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

Young people lead a procession in Protomartyrs Square at the Vatican for an ecumenical prayer service on Oct. 11, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis, synod pray where first Christian martyrs of Rome were killed

Oct 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The ecumenical prayer vigil Oct. 11 was held in Roman Protomartyrs Square inside Vatican City. Read more

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.

Pope Francis, Zelenskyy hold fourth meeting since outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war

Oct 11, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Oct. 11 meeting is the fourth meeting the Ukrainian president has had with the Holy Father since the outbreak... Read more

Pope Francis during the weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square on Oct. 9, 2024.

Pope: ‘Prohibitions of the Spirit’ ensure Church unity is not driven by personal viewpoints

Oct 9, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Continuing his catechesis on the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Church, the pope emphasized that unity cannot be... Read more

Rome Bishop Baldassare Reina presides at the closing of the diocesan phase of the investigation into the life and virtues of Chiara Corbella Petrillo in Rome on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Who is the Rome Diocese’s new vicar general, future Cardinal Baldassare Reina?

Oct 9, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

As he listed the names of the new cardinals, the pope named “His Excellency Monsignor Baldassare Reina, who will be... Read more

Cardinals-elect Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD; Archbishop Jaime Spengler, OFM; and Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbohe discuss the contributions of the Church outside Europe during a Synod on Synodality press briefing on Oct. 8, 2024.

New cardinals say Europe is becoming the Catholic Church’s new ‘peripheries’

Oct 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“When the Holy Father is talking about peripheries, I think the peripheries are moving. ... Maybe the peripheries are moving... Read more

Christian worshippers pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Pope Francis: ‘Prayer and fasting are the weapons of love that change history’

Oct 7, 2024

By Kristina Millare, Elias Turk

In his letter to Catholics in the Middle East, the Holy Father expressed his closeness with those “who dwell in... Read more

Delegates attend a session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at the Paul VI Hall on Oct. 5, 2024, in Vatican City.

Women deacons off the table? Synod delegate claims ‘some women sense a call to priesthood’

Oct 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“I think we have to look at the question very much from … the Spirit. ‘Is the Spirit calling women?’”... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus reflection on Oct. 6, 2024.

Pope Francis urges married couples to ‘be open to life’

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the Holy Father asked couples to reflect on whether their married life is fully open... Read more

Pope Francis creates new cardinals at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including archbishops of Tehran and Toronto

Oct 6, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 142 cardinals from 70 countries at nine consistories. Read more

Pope Francis views a historic relic of the chair of St. Peter on Oct. 2, 2024.

What’s behind the viral photo of Pope Francis venerating a chair?

Oct 4, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

CNA explains what was behind the viral photo of Pope Francis sitting before an ancient wooden chair during the first... Read more

Pope Francis and King Philippe listen to a speech by Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during the pope's trip to Belgium in late September 2024.

Belgian prime minister criticizes Pope Francis for statements on abortion

Oct 4, 2024

By CNA Staff

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized Pope Francis for comments the pope made on abortion last week when he... Read more

Archbishop of Barcelona and the president of the Episcopal Conference of Spain, Cardinal Juan José Omella y Omella, arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica for a penitential service for the Synod of Bishops presided by Pope Francis on Oct. 1, 2024, in Vatican City.

Analysis: This week at the Synod on Synodality — revolution or much ado about nothing?

Oct 3, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The tone of the opening days of the synod’s final general assembly makes it apparent that, for the moment, there... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants of the first meeting of the full assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024.

At Synod on Synodality, pope says Church needs new ways for bishops to be ‘synodal’

Oct 2, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Never can a bishop, or any other Christian, think of himself ‘without others,’” Pope Francis said Wednesday at the first... Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd at the end of a Mass for the opening of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in St Peter's Square.

Pope Francis calls for global day of prayer, fasting amid escalating conflict in Holy Land

Oct 2, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s surprise announcement comes the morning after Iran launched hundreds of missiles toward Israel. Read more

Pope Francis presides at the penitential celebration ahead of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops at St. Peter’s Basilica, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.

This is Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October

Oct 1, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

“We Christians are all responsible for the Church’s mission. Every priest. Everyone,” the pope said in a video released Sept.... Read more

Pope Francis addresses members of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who are meeting in an extraordinary plenary assembly Aug. 29–30, 2024, to discuss the future of the Pontifical Urban University, which educates priests and religious from the Catholic Church’s mission territories.

Pope Francis appoints priest who serves disadvantaged youth to Vatican evangelization office

Oct 1, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Father Samuele Sangalli has a license in philosophy and also studied educational sciences, which he has put to use as... Read more

Delegates vote to approve a synthesis report at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 28, 2023.

Pope Francis steers delicate course on women, the Church, and the Synod on Synodality 2024

Oct 1, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Oct. 2, Pope Francis will open the second session of the Synod on Synodality, the last part of the... Read more

Pope Francis speaks aboard the papal plane on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.

Pope Francis responds to critics of comments he made in Belgium about women

Sep 29, 2024

By CNA Staff

“A woman is more important than a man, but it is terrible when a woman wants to be a man:... Read more

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

In Belgium, Pope Francis gives strong warning over scandal of abuse, cover-up

Sep 29, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy Father urged the Belgian bishops to bring the evil of abuse to light and not to cover up... Read more

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

Archdiocese of Denver reacts to expulsion of 10 members of the Sodality of Christian Life

Sep 28, 2024

By ACI Prensa

The Peruvian Episcopal Conference announced that on Sept. 25 Pope Francis ordered the Sodality of Christian Life to expel 10... Read more