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 meets with French Catholic entrepreneurs at the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Jan. 7, 2022. Vatican Media.

“The Church needs your witness”: Pope Francis’ Advice to Christian Business Executives

‘Do not hesitate to invoke the Holy Spirit to guide your choices,’ he said.

Pope Francis offers Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2022. Vatican Media

Let Us Adore Christ Like the Magi: Pope Francis at Epiphany Mass

He was offering Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

The office of Propaganda Fide, near Rome’s Spanish Steps. Oleg Znamenskiy via Shutterstock.

On the Feast of the Epiphany 400 Years Ago, the Vatican Founded Propaganda Fide

The founding is commemorated by a Chapel of the Magi.

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Jan. 5, 2021. Vatican Media.

Society Loses When "dogs and cats take the place of children": Pope Francis

The general audience featured a circus performance.

Pope Francis offers Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God in St. Peter's Basilica on January 1, 2022. © Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN/Vatican Pool

Let Us Place the New Year 2022 Under the Protection of Mary: Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ first public act of 2022 was to offer Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God.

Pope Francis offers Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Vatican Media

"God comes into the world in littleness": Pope Francis in Christmas Homily

In his Christmas homily, Pope Francis asked Christians to contemplate that God did not choose to come into the world...

Pope Francis received the credential letters of seven new ambassadors to the Holy See on Dec. 17, 2021. Vatican Media

Vaccine Access a Matter of Justice: Pope Francis

The pope told new ambassadors that the ongoing pandemic is a reminder that “we are a global community where one...

Pope Francis meets with refugees whom he helped to bring to Italy on his 85th birthday, Dec. 17, 2021. Vatican Media

Pope Francis Celebrates His 85th Birthday with Refugees He Helped Bring to Italy

The group of about ten refugees are being supported directly by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24, 2018. Vatican Media.

Christmas at the Vatican: Here are the Liturgies Pope Francis Will Celebrate This Year

The Vatican has published Pope Francis’ Christmas schedule for this year.

A stained glass window depicting Blessed Marie Rivier in the motherhouse of Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in France. Public domain

Pope Francis Approves Miracle Attributed to a French Nun Who Will Be Made a Saint

The miracle attributed to Rivier, who can now be canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church, involved the healing...

The Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio, the seat of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Jim McIntosh via Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0).

Pope Francis Updates Norms on Crimes Judged by Vatican’s Doctrinal Office

The norms address the delicts of schism, sacramental desecration, and abuse of minors

Pope Francis speaks during an in-flight press conference on the journey from Athens to Rome, Dec. 6, 2021. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Says He Accepted Paris Archbishop’s Resignation "on the altar of hypocrisy"

The pope accepted Archbishop Michel Aupetit’s resignation on Dec. 2.

Pope Francis visits the Mavrovouni refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Dec. 5, 2021. Vatican Media

Pope Francis Calls Migrant Crisis a "shipwreck of civilization" during Refugee Camp Visit

Pope Francis visited the Mavrovouni migrant reception and identification center located along the shore of the island of Lesbos,

Grace and Daniel have been stuck in Cyprus' buffer zone for more than six months after they fled Cameroon. Alexey Gotovskiy/EWTN

Two Cameroonian Christians among Migrants Pope Francis is Helping to Bring to Italy

As a sign of Pope Francis’ concern for migrants, the Vatican has announced that it is helping to arrange the...

Pope Francis takes part in an ecumenical prayer with migrants at the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia, Cyprus, Dec. 3, 2021. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis in Cyprus: We Encounter Jesus in the Faces of Migrants

Four migrants shared their testimonies with the pope.

St. Joseph Shows Engaged Couples What Real Love Looks Like: Pope Francis

‘We need to move from infatuation to mature love,’ the pope said.

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

May God Prepare Us to Receive Gift of Full Unity: Pope Francis to Orthodox Leader

The pope sent the message on the feast of St. Andrew.

Pope Francis meets young people of the Scholas Community at Rome’s Pontifical International College Maria Mater Ecclesiae, Nov. 25, 2021. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Pope Francis’ December Prayer Intention: Catechists to Witness Word of God "with courage"

Pope Francis instituted a new ministry of catechist in May.

Pope Francis prays before the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna Dec. 8, 2020. Vatican Media.

Immaculate Conception: Pope Francis Cancels Public Act of Veneration again Due to Pandemic

Last year, the pope made a surprise visit to pray alone at the Immaculate Conception statue.

Pope Francis Attends Student Play on How the Pandemic has Affected Young People

The pope watched a show called ‘The faces of the pandemic.’