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Rose petals fall in St. Mary Major Basilica Aug. 5, 2017 to commemorate the "miracle of the snow." / Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis to Attend "Miracle of the Snow" Commemoration in Rome

Jul 12, 2024

Each year white rose petals fall from the ceiling of the papal Marian basilica in commemoration of a miraculous snowfall in Rome on Aug. 5 in 358 A.D.

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

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

Jun 29, 2024

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

Pope Francis gazes over the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri during a visit to Rome’s historic Capitoline Hill on June 10, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Reflects on Roman Empire in Visit to Ancient Capitoline Hill

Jun 10, 2024

The pope made the trip to the Capitoline Hill to speak to local government officials on June 10 in the Senatorial Palace, home to Rome’s city hall.

Building of the general curia of the Jesuit order on Borgo Santo Spirito, Rome. / Credit: Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Theologians Hold Closed-door Meeting in Rome on Guidance Document for October Synod

Jun 5, 2024

The June 4–13 closed-door gathering of experts in theology, ecclesiology, and canon law is being held at the Jesuit general curia down the street from the Vatican.

Pope Francis delivers the Sunday Angelus from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square, Jan. 28, 2024. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Cancels Monday Audiences Due to Persisting "mild flu" Symptoms

Feb 26, 2024

The Monday morning telegram sent out by the Vatican noted that while the pope’s “mild flu symptoms persist,” he did not have a fever.

Cardinal Protase Rugambwa at Santa Maria in Montesanto, Feb. 18 | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Tanzanian Cardinal Takes Possession of Rome’s "Church of the Artists", His Titular See

Feb 19, 2024

The Local Ordinary of Tanzania’s Tabora Archdiocese, Protase Cardinal Rugambwa, has taken possession of his titular see, Santa Maria in Montesanto. The church, also known as the “Church of the Artists”, is one of the twin churches that sits in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, alongside the adjacent Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

An archaeological guide provided historical information and answered questions during a visit to the catacombs by delegates of the Synod on Synodality. Early Christians gathered within the catacombs for funeral rites and to honor the martyrs. Rome, Italy. Oct. 12, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Rome to Host 7th Day of the Catacombs, Opportunity to Reflect on Early Christians

Feb 19, 2024

Rome's catacombs will be open to the public for free guided tours and moments of prayer and reflection on Saturday, March 2.

Pope Francis delivers a message at his general audience on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Issues New Regulations Setting Spending Limits for Vatican Offices

Jan 17, 2024

Pope Francis amended the Vatican’s financial regulations on Tuesday, enshrining a spending limit into law.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein celebrates a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31, 2023, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: Vatican Media

Conference on Anniversary of Benedict’s Death Focuses on Legacy Defined by Love of Christ

Jan 2, 2024

Friends, scholars and former colleagues of Pope Benedict XVI gathered in the Campo Santo Teutonico in Vatican City, from Dec. 30–31.

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience Dec. 13, 2023, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Says That He Wants to Be Buried in Marian Basilica in New Interview

Dec 13, 2023

Pope Francis has said that he wants to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome because of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández was appointed by Pope Francis on July 1, 2023, to become the next prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. | Credit: Courtesy of Archdiocese of La Plata

Vatican: Small Part of Cremated Ashes Can Be Kept in Personal Place in Certain Cases

Dec 12, 2023

The guidance came from a letter written by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who serves as the prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

PHOTOS: Pope Francis Honors Virgin Mary on Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a nearly 40-foot-high column.

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Dec. 6, 2023, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis at General Audience: "The Spirit is the protagonist" of Evangelization

Dec 6, 2023

Pope Francis’ multi-week catechetical series on the essential components of the proclamation of the Gospel culminated with a fourth and final component: the Holy Spirit as the protagonist of evangelization. 

Pope Francis meets with professional soccer players from the Celtic Football Club, a team founded by an Irish Catholic religious brother, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Meets with Professional Soccer Team Founded by a Catholic Religious

Nov 29, 2023

Pope Francis met Wednesday with professional soccer players from the Celtic Football Club, a team founded by an Irish Catholic religious brother.

Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24, 2022. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Here are Pope Francis’ Liturgies for Christmas 2023 at the Vatican

Nov 28, 2023

As the season of Advent draws near, the Vatican has published the schedule of Pope Francis’ liturgies for Christmas through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: "Trust frees, fear paralyzes"

Nov 19, 2023

Pope Francis during his weekly Angelus highlighted the two different ways of approaching God, one based on fear and the other on trust.

Pope Francis meets with priests of Rome’s 17th prefecture in the Parish of Santa Maria Madre dell'Ospitalità in Villa Verde in Rome on Nov. 16, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Meets with Priests, Families to Confront Poverty, Social Marginalization

Nov 17, 2023

Pope Francis met with priests of Rome’s 17th prefecture in the Parish of Santa Maria Madre dell’Ospitalità in Villa Verde on Thursday evening. 

Pope Francis waves to the crowds at his general audience on Nov. 8, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Pope Francis: Secularized World is "invitation to communicate the joy of the Gospel"

Nov 8, 2023

Pope Francis on Wednesday drew upon the example of Venerable Servant of God Madeleine Delbrêl as a testament to conversion and service.

Pope Francis speaks with the Conference of European Rabbis at the Vatican on Nov. 6, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Keeps Busy Schedule Despite Feeling "not well"

Nov 6, 2023

Pope Francis is continuing to keep a full schedule even as the Holy Father said he was not feeling well during a meeting Monday morning.

Pope Francis delivers the Sunday Angelus, Nov. 5, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Sunday Angelus: Pope Francis Warns against "duplicity of heart"

Nov 5, 2023

During the Sunday Angelus on Nov. 5, Pope Francis warned against living a double life, highlighting the dangers it presents for authentic Christian witness.