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 at the Wednesday general audience Nov. 11, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis Appeals to Ethiopia’s “parties in conflict to stop violence, safeguard life”

Pope Francis has asked people to pray for Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where the United Nations has said that “a full-scale humanitarian...

Pope Francis meets a delegation from the National Basketball Players Association at the Vatican Nov. 23, 2020. Photo credits: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis and NBA Players Discuss Social Justice in Vatican Meeting

Pope Francis met with five NBA players at the Vatican Monday to discuss their efforts to combat social and economic...

Pope John Paul II in 1996. / Vatican Media.

New Book Highlights St. John Paul II’s Influence Amid Cold War

A new book on St. John Paul II examines the relationship of the Polish pope with Central and Eastern European...

Beatification Mass for Joan Roig Diggle in the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona Nov. 7, 2020. Screenshot.

Teen Martyred while Protecting the Eucharist Beatified in Spain

A 19-year-old Spanish martyr who gave his life while protecting the Eucharist was beatified Saturday at a Mass in the...

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Angelus on Oct. 26, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Prepare to Meet the Lord with Good Deeds Inspired by His love: Pope Francis

Pope Francis said Sunday that it is important not to forget that at the end of one’s life there will...

Portraits of Nadine Devillers, Vincent Loques, and Simone Barreto Silva. / Screengrab from the livestream of the Nice attack victims' memorial Nov. 7, 2020.

Pope Francis to Meet with Families of the Victims of the Nice Basilica Attack

Pope Francis will meet with families of the victims of the Nice basilica attack, the city’s mayor said Saturday at...

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in the Teutonic Cemetery in Vatican City Nov. 2, 2020. Credits: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis on All Souls’ Day: Christian Hope Gives Life Meaning

Pope Francis visited a cemetery in Vatican City to pray on All Souls Day Monday and offered Mass for the...

Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, France. / Victor Kiev/shutterstock.

Nice Basilica Terrorist Attack: Who Were the Victims?

This story is developing and will be updated: Bells tolled in Catholic parishes across France in memory of the three people...

Chinese flag. Credit: Gang Liu/Shutterstock

Vatican and China Renew Provisional Agreement on Appointment of Bishops

The Vatican and China have renewed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops for two more years, the Holy...

Pope Francis light a candle during an interreligious ceremony in the Campidoglio Square, Rome, Oct. 20, 2020. / Vatican Media

"Today the world has a profound thirst for peace": Pope Francis

Pope Francis affirmed the signal importance of peace at an interreligious gathering Tuesday on Rome’s Capitoline Hill.

The uncovered tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, Italy. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Blessed Carlo Acutis’ Tomb Closes After Extended Time of Public Veneration

The glass that has allowed pilgrims to view Blessed Carlo Acutis will be permanently covered Monday as the official multi-week...

The tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, Italy. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Blessed Carlo Acutis’ Doctors Recall His Last Days in Hospital

Fifteen-year-old Carlo Acutis died within a week of being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, offering his suffering for the pope...

The tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Public Veneration of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ Tomb Extended as Pilgrims Flock to Assisi

The Diocese of Assisi announced Wednesday that the period of public veneration of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been extended until...

Pope Francis' video message to TED Countdown posted Oct. 10, 2020.

Pope Francis Calls for 'integral ecology' in TED Climate Countdown Video

Pope Francis sent a video message to the TED Countdown summit on climate change Saturday explaining how a more “integral...

Pope Francis waves from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during an Angelus address. / Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Says Blessed Carlo Acutis is a Model for Young People to Put God first

Pope Francis said Sunday that the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis provides a witness for young people that true happiness...

An image of Carlo Acutis was unveiled at his beatification Mass in Assisi, Italy Oct. 10, 2020. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Beatification of Carlo Acutis: The First Millennial to be Declared Blessed

With the beatification of Carlo Acutis in Assisi Saturday, the Catholic Church now has its first “Blessed” who loved Super...

Pope Francis delivers his general audience address in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, Oct. 7, 2020.

Rediscover the Beauty of the Holy Rosary Prayer: Pope Francis

Pope Francis invited Catholics to rediscover the beauty of the rosary prayer this month, encouraging people to carry a rosary...

Francesca DiGiovanni, an undersecretary for multilateral affairs in the Vatican Secretariat of State. Screengrab from Holy See UN YouTube channel.

Women Deserve Better than Abortion, Vatican Official Tells United Nations

A female Vatican official told the United Nations Thursday that resources that could be invested in basic healthcare, nutrition, and...

Cardinal Pell to Return to Rome this Week

Cardinal George Pell is set to return to Rome on Tuesday, his first time back in the Vatican since 2017,...

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his Angelus address Aug. 30, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis: The Path to Holiness Requires Spiritual Combat

Pope Francis said Sunday that the Christian life requires concrete commitments and spiritual combat in order to grow in holiness.