Advertisement

Pope Francis

Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Corsica on Dec. 15, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN/Vatican Pool

Corsica: Pope Francis Draws President Macron’s Attention to St. Thomas More’s prayer: “Lord, give me a sense of humor”

Dec 16, 2024

The 40-minute private meeting took place in a room at Ajaccio’s Napoleon Bonaparte Airport, where the two leaders addressed several pressing international issues.

Pope Francis presides over Holy Mass on Gaudete Sunday on the island of Corsica, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Praises Faith of Catholics in Corsica, Island in the Mediterranean Sea

Dec 15, 2024

During the Dec. 15 trip, the pontiff encouraged the island’s Catholic majority to continue to foster its traditional piety as secular culture grows in Europe — and to use their devotion as fuel to serve others in charity.

Pope Francis greets artists and participants of the 2024 Vatican Christmas Concert in the Clementine Hall on Dec. 14, 2024. / Vatican Media

Pope Francis Calls on Vatican Christmas Concert Artists to Promote Peace, Reconciliation

Dec 14, 2024

The pope emphasized the unique power of music to foster unity and communion, drawing parallels to the first Christmas.

Statue of St. Lucy at the New Chapel of St. Lucy in Pampanga province, Philippines. / Credit: Judgefloro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

St. Lucy is an Example of Female Leadership in the Church: Pope Francis

Dec 13, 2024

Pope Francis said that “we need women’s work and their word in a Church that reaches out that it may be leaven and light in the culture and in our lives together.”

Pope Francis blessing a baby during a general audience. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican Opens First Day Care for Employees’ Children

Dec 13, 2024

The Vatican’s first day care center is slated to begin operating next spring and will serve up to 30 children between ages 3 months to 3 years.

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall for his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Releases World Day of Peace Message, Renews Call to End Death Penalty

Dec 12, 2024

Pope Francis on Thursday released his message for the 58th World Day of Peace, commemorated annually on Jan. 1, with three concrete proposals.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 12, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Throughout Your Life, Listen to Our Lady of Guadalupe: Pope Francis

Dec 12, 2024

Pope Francis emphasized the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego during the Mass celebrated Dec. 12 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Bishop Juan Matogo Oyan. Credit: Ahoraeglive

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Local Ordinary of Bata Diocese in Equatorial Guinea

Dec 10, 2024

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Juan Matogo Oyan from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Bata in Equatorial Guinea.

Cardinal Mykola Bychok is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic prelate. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

World’s Youngest Cardinal is Just 44 Years Old

Dec 10, 2024

Among the new crop of cardinals created by Pope Francis on Dec. 7, Cardinal Mykola Bychok stands out. At 44, he is the youngest cardinal in the world. 

The Holy House of Our Lady in the Shrine of Loreto. / Credit: Tatiana Dyuvbanova/Shutterstock

How Could the Holy House of Mary in Nazareth Have Ended up in Loreto, Italy?

Dec 10, 2024

Catholic pilgrims have flocked to the Holy House of Loreto since the 14th century to stand inside the walls where tradition holds the Virgin Mary was born.

Pope Francis greets participants in the International Congress on the future of Theology promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Dec. 9, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Theology Can Be a "guide on the journey" Through a Midlife Crisis: Pope Francis

Dec 9, 2024

Pope Francis met with academic staff participating in the International Congress on the Future of Theology “Heritage and Imagination” conference Dec. 9–10.

Cardinals follow the ceremony during the ordinary public consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

What Pope Francis’ New Cardinals Reveal about Future Conclave: Analysis

Dec 9, 2024

While he has appointed 78% of electors, factors including limited gatherings and logistical challenges suggest the next conclave’s outcome remains unpredictable.

Pope Francis delivers the homily during Mass on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

At Holy Mass with New Cardinals, Pope Francis Links Mary’s Humility to Modern Church

Dec 8, 2024

Pope Francis celebrated the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with the news cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, calling Christians to imitate Mary.

Pope Francis prays the Angelus on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

World Leaders Must Broker Christmas Peace, Pope Francis Urges Ceasefire "on all war fronts by Christmas Celebrations"

Dec 8, 2024

The pope also encouraged everyone to “open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus, born of Mary Immaculate” as the Church prepares for Jubilee 2025.

Pope Francis gazes up at the bronze statue of Mary atop the 39.4-foot column at Rome's Spanish Steps, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Marks Immaculate Conception Solemnity in Rome with Prayer, Surprise art Visit: PHOTOS

Dec 8, 2024

Pope Francis marked the Immaculate Conception by visiting to two of Rome's most important Marian sites, followed by an unexpected stop.

Pope Francis places the red biretta on Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, archbishop of Naples, during the consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Creates 21 New Cardinals from 19 Countries, Urges Them to Resist the “seduction of power”

Dec 7, 2024

The pope highlighted that the term “cardinal” symbolizes a “hinge,” emphasizing their vital role as in holding the Church together.

Pope Francis arrives for a consistory at St. Peter's Basilica with visible bruising on his face, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained that the Pope suffered a contusion after hitting his chin on a bedside table the previous morning. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris Historic, Shows "sadness and mourning give way to joy": Pope Francis

Dec 7, 2024

“Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration, and praise,” the Holy Father wrote in his message to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris.

Left to right: Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, Archbishop Fernando Chomali, Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, and Bishop Mykola Bychok, CSsR, will be made cardinals in a consistory on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: EWTN News; Marco Mancini/ACI Stampa

New Cardinals Emphasize Church Unity, Evangelization ahead of November 7 Consistory

Dec 6, 2024

“I am with my heart, and I would say with my whole body, for a synodal vision,” Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Abidjan said.

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 4, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Beauty Urges Us to Take Christ out into the Streets and Bring Him to People

Dec 5, 2024

In a message to participants in this year’s conference on popular piety in Seville, Spain, from Dec. 4-8, the pope emphasized the significance of “beauty.”

Pope Francis blesses a toddler during his general audience on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in St. Peter’s Square. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Preaching Must Rely on Holy Spirit, Keep Homilies Under 10 Minutes

Dec 4, 2024

“Preachers must preach an idea, a feeling, and a call to action. Beyond eight minutes the preaching starts to fade, it is not understood,” Pope Francis said.