Courtney Mares

Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees.

Pope Francis spent time in silent prayer in front of a nativity scene handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala on Dec. 3, 2022. | Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Guatemala to the Holy See

Pope Francis Blesses Nativity Scene Made by Craftsmen in Guatemala

Pope Francis blessed a nativity scene on Saturday that was handmade by artisan craftsmen in Guatemala.

Pope Francis celebrates the International Day of Disabled Persons at the Vatican on Dec. 3, 2022. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis: The Church has a Duty to Welcome People with Disabilities

Pope Francis celebrated the International Day of Disabled Persons on Saturday at the Vatican with a group of children with...

Pope Francis with members of the group Leaders Pour la Paix at the Vatican, Dec. 2, 2022 | Vatican Media

Pope Francis: The Effects of the War in Ukraine are Being Felt all Over the World

Pope Francis said Friday that the war between Russia and Ukraine is an example of the “globalization of problems” with...

Pope Francis speaking at the general audience on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, 30 November 2022 | Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

Daily Examination of Conscience Helps Avoid Repeating Mistakes: Pope at General Audience

Pope Francis has recommended a daily examination of conscience as an “indispensable” practice in spiritual life.

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021. | Vatican Media.

Restoration of Christian Unity "an urgent priority in today’s world": Pope Francis

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the full restoration of communion among all Christians is “an urgent priority in today’s world.”

Pope Francis gave a special message to Chinese Catholics at the end of his Mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 3, 2023. | Vatican Media

Vatican Says China Violated Terms of Agreement with Bishop Installation

The Vatican said on Saturday that Chinese authorities had violated the terms stipulated in its provisional agreement on the appointment...

Pope Francis prays on St. Peter's Square, Oct. 5, 2022 | Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

Pope Francis Prays for Homeless Man Who Died in St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis is praying for a homeless man who was found dead near the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square on...

Hong Kong Court Convicts Cardinal Zen and Five Other Democracy Advocates

Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others were found guilty on Friday of failing to register a fund that helped pay...

Pope Francis holds a flag that he received from Bucha, Ukraine at his general audience on April 6, 2022. | Vatican Media

"Your pain is my pain": Pope Francis Pens Letter Marking 9 Months of War in Ukraine

In an emotional letter addressed to the people of Ukraine, Pope Francis wrote that he sees the cross of Christ...

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, pictured on Feb. 18, 2021. | Yung Chi Wai Derek/Shutterstock.

Verdict in Cardinal Zen’s Trial Expected on Friday

Days after Cardinal Joseph Zen’s defense lawyer made his closing arguments in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, one of the...

Pope Francis has lunch with his second cousin Carla Rabezzana at her home in Portacomaro, Italy on Nov. 19, 2022. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Travels to Northern Italy to Share a Special Meal with his Cousins

Pope Francis traveled to northern Italy on Saturday to celebrate the 90th birthday of his second cousin Carla Rabezzana with...

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for peace in Ukraine on Thursday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Nov. 17, 2022 | Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

"We raise our prayers to God for peace in Ukraine": Vatican Secretary of State

Cardinal Pietro Parolin offered Mass for peace in Ukraine on Thursday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Press conference held by the Italian bishops' conference on Nov. 17, 2022, to present a national report on the protection of minors within Italy’s 226 Catholic dioceses. | YouTube Screenshot

Italian Bishops Release Report Evaluating Diocesan Efforts to Prevent Abuse

Catholic bishops in Italy released a national report on Thursday evaluating the recent implementation of diocesan services to aid victims...

Pope Francis at the general audience, Nov. 16, 2022 | Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

Pope Francis’ Prayer Advice: Just be with Jesus "without ulterior motives"

Pope Francis offered advice on Wednesday for building “a more mature and more beautiful relationship with the Lord” through prayer.

Pope Francis greets the crowd in Bahrain's national soccer stadium before offering Mass on Nov. 6, 2022. | Vatican Media

Catholics Travel from Saudi Arabia to Attend Pope Francis’ Stadium Mass in Bahrain

About 30,000 people crowded into a soccer stadium on Saturday morning to attend the first public papal Mass in the...

Pope Francis attending the closing of the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Nov. 4, 2022. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Urges Muslim-Catholic Collaboration for Peace during Visit to Bahrain

Pope Francis met with Muslim leaders in the Gulf-kingdom of Bahrain on Friday with a message that Catholics and Muslims...

Pope Francis praying in St. Peter's Basilica on All Souls' Day, 2 November 2022 | Vatican Media

Pope Francis on All Souls’ Day: Do you Desire Heaven Above Everything Else?

On All Souls’ Day, Pope Francis urged Christians not to “compromise with the Gospel” but to take Jesus’ words seriously...

Cardinal Zen Trial Update: Defense Calls for Charges to be Dismissed

Lawyers defending Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other Hong Kong democracy activists took the floor Monday in the West Kowloon...

Pope Francis speaks to the crowd on 12 June 2022 gathered in St. Peter's Square in Rome for the recitation of the Angelus on Trinity Sunday. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Prays for Victims of Deadly Islamic Terrorist Attack in Somalia

Pope Francis prayed on Sunday that God may “convert the hearts of the violent” after an al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist attack in...

Cardinal Joseph Zen. | Yung Chi Wai Derek/Shutterstock.

Cardinal Zen’s Trial Reopens in Hong Kong Days after Vatican-China Deal Renewal

The trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen resumed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, days after the Vatican announced the renewal of...