Courtney Mares

Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees.

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Nov. 10, 2021. Vatican Media.

This is the Prayer to the Holy Spirit Pope Francis Wants Every Catholic to Know

The pope urged Catholics to keep a copy of the prayer with them.

French Catholic Bishops Announce "vast program of renewal" after Abuse Report

The bishops knelt in an act of penance in Lourdes.

Pope Francis inaugurates the new art gallery at the Vatican Apostolic Library, Nov. 5, 2021. Vatican Media.

"The Church must bear witness to importance of beauty": Pope Francis at Vatican Library

The pope inaugurated a new art gallery at the Vatican Library.

Pope Francis meets with a group of French bishops on their ad limina visit to Rome, Oct. 1, 2021. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Urges French Catholic Bishops to Console Victims in Wake of Abuse Report

The bishops are currently meeting in Lourdes.

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Nov. 3, 2021. Vatican Media.

In November, Pope Francis Asks Catholics to Pray for People Suffering Depression

The condition affects an estimated 280 million people worldwide.

Journalists Protest as Vatican Cancels Live Coverage of Joe Biden Greeting Pope Francis

The Vatican offered no explanation for the decision.

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Oct. 24, 2021. Vatican Media

Pope Francis Appeals That Migrants Not Be Sent Back to Unsafe Countries

Pope Francis called on the international community to stop deporting migrants to unsafe countries.

Pope Francis meets with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in Rome on Oct. 22, 2021. Vatican Media

Pope Francis Asks Religious Sisters to Pray for Him: "It is not easy to be the Pope"

The pope also shared a story from the life of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Pope Francis meets with the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation at the Vatican on Oct. 23, 2021. Vatican Media

"Our response to injustice, exploitation must be more than mere condemnation": Pope

Denunciation is not enough when it comes to issues of injustice, the pope said this weekend.

Pope Francis greets members of the Biomedical University Foundation of the Biomedical Campus University, at the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, Oct. 18, 2021. Vatican Media.

Catholic Healthcare is Called to Bear Witness to Human Dignity: Pope Francis

He was speaking on the feast of the patron saint of doctors.

Children in South Sudan participating in the rosary campaign. ACN

"One million children praying rosary": Kids Join Rosary Initiative Inspired by Padre Pio

Children from 44 countries have already registered to take part in the rosary campaign.

Sister Monica Chikwe, vice president, Slaves No More. U.S. Embassy to the Holy See

Meet the Catholic Nuns Leading the Fight against Human Trafficking

When a 26-year-old Nigerian girl was first forced out on the streets of Italy by her traffickers, she was told:...

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 13, 2021. Vatican Media.

The Gospel Opens Every Culture to Greater Freedom in Christ: Pope Francis

He was speaking at his weekly general audience.

A stained-glass window by Lucien Bégule depicting St. Irenaeus at the Church of St, Irenaeus in Lyon, France. Gérald Gambier via Wikimedia (Public Domain).

Pope Francis to Declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church with Title "Doctor of Unity"

St. Irenaeus is revered by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Pope Francis attends the concluding ceremony of the Prayer for Peace Meeting organized by the Sant’Egidio Community at Rome’s Colosseum, Oct. 7, 2021. Vatican Media.

All Religious Traditions Must Resist "temptation to fundamentalism": Pope Francis

He was speaking at an interreligious gathering in front of the Colosseum.

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 6, 2021. Vatican Media.

“Truest freedom flows from Cross of Christ”: Pope Francis at Wednesday General Audience

The pope was speaking at his weekly general audience.

Pope Francis prays with French bishops before his general audience, Oct. 6, 2021, in the wake of a devastating abuse report. Vatican Media.

"This is a moment of shame": Pope Francis Expresses Sorrow at French Abuse Report

The report estimated that 216,000 children were abused by priests and religious over 70 years.

Pope Francis with participants in the meeting “Religions and Education: Towards a Global Compact on Education” at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2021./ Vatican Media.

On World Teachers’ Day, Pope Francis Discusses Education with Faith Leaders at Vatican

Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain representatives gathered at the Vatican.

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Oct. 3, 2021. Vatican Media/CNA

Greatness Not Found in Self-sufficiency But in “placing all our hope in the Father”: Pope

Pope Francis said that recognizing one’s own frailty allows for the possibility to discover that true strength comes from placing...

Pope Francis meets with Foi et Lumière members on Oct. 2, 2021. Vatican Media/CNA

Pope Francis thanks Christian Disability Group for Witnessing to "the heart of the Gospel"

Pope Francis met with people with mental disabilities and their families on Saturday and thanked them for their witness to...