Church history

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 John Paul II.

How St. John Paul II helped bring down the Berlin Wall: 35 years later

Nov 9, 2024

By Rudolf Gehrig

“I am absolutely convinced that without Pope John Paul II, German reunification would not have been possible,” Martin Rothweiler told... Read more

Painting by Dióscoro Puebla depicting the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America, on Oct. 12, 1492.

Black legend of Spanish conquest is ‘profoundly anti-Catholic,’ historian says

Oct 29, 2024

By Diego López Colín

For renowned historian Jorge Traslosheros, the so-called “black legend” of the Spanish conquest of lands in the Americas arose as... Read more

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‘A Short History of the Roman Mass’: New book explores evolution of the Mass

Aug 19, 2024

By Diego López Marina

Father Michael Lang, who is from London, shared his motivations for writing this book and the importance of the liturgy... Read more

Father Dario E. Viganò, president of the MAC Foundation, shares about the foundation in a May 2, 2023, presentation at the Vatican’ Apostolic Library

Italian foundation aims to preserve and share Catholic audiovisual heritage

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The MAC Foundation is working to create a digital library that will be “a single online access point” for historic... Read more

The Roman Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem.

Social media apostolate brings the beauty of Rome’s historic churches to Instagram

Mar 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Jacob Stein is visiting a church in Rome each day of Lent this year. Read more

Pope Celestine V was canonized in 1313 and since 1327 has been buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila.

Saint Celestine V and the Catholic Church's first jubilee

Aug 21, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Peter of Morrone was an unusual choice for pope: He was not a cardinal but a hermit living in a... Read more

Pope Francis meets with ecumenical delegation from Finland on Jan. 17, 2022.

Pope Francis looks ahead to the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025

Jan 17, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis highlighted the upcoming anniversaries of two major events in Church history as moments that can help Christians seek... Read more