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 offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on March 11, 2020.

Pope Francis offers Mass for prisoners after Italian prison riots

Mar 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Following prison riots in Italy, Pope Francis offered Mass for prisoners and persecuted Christians on Wednesday during his livestreamed daily... Read more

Image of pilgrims holding a sign supporting those suffering in Idlib, Syria, during the Sunday Angelus, March 8, 2020.

Make Syria ‘priority’ over ‘every other interest’ says Pope Francis

Mar 8, 2020

Pope Francis issued a plea to the international community to halt the violence and mounting death toll in the Syrian... Read more

Pilgrims in St. Peter's Square watch video broadcast of the Angelus March 8, 2020.

Pope Francis: Be strong in faith amid coronavirus trial

Mar 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

In a video streamed live to St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis prayed for those suffering from the "coronavirus epidemic" and... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims after the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 26, 2020.

Pope Francis will lead Sunday Angelus via video over coronavirus fears

Mar 7, 2020

Pope Francis will lead the Sunday Angelus prayer via video link, the Vatican has announced. The pope will also hold... Read more

Participants in the Vatican Synod Hall during the Synod on the Family in Oct. 2014.

Pope Francis announces a Synod on Synodality for the Catholic Church

Mar 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The next ordinary Synod of Bishops will be a synod on synodality, the Vatican announced March 7. Read more

Pope Francis received at the Vatican members of the  USCCB Region XII for their “ad Limina Apostolorum” visit on Feb. 3, 2020.

Analysis: Pope Francis’ diplomatic triumph with US bishops 

Mar 6, 2020

By Ed Condon

Months of papal meetings with American prelates appear to have proved a quiet, but noteworthy, triumph of pastoral diplomacy at... Read more

Pope Francis arrives in Philadelphia in a Fiat.

Rolls-Royce offer for private Pope Francis meeting ‘does not exist anymore’

Mar 6, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Rolls Royce and Italian Luxury Living are no longer offering an exclusive meeting and Mass with Pope Francis to Rolls... Read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass during his pastoral visit to Bari, Italy, Jan. 23, 2020.

'Be truly Christians and good citizens' Pope tells Chinese Catholics

Mar 5, 2020

In a video released on Thursday by Vatican Media, Pope Francis announced that his prayer intention for the month of... Read more

Mary McAleese.

Mary McAleese writes to Pope Francis over Jean Vanier

Mar 5, 2020

The former Irish president told the pope she could leave the Catholic Church if the Holy See is found to... Read more

Pope Francis during Ash Wednesday Mass Feb. 26, 2020.

Pope Francis has a 'common cold,' Vatican says, amid Italy's coronavirus outbreak

Mar 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis was reportedly tested for the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, with negative results, an Italian newspaper said Tuesday.  Read more

Pilgrims stand in St. Peter's Square before the Wednesday general audience on Feb. 26, 2020.

Coronavirus postpones pope's global economic summit

Mar 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The three-day conference, named for St. Francis and scheduled to meet in Assisi, was planned to take place March 26-28... Read more

CNA

Pontifical Academy for Life, tech companies, call for ethical use of AI technology

Feb 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Pontifical Academy for Life signed Friday, alongside presidents of IBM and Microsoft, a call for ethical and responsible use... Read more

Pope Francis offering Mass in Santa Marta today Feb. 28th, 2020.

Pope Francis works from home for second day

Feb 28, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis postponed his official audiences for Friday, but maintained his private meeting schedule at his residence in Vatican City.... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims before the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 26, 2020.

‘Worship of initiatives’ is replacing faith, Pope Francis warns priests

Feb 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Priests risk losing their ministry as pastors and teachers of the faith when they become “suffocated” by management problems, Pope... Read more

Bishop-Elect Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B. for the Archdiocese of Newark.

Pope Francis names 4 new bishops for US dioceses

Feb 27, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The appointments, announced Thursday, include three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, and one new auxiliary... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims before his general audience Feb. 26, 2020.

'Slight' sickness keeps Pope Francis close to home, Vatican says

Feb 27, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis did not attend a scheduled meeting with Rome priests Thursday morning due to a “slight indisposition,” a Vatican... Read more

Pope Francis during the Wednesday general audience inside the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Feb. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for Iraqis as Vatican confirms no papal visit in 2020

Feb 26, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Speaking to pilgrims from the Middle East during his general audience address, the pope gave a special welcome to people... Read more

Penitential procession towards the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Aventino for Ash Wednesday.

Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday: Confession purifies hearts

Feb 26, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Before going to confession, Pope Francis recommended, people should stand in front of the Crucifix and contemplate Christ on the... Read more

Carnival float during the 2019 parade in Aalst.

Belgian PM condemns anti-Semitic floats in historic parade

Feb 24, 2020

For the second consecutive year, organizers of the Aalst Carnival included numerous apparetnly anti-Semitic caricatures and floats in the annual... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Bari, Italy on Feb. 23, 2020.

Pope Francis: Ask God for the strength to love your enemies

Feb 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Ask God for the grace to love your enemies, Pope Francis said Sunday in a homily in the Italian city... Read more