Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

The Latest

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

CNA explains: What do Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith consultants do?

Dec 11, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican body responsible for questions of doctrinal orthodoxy in the Church,... Read more

Facade of St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican may add ‘spiritual abuse’ to crimes in Church law

Nov 26, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is forming a working group with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts... Read more

Pope Francis joines the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Vatican publishes first report on Church safeguarding efforts worldwide

Oct 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The 50-page report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is the first in an annual series that... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis names consultants to Vatican doctrine office, including controversial theologian

Sep 23, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has named 28 new consultors to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, including controversial moral... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presides over a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Vatican’s new document on Marian apparitions.

Vatican announces press conference on ‘spiritual experience’ of Medjugorje

Cardinal Víctor Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will lead a press conference on the... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Vatican grants ‘nihil obstat’ to Our Lady of Mercy shrine in France

Aug 30, 2024

By Kristina Millare

On Aug. 22, the Holy See issued a “nihil obstat” (no objection) to the miraculous visions and physical healing of... Read more

Masonic temple in North Hollywood, California.

Freemasonry: why the Church prohibits membership

Aug 23, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Catholics are strictly prohibited from being Masons or belonging to Freemasonry. Below are seven facts to know in order to... Read more

The Vatican has approved devotion at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, India, the site of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the 16th century.  

Vatican approves India’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health ahead of shrine’s feast day 

Aug 8, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Devotion to Our Lady of Good Health began in the late 16th century following three different oral accounts of the... Read more

The Palace of the Holy Office, which houses the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Pope Francis names 2 officials of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith as bishops

Jul 31, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy was named titular bishop of Ossero, Croatia, and Monsignor Philippe Curbelié was named titular bishop of... Read more

St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican approves ‘spiritual experience’ connected to Trinity shrine of Maccio in Italy

Jul 24, 2024

By Kristina Millare

It is the fifth public announcement of the DDF since the office published norms for the discernment of “alleged supernatural... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presides over a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Vatican’s new document on Marian apparitions.

Vatican approves ‘Our Lady of the Rock’ shrine at alleged Marian apparition site in Italy

Jul 16, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

It is the DDF’s fourth public pronouncement related to alleged apparitions since issuing norms for the discernment of “alleged supernatural... Read more

The Lady of All Nations painting.

Vatican reveals details about 1974 ruling on alleged ‘Lady of All Nations’ apparition

Jul 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The DDF said that in 1974 the doctrinal office voted unanimously that the visions were not supernatural and would not... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Pope Francis appoints new members to Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Jun 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new appointments come as the Vatican office continues to grapple with the ecumenical fallout from Fiducia Supplicans. Read more

A Marian apparition.

New norms give Vatican greater say on alleged apparitions

May 17, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Vatican’s doctrinal office is centralizing its authority over the investigation of alleged Marian apparitions and other religious phenomena under... Read more

Argentinian prelate Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández.

Vatican to publish new document on Marian apparitions next week

May 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will unveil new norms for discernment regarding “apparitions and other supernatural phenomena.” Read more

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery on the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks during a press conference about a new Vatican document on human dignity on April 8, 2024.

New Vatican document highlights Church’s ‘ever-greater understanding of human dignity’

Apr 8, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Dignity “belongs to the person… simply because he or she exists and is willed, created, and loved by God,” the... Read more

Dome of St. Peter's basilica, Vatican City.

Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion

Apr 8, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

In the declaration, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith cautions against threats to human dignity that begin at... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, pictured here in 2014, took up his new post as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in September 2023.

Vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy

Apr 2, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See Press Office announced Tuesday that the new document, titled Dignitas Infinita (“Infinite Dignity”) (On Human Dignity), will... Read more

Archbishop Emeritus Héctor Aguer of La Plata, Argentina.

Argentine archbishop criticizes cardinals who back Fiducia Supplicans

Feb 5, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Archbishop Emeritus Héctor Aguer of La Plata, Argentina, criticized two cardinals who expressed support for the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans. Read more

CNA

Vatican doctrine office releases note on discerning the validity of the sacraments

Feb 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The new document signed by Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Fernández is titled “Gestis Verbisque,” or “Deeds and Words.”  Read more