Advertisement

Pope Francis

Pope Francis prays during Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 24, 2023. | Vatican Media

Full text: Pope Francis’ Homily for Christmas 2023

Dec 24, 2023

The full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, delivered on Dec. 24, 2023, in St. Peter’s Basilica.  

Fresco by Giotto of St. Francis of Assisi embracing the Child Jesus at Christmas Mass in Greccio in 1223, located in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy. | Public domain

St. Francis and the Story of the First Nativity Scene

Dec 23, 2023

It’s a well-known origin story: how the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his noble patrimony to serve Christ’s Church as a poor, itinerant preacher.

Papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. | lvivadm via Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0).

Pope Francis Sends Papal Almoner to Holy Land for Christmas as a Sign of Solidarity

Dec 22, 2023

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who serves as the papal almoner, will spend Christmas in Jerusalem, where he will join the local Christian community in praying for peace.

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 15, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis "deeply saddened" by Shooting at Prague University 

Dec 22, 2023

A 24-year-old student opened fire in the university’s philosophy department building after first killing his father outside of Prague. The gunman killed himself after the rampage.

Logo of the Jesuit Institute South Africa (JISA). Credit: JISA

South African Jesuit Institute Defends Pope Francis against Chief Rabbi’s Accusations

Dec 21, 2023

The Jesuit Institute South Africa (JISA) has come to the defence of Pope Francis after Chief Rabbi in South Africa, Warren Goldstein, accused the Holy Father of “surreptitiously colluding with the forces of evil” in his remarks that “chastised” Israel’s war on Hamas.

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, and Bishop Robert Barron. | Credit: Alan Koppschall/EWTN; ACI Africa; Courtesy of DeChant-Hughes Public Relations

More Bishops Voice Criticism, Support for Vatican Document on Blessing Same-sex Couples

Dec 21, 2023

Some bishops, including Cardinal Gerhard Müller and several bishops in Africa, have firmly denounced the Vatican’s document.

Credit: lunamarina/Shutterstock

Bishops Around the World Are Divided Over Vatican’s Same-sex Blessing Declaration  

Dec 20, 2023

Some bishops are welcoming the news, some are approaching it with caution, while others are outright refusing to implement it.

A blessing service at St. Augustin Catholic church in Würzburg, Germany, for couples, including those of the same-sex, May 10, 2021. | Credit: CNA Deutsch

TIMELINE: What Has the Catholic Church Said about Same-sex "blessings"?

Dec 20, 2023

Here’s a timeline of how the controversy over same-sex blessings has unfolded.

Pope Francis attends the general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 21, 2020. | Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Urges Humanitarian Response to Darien Migration Tragedy

Dec 20, 2023

“We need the joint effort of the most directly affected countries and the international community to prevent this tragic reality,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis celebrates his birthday on Dec. 17, 2023, with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Celebrates 87th Birthday with Children Who Receive Aid from Vatican Clinic

Dec 17, 2023

Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday morning ahead of his weekly Angelus by meeting with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary.

A member of the crowd in St. Peter's Square holds up a baby Jesus figure for a blessing by Pope Francis at his Sunday Angelus Dec. 17, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

"Only in God do we find the light of life": Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus

Dec 17, 2023

Pope Francis reflected on St. John the Baptist as a luminous figure who testifies to the light and teaches us that “only in God do we find the light of life” during his Angelus address Dec. 17 on the third Sunday of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday.

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his Angelus address on Dec. 17, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Condemns Reported Israeli Sniper Attack on Gaza Catholic Church

Dec 17, 2023

The Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem reported that two women were shot by the IDF on Dec. 16.

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Francis Turns 87: One of the Oldest Popes in Church History

Dec 17, 2023

As the 266th successor of St. Peter to the papacy, Francis will be the oldest bishop of Rome since Pope Leo XIII, the oldest pope in history.

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.

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

Pope Francis: "The Christian must be open to the word of God and to the service of others"

Dec 13, 2023

Pope Francis on Wednesday closed his catechetical series on apostolic zeal, delivered during his recent general audiences, by noting that the attitude of being open is a duty for every Christian and a precondition for authentically announcing the Gospel. 

Pope Francis | Credit: Compañía de Jesús and ACI Press / Daniel Ibañez

Pope Francis Celebrates 54 Years as a Priest

Dec 13, 2023

On Dec. 13, 1969, just four days before his 33rd birthday, Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio — who today is Pope Francis — was ordained a priest.

Bishops process into St. Peter's Basilica for the closing Mass of the first assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 29, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Synod on Synodality Next Steps: Pope to Choose "big questions" for Further Study

Dec 12, 2023

The possible ordination of women to the diaconate is among the “matters of great relevance” that synod delegates in October said require further consideration.

Oleksandr Kniaziev / Shutterstock

Pope to Vatican Employees: Lure of Corruption is Dangerous and "we must be vigilant"

Dec 12, 2023

Pope Francis received in an audience on Monday the members of the Office of the Auditor General.

Pope Francis meets with the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on Dec. 11, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Expresses Concern about Italy’s Low Birth Rate

Dec 11, 2023

Pope Francis on Monday received the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus message on Dec. 10, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope at Angelus: "Through silence and prayer, we make space for Jesus"

Dec 10, 2023

Pope Francis highlighted the importance of listening to God by embracing the example of John the Baptist.