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 at his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2020.

Pope Francis urges laity to ‘take a step forward’ in evangelization

Oct 14, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called for the laity to “take a step forward” in carrying out the Church’s mission of evangelization in... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2020.

Pope Francis: ‘All human pains for God are sacred’

Oct 14, 2020

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the Psalms shed new light on suffering, showing that “all human pains for God are... Read more

The flag of Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica in the background.

As evaluation ends, Vatican says Moneyval inspection was ‘constructive’

Oct 13, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Moneyval, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering watchdog, concluded its two-week on-site inspection of the Holy See and Vatican City... Read more

A soup kitchen for refugees in Athens.

Vatican to turn building offered by nuns into shelter for refugees

Oct 13, 2020

The Vatican said Monday that it would use a building offered to it by a religious order to house refugees.  Read more

Italian poet Dante Alighieri (c. 1265-1321) in a detail from a painting by Domenico di Michelino. Public domain.

Pope Francis: revisit the ‘Divine Comedy’ in Dante’s anniversary year

Oct 12, 2020

Pope Francis said Saturday that the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri should inspire people to rediscover the... Read more

The courtyard of the Casina Pio IV, the Vatican home of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Pope Francis names UCLA literacy expert to pontifical academy

Oct 12, 2020

Pope Francis appointed a literacy expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Monday.   Read more

Pope Francis receives Cardinal George Pell in a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Pell at the Vatican

Oct 12, 2020

Former Vatican finance czar Cardinal George Pell met with Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican Monday.  Read more

Pope Francis prays in St. Peter's Basilica on June 14, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for people affected by California wildfires

Oct 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis expressed his concern Sunday for people suffering from the effects of wildfires in California and South America.  Read more

Pope Francis waves from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during an Angelus address.

Pope Francis says Blessed Carlo Acutis is a model for young people to put God first

Oct 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Sunday that the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis provides a witness for young people that true happiness... Read more

Pope Francis' video message to TED Countdown posted Oct. 10, 2020.

Pope Francis calls for 'integral ecology' in TED Climate Countdown video

Oct 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis sent a video message to the TED Countdown summit on climate change Saturday explaining how a more “integral... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on March 12, 2016.

Pope Francis to Moneyval: ‘Money must serve, not rule’

Oct 8, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a speech Thursday to Moneyval representatives evaluating the Vatican, Pope Francis emphasized that money should be at the service... Read more

A sculpture of Hildegard of Bingen by Karlheinz Oswald at Eibingen Abbey in Hesse, Germany.

Pope Francis praises ‘great’ St. Hildegard of Bingen

Oct 8, 2020

Pope Francis hailed the “great” Doctor of the Church St. Hildegard of Bingen in a message to a Vatican women’s... Read more

Pope Francis arrives for his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2020.

Pope Francis hopes to visit Spain to mark 500 years since Jesuit founder’s conversion

Oct 7, 2020

Pope Francis said he hoped to visit Spain to mark the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St. Ignatius of... Read more

Pope Francis visits the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at the Vatican, May 27, 2019.

Pope Francis calls for shake-up of healthcare in wake of pandemic

Oct 7, 2020

Healthcare must be made more accessible to the poor in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Pope Francis said Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis delivers his general audience address in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 7, 2020.

Pope Francis: Rediscover the beauty of the rosary

Oct 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis invited Catholics to rediscover the beauty of the rosary prayer this month, encouraging people to carry a rosary... Read more

Death Row Sign At A Maximum Security Prison. Image via Shutterstock

Does 'Fratelli tutti' change Church teaching on the death penalty?

Oct 6, 2020

By Matt Hadro

In his new encyclical, Pope Francis reiterated that the death penalty is “inadmissible,” but did he change centuries of Church teaching... Read more

Archbishop Jose Gomez.

US bishops welcome 'profound and beautiful' Fratelli tutti

Oct 5, 2020

The bishops of the United States have praised the release of Pope Francis’ new encyclical, calling it a “profound and... Read more

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.

Pope Francis fills committee to monitor internal Vatican financial decisions

Oct 5, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis on Monday named Cardinal Kevin Farrell president of a committee to monitor internal Vatican financial decisions which fall... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Business management requires fair and clear conduct, not corruption

Oct 5, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told a group of investment bankers Monday that fair conduct and transparency are essential in the field of... Read more

A conference presenting Pope Francis’ encyclical "”Fratelli tutti” at the New Synod Hall in the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2020.

‘Fratelli tutti’: Human fraternity committee to invite youth to make Pope Francis’ vision ‘a reality’

Oct 4, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Vatican presentation for Pope Francis’ third encyclical, “Fratelli tutti,” highlighted the involvement of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity... Read more