope Francis gives a thumbsup gesture from his window at Gemelli Hospital in Rome during his first public appearance in weeks on Sunday, March 23, 2025.

LIVE UPDATES: A ‘thumbs up’ to the faithful as Pope Francis released from hospital

Mar 23, 2025

By CNA Staff

Here’s the latest news on Pope Francis’ health and hospitalization. Read more

Candles with Pope Francis’ image on them stand outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 21, 2025.

Pope Francis will be discharged from Gemelli Hospital on Sunday, Vatican says

Mar 22, 2025

By Daniel Payne

Hospital officials said the pope will continue convalescing at his apartment in Casa Santa Marta for at least two months. Read more

A makeshift shrine with devotional candles, flowers, and images of Pope Francis appears outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 22, 2025.

Pope Francis to offer window blessing from Gemelli Hospital this Sunday

Mar 22, 2025

By AC Wimmer

Vatican Media will be present to record and distribute footage of the papal appearance, which marks a promising progression in... Read more

The Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Pope Francis.

Pope Francis gifts his Presidential Medal of Freedom to Buenos Aires cathedral

Mar 19, 2025

By Julieta Villar

Pope Francis has gifted the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to him by former U.S. President Joe Biden to the... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks to EWTN News in Oslo, Norway, on Jan. 17, 2025.

Cardinal Parolin: no discussion of resignation by Pope Francis

Mar 19, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

“I think we should go by the medical reports, because they’re the ones that tell us exactly what the pope’s... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience on Feb. 5, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Fear of change can be overcome with Jesus as our guide

Mar 19, 2025

By Kristina Millare

In his prepared March 19 catechesis on “Jesus Our Hope,” the Holy Father reflected on Nicodemus’ encounter with the Son... Read more

Catholics attend the Mass and episcopal ordination of two new bishops in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 17, 2021.

Pope Francis: ‘Every vocation is animated by hope’

Mar 19, 2025

By AC Wimmer

In his message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis highlighted hope as essential to authentic... Read more