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.

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus on Oct. 26, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo to Pray at Tomb of St. Charbel During First Apostolic Journey to Turkey, Lebanon

The trip will center on two key moments: a pilgrimage to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of...

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies on the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 26, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Leo: Don’t Let Tension Between Tradition, Novelty Become "harmful polarizations"

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the closing of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, part of the...

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrates a Mass for peace in Ukraine on Nov. 17, 2022, in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican Secretary of State, Journalists Condemn Threat to Free Press after Assaults on Journalists

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and an organization of Vatican-accredited journalists spoke out in support of a free...

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile during an Oct. 15, 2025 public audience in St. Peter's Square. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Leo XIV Explains Why Christian Hope is Better Than Optimism

Pope Leo XIV spoke about Christian hope to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly general audience on Oct....

The Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), popularly known as the Vatican Bank. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Introduces Significant Reform to Holy See’s Investments

Last week, Pope Leo XIV introduced a significant reform to the financial architecture of the Holy See.

Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Leo XIV Sends Antibiotics to Children in Gaza

Pope Leo XIV has sent 5,000 doses of antibiotics to Gaza following the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s...

Cardinal Pietro Parolin greets the parents of St. Carlo Acutis before Mass at Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 12, 2025. / Credit: Diocese of Assisi

Many "touched by his smile" When They See His Photo: Vatican Secretary of State on St. Carlo Acutis

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that Carlo Acutis spoke of Jesus with a “radiant" and "smiling" face.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on October 5, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez

Pope Decries Rise of Antisemitic Hatred, Urges Ceasefire and Hostage Release amid Gaza Talks

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned the resurgence of antisemitic hatred and appealed for renewed commitment to peace in the...

Pope Leo XIV gives a blessing to all those present at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 1, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Prayers after Protests Turn violent in Madagascar

Pope Leo XIV expressed his concern over the recent violent clashes between law enforcement and young protesters in Madagascar.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican aecretary for eelations with atates. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

At UN, Vatican Official faults nations for "turning a blind eye" to Persecution of Christians

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher decried that attacks on Christians have intensified in recent years and accused the international community of...

Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the European Parliament’s Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue on Sept. 29, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV: "European institutions need people who know how to live a healthy secularism"

Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 29 received the European Parliament’s Working Group on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV hands a crucifix to a newly instituted catechist during Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Entrusts Ministry of Catechist to 39 at Jubilee Celebration

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday entrusted the ministry of catechist to 39 men and women in St. Peter’s Square, giving...

Pope Leo XIV greets an audience at the Jubilee of Catechists at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Chooses Theme for 34th World Day of the Sick: "The compassion of the Samaritan"

The theme focuses on the Gospel figure of the Good Samaritan, “who shows love by taking care of the wounded...

Nigerian security officers during a military operation ahead of the gubernatorial elections in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria, on Sept. 17, 2020. / Credit: Oluwafemi Dawodu/Shutterstock

Christian Persecution in Nigeria: 1,200 Churches Destroyed Annually, Hundreds Killed

Violence against Catholic priests and members of other Christian groups in Nigeria continues to increase, especially in the eastern part...

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican during his weekly general audience on Sept. 24, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Reaffirms 2-state Solution for Holy Land, Warns of Escalating War in Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday renewed the Holy See’s support for a two-state solution in the Holy Land and voiced...

Archbishop Gallagher speaks at the United Nations in New York on Sept. 23, 2025. / Credit: Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

Vatican Rejects "false solutions such as abortion" While Defending Women’s Equality at UN

Archbishop Paul Gallagher reaffirmed before the United Nations the Holy See’s commitment to promoting the dignity and equality of women.

Pope Leo XIV meets with representatives of several women’s religious orders in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sept. 22, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV to Religious: "God found not one, but many strong and courageous women"

Pope Leo XIV met Sept. 22 with Discalced Carmelite nuns from the Holy Land along with participants in the general...

In Pope Leo XIV’s first sit-down interview, published in Spanish on Sept. 18, 2025, the pope warned of the loss of humanity in the digital world of artificial intelligence (AI). / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV: "It’s going to be very difficult to discover the presence of God in AI"

Pope Leo XIV pointed to the loss of humanity in the digital realm and warned that “extremely wealthy” people are...

Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 16, 2025, expelled from the clerical state an Italian deacon who was convicted of sexual offenses against minors. / Credit: Freedom Studio/Shutterstock

Pope Leo XIV Expels Deacon from the Clerical State for Abuse of Minors

Italian permanent deacon Alessandro Frateschi, who was convicted of sexual offenses against minors, has been expelled from the clerical state...

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 17, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV Decries "unacceptable conditions" in Gaza, Urges Release of Hostages

Pope Leo XIV said he was closely following the impact of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City, where about 600,000...