Victoria Cardiel

As a journalist, Victoria Cardiel has specialized in social and religious news. Since 2013, she has covered the Vatican for various media outlets, including Europa Press and Alfa and Omega, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Madrid.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican Confirms It Tried to Mediate with Maduro to Avoid Military Intervention in Venezuela

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed Saturday that the Holy See attempted to mediate to avert U.S. military...

Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in St. Peter's Square after praying the Angelus on Jan. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Urges Prayers for Peace in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The pope marked the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by asking for prayers for those suffering...

The pope closed the large bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2025, when the Jubilee of Hope concluded. | Credit: Vatican Media

St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door to Be Sealed on January 16

The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the last of four papal basilicas for the Jubilee of Hope, will be...

Pope Leo XIV gives the first general audience of 2026 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Urges Making Time "to speak with God"

Pope Leo XIV urged Christians on Wednesday to set aside time in their daily lives to speak with God in...

Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 11, 2026. / Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Condemns Violence in Iran, Syria, and Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday lamented escalating violence in Iran and Syria and renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine,...

Pope Leo XIV baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 11, 2026. / Vatican Media

Baptism of the Lord: Pope Leo XIV Baptizes 20 Infants, Tells Parents Faith is "more than necessary"

Pope Leo XIV baptized 20 infants, the children of Vatican employees, during Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday for...

Pope Leo XIV arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica for a Mass with cardinals on Jan. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

"We gather not to promote personal or group agendas": Pope Leo XIV to Cardinals

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday called on cardinals to experience the extraordinary consistory as a time of spiritual discernment in...

Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes Relevance of Second Vatican Council ahead of Extraordinary Consistory

After focusing his 2025 general audiences on the mysteries of the life of Jesus, Pope Leo XIV has begun a...

Pope Leo XIV closes the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, concluding the Jubilee of Hope, on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Closes St. Peter’s Holy Door, Concluding Jubilee of Hope

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the ordinary holy year to an...

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV Says God is Found in Humble Places, Not in Prestige

Celebrating the solemnity of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV said God’s saving presence is...

Seminarians approach the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Surpassing Initial Projections: Vatican Says Over 33 Million Pilgrims Traveled to Rome for Concluding Jubilee of Hope

More than 33.4 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Hope, surpassing initial projections, the Vatican...

The news app for Vatican City State, developed with support from the family of St. Carlo Acutis. / Credit: Vatican City State/Screenshot

St. Carlo Acutis’ Parents Helped Develop New Vatican City State App

The parents of St. Carlo Acutis contributed to the development of a new official news application connected to the institutional...

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus on January 4, 2026. In his message after the prayer, the pope called for respecting Venezuela's sovereignty and constitution following the capture by U.S. forces of the country's President Nicolás Maduro. / Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Respect for Venezuelan Sovereignty after U.S. Capture of President Maduro

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela and called for the country’s national sovereignty to be...

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on January 4, 2026. / Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Says Christian Hope Does Not Depend on Human Calculations

Pope Leo XIV said Christian hope “is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations,” but on God’s decision to...

A highway sits empty in Caracas after U.S. strikes in the area and the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Credit: FEDERICO PARRA/Getty Images

Vatican Newspaper Leads with U.S. Attack on Venezuela

The Vatican’s daily newspaper opened its Saturday edition with news of U.S. airstrikes against Venezuela in the capital, Caracas, as...

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square in October 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Key Dates on the Agenda of Pope Leo XIV and Vatican for 2026

Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a busy 2026.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

The World is Saved by “tirelessly striving to understand, forgive, liberate, welcome everyone without calculation": Pope

Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through...

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 1, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Urges Prayers for Peace in Bloodied Nations and Wounded Families

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Catholics to pray for peace, “first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering,” and...

Pope Leo XIV meets with a group of pilgrims from St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, on Dec. 29, 2025, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV: To Let God Work in Your Life, You Have to Empty Yourself

Speaking to pilgrims from St. Thomas Villanova Parish in Spain, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the saint’s virtues and interior life...

Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

“Cherish the values of the Gospel”, Protect “flame of love” in Homes: Pope Leo XIV to Christian Families

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged Christian families to “cherish the values of the Gospel” and protect the “flame of...