Vatican News & Updates

World 23 hours ago

Driver apprehended after speeding through Vatican gate, reaching San Damaso Courtyard

A car driven by a suspect believed to be mentally ill drove through one of the Vatican's entrance gates Wednesday night, and was shot at by gendarmes before the driver was apprehended.

World 23 hours ago

Vatican formally recognizes 21 Coptic Orthodox workers who were beheaded by Islamic militants as martyrs

Pope Francis announced that the 21 Coptic Orthodox workers that were beheaded will have their own feast day after they were recognized as martyrs.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis greets Russian Orthodox leader amid secret Vatican 'mission' to end war in Ukraine

Pope Francis met with Chairman for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Anthony of Volokolamsk at the Vatican on Wednesday, speaking to one another at the pontiff's general audience.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis gives women the right to vote at meeting of bishops

At an upcoming meeting of bishops, Pope Francis has given women the right to vote. Five religious sisters will join five priests as voting representatives for religious orders.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis eyes 2024 visit to native Argentina

Pope Francis has stated his intent to travel to his home country of Argentina next year, which would mark his first homecoming since ascending to the papacy in 2013.

World 23 hours ago

Vatican revives artisan academy in St. Peter's Basilica

The Vatican on Wednesday inaugurated an arts academy inside St. Peter's Basilica, reviving an age-old apprenticeship program that aided in the maintenance of Catholic art and artifacts.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis renews call to pray for peace on Easter Monday during celebration at St. Peter's Square

During a prayer at St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis renewed his call to pray for peace on Easter Monday. Pope Francis also praised nations which welcome refugees.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis to miss Good Friday Way of the Cross procession due to low temperatures

Pope Francis will not preside over the Way of the Cross event on Good Friday due to freezing weather in Rome. Francis will watch from his home in the Vatican.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis leads first of 2 major Holy Thursday ceremonies days after battling bronchitis

Pope Francis has returned from his battle with bronchitis. The pope led the first of two Holy Thursday ceremonies at a Mass in St Peter's Basilica.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis departs hospital, delivers 2-word joke to reporters ahead of Holy Week

Pope Francis was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy on Saturday morning, following a three-day stint of treatment for a respiratory infection.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis expected to be discharged from hospital in Rome after recovering from bronchitis

The pope is being discharged from the hospital after being treated for bronchitis. Pope Francis will even be in St. Peter's Square for Palm Sunday Mass.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis 'progressively improving,' working from hospital amid treatment for respiratory infection

Pope Francis has seen an improvement in his health while being treated for a respiratory infection since Wednesday following an ambulance ride to the hospital.

U.S. 23 hours ago

Pope Francis 'deeply saddened' by Nashville school shooting

The Catholic Diocese of Nashville received a message Wednesday on behalf of Pope Francis expressing mourning and prayer following the mass shooting that devastated the city.

World 23 hours ago

Vatican searching for heirs to Pope Benedict XVI's estate

The Vatican's Archbishop Georg Gänswein told Italian news outlets on Sunday that he is currently contacting multiple relatives with claims to the estate.

World 23 hours ago

German authorities investigated late Pope Benedict XVI on suspicion of being accessory to abuse

German authorities investigated a number of religious officials on suspicion of being an accessory to abuse. Amongst those investigated was late Pope Benedict XVI

World 23 hours ago

US, German cardinals demand trial, removal from office for German bishops approving gay marriage blessings

Cardinal Raymond Burke of the U.S. and Cardinal Gerhard Müller of Germany are demanding punishment for German bishops who refuse to recant their approval of blessings for same-sex marriages.

World 23 hours ago

Francis marks 10 years as pope after comments on priestly celibacy, gender ideology make waves

The Catholic Church is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis's pontificate with a smattering of messages from the Holy See.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis: 'Gender ideology' is one of 'most dangerous ideological colonizations'

Pope Francis spoke out against modern gender ideologies in an interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nación, calling it a 'dangerous' form of 'ideological colonization.'

World 23 hours ago

Climate activists face Vatican trial over damage to famous statue

A group of climate activists who recorded themselves supergluing their hands to the base of an ancient Roman statue are now standing trial in Vatican City court.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis warns church cannot become ‘progressive’ or ‘conservative’ ‘political party’

Pope Francis spoke to a general audience on Ash Wednesday at the Vatican, warning that the Catholic Church must never be thought of as a "political party."

World 23 hours ago

Pope Francis says homosexuality is 'not a crime' but remains a 'sin' among Catholic doctrine

Pope Francis said Catholic Church bishops need to do more to support those in the LGBTQ community, especially in those countries where they are persecuted.

World 23 hours ago

Vatican restricts French priest following allegations claiming he sexually abused his therapy patients

The Vatican restricted a French priest who allegedly sexually abused his therapy patients. However, they did not defrock or sanction him in any other way.

World 23 hours ago

Vatican reopens decades-old cold case of missing girl Emanuela Orlandi

The Vatican is re-opening the missing persons case of a 15-year-old girl who vanished nearly 40 years ago

World 23 hours ago

Vatican reopens investigation into 1983 disappearance of 15-year-old daughter of Vatican employee

The Vatican has reopened the investigation into the 1983 disappearance of a teenager. A new Netflix documentary helped shed light on the case.

World 23 hours ago

Tension in the Vatican revealed by top aide following death of Benedict XVI

Hours after the funeral for Pope Benedict XVI, an Italian publisher released copies of a tell-all book that revealed years of tension in the Vatican.

Politics 23 hours ago

Biden honors late Pope Benedict XVI at Holy See's embassy in DC

President Biden visited Thursday the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States and signed the condolence book after the passing of Pope Benedict XVI last week.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Benedict XVI laid to rest under St. Peter's Basilica in private ceremony

The late Pope Benedict XVI was laid to rest in the crypt under St. Peter's Basilica in a private ceremony after days of public mourning and prayer.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI funeral mass held in Saint Peter's Square, presided over by Pope Francis

Pope Francis will preside over the funeral mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Thursday. The Vatican announced Pope Benedict's death on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2023.

World 23 hours ago

Pope Benedict XVI's funeral: Pope Francis remembers the dead pontiff's life, legacy and courage

Pope Francis presided over former Pope Benedict XVI's funeral mass in St. Peter's Square Thursday, remembering his life, legacy, and courage for resigning from the papacy.

Media 23 hours ago

Biden has awkward exchange with reporter about not attending Pope Benedict's funeral

President Biden was asked about why he won't be in attendance at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral during an awkward exchange with a reporter on Wednesday.

World 23 hours ago

Ahead of funeral, Pope Francis praises Benedict for his 'gentle thought’

Pope Francis praised the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for his "gentle thought" on Wednesday while speaking at the Vatican during his weekly general audience.