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 celebrates Mass on Epiphany in St. Peter's Basilica Jan. 6, 2020. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis: When We Do Not Worship God, We Worship Ourselves

On the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Francis said worship of Christ reveals the true meaning of...

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address Jan. 1, 2020. Credit: Pablo Esparza/CNA.

Pope Francis Apologizes for Losing Patience with Woman Who Grabbed Him

Pope Francis apologized Wednesday for losing his patience with a woman who grabbed his arm in St. Peter’s Square on...

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Jan. 1, 2020. Credit: Pablo Esparza/CNA.

Pope Francis: Honor the Dignity of Women for a Better World in 2020

Pope Francis began the new year with a call for the dignity of women to be honored -- not exploited...

Pope Francis greets families of Vatican City employees Dec. 21, 2017. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis asks families to put down their phones on Holy Family feast

On the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth Sunday, Pope Francis encouraged families to get off their cell phones...

Pope Francis gives the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the center loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 25, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis on Christmas: Christ's light is greater than the darkness of world's conflicts

On Christmas, Pope Francis prayed for Christ to bring light to the instability in Iraq, Lebanon, Venezuela, Yemen, Ukraine, Burkina...

Pope Francis and UN Secretary General António Guterres in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Dec. 20, 2019. Credit: credit: EWTN-CNA/Evandro Inetti/Vatican Pool

Pope Francis and UN Secretary General record video urging religious freedom, climate protection

Pope Francis and the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres recorded a video message together at the Vatican Friday in...

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculation Conception in Ouagadougou. Credit: Rita Willaert via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

There Were Over 800 Extremist Attacks in West Africa in 2019

Extremist attacks have risen dramatically in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, from 180 incidents in 2017 to more than 800...

Pope Francis celebrates Gaudete Sunday Mass with Rome's Filipino community Dec. 15, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis Celebrates a Filipino Christmas Tradition at the Vatican

On Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated a Filipino Christmas tradition in St. Peter’s Basilica -- the Simbang Gabi Christmas novena.

Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on December 9, 2016. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis: Advent is a Time of Conversion

As Pope Francis blessed children's nativity scene figurines Sunday, the pope said that the Advent season is a time of...

A young Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Credit: Society of Jesus

Pope Francis Celebrates 50th Ordination Anniversary by Honoring his Mentor

Fifty years ago on Dec. 13, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained a Jesuit priest in Argentina. As pope, he will...

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 16, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis: The World Needs Peacemakers Open to Dialogue, Forgiveness

Pope Francis’ message for the 2020 World Day of Peace released Thursday calls for openness to dialogue, commitment to forgiveness,...

Pope Francis greets religious sisters at a general audience Oct. 30, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis: 'Holiness is the true light of the Church'

Pope Francis said Thursday that the often hidden holiness lived out in everyday life is a true light within the...

Pope Francis Prays for Chile After Plane Disappears Near Antarctica

Pope Francis is closely following the news of the Chilean military plane bound for Antarctica that went missing with 38...

The 2019 Vatican nativity scene and Christmas tree. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: Don't Forget the Real Meaning of Christmas

Ahead of the Vatican Christmas tree lighting Dec. 5, Pope Francis expressed hope that the nativity scene in St. Peter’s...

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square Nov. 13, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis Tells Jesuits He is Shocked by Anti-immigration Narratives in Europe

Pope Francis decried the mistreatment of migrants and said that he is shocked by anti-immigration narratives within Europe during a...

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 1, 2019. Credit: Vatican Media.

Advent advice from Pope Francis: Choose prayer and charity over consumerism

This Advent, choose prayer and charity over consumerism, Pope Francis said Sunday in his first Mass of the liturgical year.

Pope Francis advises Roman Rota formation course Nov. 30, 2019. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis: The Church Seeks Truth and Healing for Wounded Marriages

Pope Francis said Saturday that the Church suffers with couples who are in a “wounded marriage,” and seeks their healing...

Pope Francis at the Caritas Citadel of Charity in Rome. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Visits a Local Charity in Rome with a Message of Solidarity

In a visit to Rome’s Caritas center Friday, Pope Francis emphasized the shared experience of vulnerability among Christ and the...

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria, who as prefect of the CDF, leads the International Theological Commission. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: Synodality is what the Lord expects of the Church

Pope Francis told the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s theological commission Friday that synodality will be key for...

Mass for the World Day of the Poor in St. Peter's Basilica. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis: The Poor, Unborn, and Elderly are Neglected in the Frenzy of Modern Life

On the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis said that the poor and most vulnerable can be left behind...