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Pope Francis

Pope Francis and Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, 27 July 2023 | Vatican Media / ACI Group

Holy See and Vietnam Progress Towards Diplomatic Relations

Jul 28, 2023

In a significant move towards establishing full diplomatic relations, the Holy See and Vietnam have agreed to work towards the establishment of a Resident Papal Representative in Hanoi.

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Rome Announces Major Construction Project in Preparation for 2025 Jubilee Year

Jul 28, 2023

In anticipation of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, the city of Rome presented a major infrastructure project Friday that will create a pedestrian pathway from St. Peter’s Square to Castel Sant’Angelo.

The official logo of World Youth Day Lisbon. Photo courtesy Beatriz Roque Antunez.

Here Are Answers to Your Questions about World Youth Day 2023

Jul 28, 2023

As World Youth Day (WYD) approaches and pilgrims from all over the world pack their bags and prepare to embark on their journey, we compiled a list of answers to all your questions about WYD.

Bishop Georg Bätzing watches ZdK president Irme Stetter-Karp speak at the "Synodal Way" assembly in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept 8. 2022. | Synodaler Weg / Maximilian von Lachner

Vatican and German Bishops Discuss Theological Questions from Synodal Way

Jul 27, 2023

German bishops and representatives of the Roman Curia met in the Vatican on Wednesday to continue discussions started last year about the German Synodal Way.

The Medjugorje Youth Festival, in its 34th edition, is being held July 26–30, 2023, at the site of alleged Marian apparitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. | Radio MIR Međjugorje

"God has a plan": Pope Francis to Medjugorje Youth Festival

Jul 27, 2023

Shun laziness and selfishness and do not be afraid to follow God’s plan for your life, Pope Francis told the thousands of young participants of the 2023 Medjugorje Youth Festival in a message on Thursday.

Pope Francis  during an audience with Uganda’s Prime Minister (PM), Robinah Nabbanja. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Lauds Uganda’s Generosity in Welcoming Migrants, Refugees

Jul 25, 2023

Pope Francis has, during an audience with Uganda’s Prime Minister (PM), Robinah Nabbanja, lauded the East African nation for demonstrating generosity in welcoming migrants and refugees. 

A screenshot from Pope Francis' May 4 video message to young people attending World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Speaks to Young People Ahead of World Youth Day in "Popecast"

Jul 25, 2023

Ahead of next week’s World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis responded to the prerecorded questions and struggles of young people in Vatican News’ newly produced podcast, dubbed the “Popecast.”

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Calls for “urgent aid, assistance” to Migrants in Northern Africa

Jul 24, 2023

Pope Francis is calling upon governments in Africa and Europe to urgently help migrants in North Africa, who he said are undergoing “unspeakable suffering”.

Pope Francis meets with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, July 24, 2023, in a private Vatican audience. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Meets with Head of World Health Organization

Jul 24, 2023

Pope Francis met with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, this morning in a private Vatican audience, the Holy See’s press office announced.

Pope Francis blesses a woman in St. Peter's Basilica, where he presided over a special papal Mass on July 23, 2023, marking the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Celebrates World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 23, 2023

Calling for “a new bond between the young and old,” Pope Francis marked the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with an intergenerational Mass Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru (left), appointed pioneer Bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Wote in Kenya and Bishop Gustavo Bombín Espino (right), appointed Archbishop of Toliara Archdiocese in Madagascar in Madagascar. Credit: Seed Consolata/La Sede de Pedro

Pope Francis Appoints Pioneer Bishop for Kenyan New Diocese, New Archbishop in Madagascar

Jul 22, 2023

Pope Francis has erected the Catholic Diocese of Wote as a new Episcopal See in Kenya and appointed Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru, who has been serving as the Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Embu Diocese as its pioneer Bishop.

Pope Francis invited young people from Portugal to join him in the window of the Apostolic Palace for the World Youth Day announcement in October 2022. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis Expected to Meet with Abuse Victims at World Youth Day in Portugal

Jul 21, 2023

Pope Francis is set to meet with victims of sexual abuse when he travels to Portugal for World Youth Day next month.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. | Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis "stubbornly believes in peace": Vatican Diplomat

Jul 18, 2023

Veteran Vatican diplomat Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher last week defended what he described as Pope Francis’ “strong and courageous” push for peace in Ukraine in the face of criticism from some who have said the Holy Father should take a harder line against Russia as the aggressor in the conflict.

Pope Francis blesses the crowd in St. Peter’s Square after praying the Angelus on Sunday, July 16, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

At Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis Asks Parents to Sow Faith in their Children

Jul 16, 2023

At the Angelus on Sunday, July 16, Pope Francis reflected on the parable of the sower and encouraged parents not to give in to “fashions” of the world and to continue to sow goodness and faith in their children.

The lunette of a side door depicting St. Thomas Aquinas, detail of the facade of the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. | Credit: Zvonimir Atletic/Shutterstock

Vatican Grants Plenary Indulgence for St. Thomas Aquinas Jubilee Celebrations

Jul 15, 2023

The Vatican is granting a plenary indulgence to anyone who participates in the two years of jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas Aquinas leading up to the 800th anniversary of his birth.

A delegation of the South African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) meeting President Ramaphosa in January 2020. Credit: SACBC

President of South Africa Lauds Naming of Cardinal as “cause for pride"

Jul 12, 2023

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has lauded the July 9 naming of Archbishop Stephen Brislin of the country’s Cape Town Archdiocese Cardinal as a “cause for pride”.

Archbishop Protase Rugambwa with Pope Francis in Rome. Credit: Vatican Media

Tanzanian Cardinal-designate to Foster “what is expected of any minister with same office”

Jul 11, 2023

Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora in Tanzania, who is among the 21 newly named Cardinals has told ACI Africa that he will continue to provide leadership as expected of him as a Cardinal.

Nathan de Brito hugs Pope Francis during his visit to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day 2013. | Credit: Nathan de Brito/personal file

Boy Who Got Past Security Barrier to Embrace Pope Francis at WYD 2013 Now Seminarian

Jul 11, 2023

The little boy who managed to get past the crowd control barrier at World Youth Day (WYD) in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 to give an emotional embrace to Pope Francis is now a seminarian preparing for the priesthood.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti with Pope Francis | Vatican Media

ANALYSIS: How to Interpret Pope Francis’ Choice of New Cardinals

Jul 11, 2023

With his ninth consistory in 10 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis will lock down his influence on the College of Cardinals for the next conclave, considering the overwhelming majority of cardinals will have been created by him.

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin of Juba in South Sudan during the July 10 press conference. Credit: CRN

“Not an elevation for a single person”: South Sudanese Cardinal-designate

Jul 11, 2023

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin of Juba in South Sudan, one of the three Africans named Cardinals on July 9, has said that his elevation to Cardinal is for the people of people of God in a country searching for lasting peace, and not for his personal interests.