Vatican

The Latest

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin meets with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv on Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Vatican secretary of state brings Pope Francis’ message of closeness to Ukraine

Jul 22, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will meet with religious and civil authorities, including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Read more

Some 6,000 grandparents and other older people attended the papal Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

World Day of Grandparents: Vatican grants plenary indulgence for visiting the elderly

Jul 18, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Those who are grandparents or elderly themselves can also receive a plenary indulgence. Read more

The kids and Pope Francis released biodegradable balloons into the sky together on July 18, 2024. The Vatican said the message, “You, dear boy, dear girl, are precious in God’s eyes,” was stamped on the balloons “with the hope that the message will reach as many people as possible.”

PHOTOS: Pope Francis hangs out with Vatican summer camp kids

Jul 18, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The day camp for children of Vatican employees is in its fourth year. It is taking place June 17-July 26... Read more

Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, speaks at a May 2, 2023, press conference.

Pope Francis adds two vice directors to Vatican communication dicastery

Jul 18, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Dicastery for Communication has been led since 2018 by Paolo Ruffini, the first layman to be named prefect of... 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

Statue of St. Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

First women hired for St. Peter’s Basilica’s ‘Sanpietrini’ maintenance crew

Jul 15, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

While women have worked for the Fabbrica di San Pietro before, it is the first time women are officially part... Read more

Delegates to the Synod on Synodality meet in the final days of the synod, Oct. 25, 2023.

Synod organizer says Vatican doctrine office is studying women deacons

Jul 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Mario Grech said the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is studying “the women’s diaconate” within the context... Read more

Pope Francis among the delegates of the Synod on Synodality, held in October of 2023.

These are the members of the Synod on Synodality study groups

Jul 9, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Instrumentum Laboris, the guiding document for the October 2024 assembly, makes reference to these study groups throughout. Read more

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica, the seat of the Archbishop of Agana, Guam.

Pope Francis names young bishop to lead Agaña Archdiocese in Guam after difficult years

Jul 8, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The July 6 move may mark the beginning of a more stable period for the Church on the U.S. island... Read more

Archbishop Carlo Viganò.

Vatican excommunicates Viganò for schism

Jul 5, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican has officially excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Friday. Read more

Pope Francis announced he will celebrate a Mass of canonization for 14 people, including the 11 “Martyrs of Damascus,” on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, the Vatican announced after the College of Cardinals voted to approve the canonizations of 15 people in a consistory on the morning of July 1, 2024.

Pope Francis to canonize ‘Martyrs of Damascus,’ three others on Oct. 20

Jul 1, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope declared the date of the canonization after the College of Cardinals voted to approve the canonizations of 15... Read more

A 1775 painting of the fireworks over Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, painted by Jakob Philipp Hackert.

Vatican fireworks: A 500-year-old tradition for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Jun 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Each year on June 29, fireworks are launched from atop Castel Sant’Angelo in celebration of the co-patron saints of Rome,... Read more

Pope Francis delivers a message to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus on June 23, 2024, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis: Jesus in the Eucharist strengthens us in times of trial

Jun 23, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Speaking from an Apostolic Palace window on June 23, Pope Francis asked the crowd in St. Peter’s Square to reflect... Read more

An attendee holds a photo of Chiara Corbella Petrillo at the closing of the diocesan phase of the investigation into her life and virtues in Rome on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Diocese of Rome closes first step toward sainthood for young wife and mother

Jun 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Chiara Corbella Petrillo shows us that “holiness is possible and it is the only path that makes us happy,” Bishop... Read more

Statue of St. Peter in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican publishes papal primacy document aimed at ‘a reunited Church’

Jun 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The study document is the first Vatican text since Vatican II to outline the entire ecumenical debate on papal primacy. Read more

The 38th (Irish) Brigade marches at the Vatican in June 1944.

Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops

Jun 12, 2024

By Courtney Mares

On June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade... Read more

Pope Francis waves to the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear his Angelus address on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Vatican to publish new document on papal primacy

Jun 11, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The document, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogue and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum... Read more

Massimo Bianchi and Cristiane Murray address attendees at a June 11, 2024, Vatican press conference regarding the upcoming Vatican Observatory conference to take place June 17–24, 2024.

From the Big Bang to black holes: Vatican, scientists to explore questions of the universe

Jun 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

Dozens of astrophysicists and cosmologists will explore the Big Bang and other topics of the universe next week at a... Read more

Bernini's famous baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican arrests ex-employee for attempted extortion using allegedly stolen Bernini manuscript

Jun 6, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The art historian and former Vatican employee was reportedly questioned and arrested by Vatican gendarmes on May 27. 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