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 addresses pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 20, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Pope Francis calls for study of Church history free from ideologies

Nov 21, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis has published a letter addressed especially to priests in formation to promote the renewal of the study of... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

Nov 21, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Describing nihilism as “perhaps the most dangerous plague of today’s culture,” the pope told dicastery members their institution should work... Read more

Cardinal Kevin Farrell celebrates Mass for the World Meeting of Families 2022 on June 25, 2022.

Pope Francis assigns U.S. cardinal to carry out ‘urgent’ overhaul of Vatican pension fund

Nov 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a Nov. 21 letter to cardinals, prefects, and managers in the Roman Curia, the pope underlined the gravity of... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 20, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis reads Ukrainian student’s moving testimony of faith at general audience

Nov 20, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“Through this pain, I am learning greater love. Pain is not only a road to anger and despair; if based... Read more

Before the wooden coffin is closed, Pope Benedict XVI’s personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein and Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli, the Vatican’s lead master of ceremonies for papal liturgies, place a white veil over the late pope’s face. The action on Jan. 4, 2023, is part of the funeral rites for popes.

Vatican simplifies funeral rite for popes

Nov 20, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The second edition of the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis” (“Order of Funerals for Roman Pontiffs”) is a revision of the... Read more

The book “Hope Never Disappoints” is based on interviews author Hernán Reyes Alcaide (pictured here) conducted with Pope Francis.

‘Hope Never Disappoints’ is Holy Father’s new book for 2025 Jubilee Year

Nov 20, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Published ahead of the 2025 Jubilee Year, “Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World” focuses on the pope’s views... Read more

Blessed Carlo Acutis (left) and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Pope Francis announces 2025 canonizations for Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati

Nov 20, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The surprise announcement came at the conclusion of the pope’s weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square as Francis celebrated... Read more

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Pope Francis laicizes schismatic Argentine priest 

Nov 19, 2024

By Julieta Villar

Fernando María Cornet wrote a book in 2023 titled “Habemus Antipapam?” (“Do We Have an Antipope?”), Argentine newspaper La Nación... Read more

Pope Francis attends a Vatican screening of the 2022 documentary “Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” on Feb. 24, 2023.

Pope Francis conveys closeness to Ukraine in letter marking 1,000th day of war

Nov 19, 2024

By Kristina Millare, Zoe Romanowsky

In a letter sent to Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, Pope Francis expressed his great sorrow for the... Read more

Pope Francis prays during the Synod on Synodality closing Mass on Oct. 27, 2024, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Pope Francis’ claim that Israel action in Gaza could be ‘genocide’ draws criticism

Nov 18, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Pope Francis’ call for an investigation into claims that a genocide may be happening in Gaza has garnered some criticism.  Read more

Pope Francis was joined by thousands of pilgrims in the Vatican on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, to celebrate the eighth annual World Day of the Poor.

Pope Francis: The poor ‘continue to wait’ for the Church, governments to take action

Nov 17, 2024

By Kristina Millare

During his homily and Angelus address, the Holy Father repeated his plea for Catholics to show their closeness to the... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at a Mass and canonization of 14 new saints in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.

Honoring the ‘saints next door’: Pope Francis calls for annual celebration of local holy men and women

Nov 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

In a letter released by the Vatican, the pope designated Nov. 9 as a day to honor these figures of... Read more

Pope Francis greets members of Italy’s National Youth Council at the Vatican on Nov. 16, 2024.

Pope Francis: Young people can be ‘artisans of hope’ amid mental health challenges

Nov 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

“The challenges are many: the dignity of work, family, education, civic engagement, care for creation, and new technologies,” Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Angelus address on Nov. 10, 2024.

Pope Francis asks Rome’s Catholics to help combat ‘housing emergency’ during 2025 jubilee

Nov 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I want all diocesan realities that own real estate to offer their contribution to stem the housing emergency,” Pope Francis... Read more

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples, Italy.

Italy’s Mafia-fighting ‘street priest’ Archbishop Domenico Battaglia to become a cardinal

Nov 14, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Battaglia’s reputation as a “street priest” close to drug addicts and the poor has also led some to view him... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) on March 23, 2023.

Vatican, Catholic leaders from Europe discuss sexual abuse in the Church

Nov 13, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is hosting a conference on safeguarding in the Catholic Church in... Read more

Pope Francis delivers remarks at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.

Pope Francis: True devotion to Mary always ‘points to Jesus’

Nov 13, 2024

By Kristina Millare

“Mary is always the mother that brings us to Jesus,” the Holy Father said. “Mary does not only point to... Read more

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Pope Francis urges ‘human-centered’ approach to ‘climate finance’ at UN COP29 summit

Nov 13, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis warned that both foreign debt and ecological debt are “mortgaging the future” of nations. Read more

Pope Francis raises his glass at the start of a lunch with poor and economically disadvantaged people in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Nov. 19, 2023.

Pope Francis to have Sunday lunch with 1,300 guests on World Day of the Poor

Nov 12, 2024

By Kristina Millare

This year’s lunch, organized by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, will... Read more

The Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library, the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City, is one of the oldest libraries in the world.

Pope Francis moves part of Vatican library and archive to Rome seminary

Nov 12, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope declared that part of the archives and library be moved to a building on extraterritorial Vatican property at... Read more