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Pope Francis

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience Dec. 13, 2023, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: "The Christian must be open to the word of God and to the service of others"

Dec 13, 2023

Pope Francis on Wednesday closed his catechetical series on apostolic zeal, delivered during his recent general audiences, by noting that the attitude of being open is a duty for every Christian and a precondition for authentically announcing the Gospel. 

Pope Francis | Credit: Compañía de Jesús and ACI Press / Daniel Ibañez

Pope Francis Celebrates 54 Years as a Priest

Dec 13, 2023

On Dec. 13, 1969, just four days before his 33rd birthday, Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio — who today is Pope Francis — was ordained a priest.

Bishops process into St. Peter's Basilica for the closing Mass of the first assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 29, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Synod on Synodality Next Steps: Pope to Choose "big questions" for Further Study

Dec 12, 2023

The possible ordination of women to the diaconate is among the “matters of great relevance” that synod delegates in October said require further consideration.

Oleksandr Kniaziev / Shutterstock

Pope to Vatican Employees: Lure of Corruption is Dangerous and "we must be vigilant"

Dec 12, 2023

Pope Francis received in an audience on Monday the members of the Office of the Auditor General.

Pope Francis meets with the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on Dec. 11, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Expresses Concern about Italy’s Low Birth Rate

Dec 11, 2023

Pope Francis on Monday received the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus message on Dec. 10, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope at Angelus: "Through silence and prayer, we make space for Jesus"

Dec 10, 2023

Pope Francis highlighted the importance of listening to God by embracing the example of John the Baptist. 

Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano

Hearing the Pope’s Confession: Vatican Confessor Reflects on Sacrament

Dec 10, 2023

A veteran Vatican confessor spoke about his time as confessor to Pope Francis, stressing the enduring and essential role of the sacrament.

Pope Francis waves from the window of the Apostolic Palace as he gives his Angelus address for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Announces Catholic Church’s First World Day of Children

Dec 8, 2023

The event was inspired by a 9-year-old boy named Alessandro, who proposed the idea to the pope to have an international event for younger children.

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

PHOTOS: Pope Francis Honors Virgin Mary on Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a nearly 40-foot-high column.

Pope Francis receiving the delegation of the African Educational Pact at the Vatican on 1 June 2023. Credit: Vatican Media

First African Congress of Catholic Education: Pope Francis for “whole person” Formation

Dec 7, 2023

Pope Francis has faulted the culture of “selective and elitist” training that focuses on the intellect. 

Pope Francis greets members of Italy's National Association of St. Paul on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. | Credit: Vatican

Pope Francis Reads Speeches Unassisted for the First Time in Nearly Two Weeks

Dec 7, 2023

The pope seemed to show improvement Thursday by reading out his speeches during his various meetings on Dec. 7. 

Pope Francis at the general audience at the Vatican on Dec. 6, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Pope Francis’ cardinal advisers hear from 2 female professors on women’s role in the Church

Dec 7, 2023

The pope’s Council of Cardinals has been discussing the role of women in the Church since February 2022.

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience on Dec. 6, 2023, in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis at General Audience: "The Spirit is the protagonist" of Evangelization

Dec 6, 2023

Pope Francis’ multi-week catechetical series on the essential components of the proclamation of the Gospel culminated with a fourth and final component: the Holy Spirit as the protagonist of evangelization. 

Bishop Vincent Rakotozafy (right) and Mons. Luc Olivier Razafitsimialona (left). Credit: Tôlagnaro Diocese

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Catholic Bishop in Madagascar, Appoints Successor

Dec 5, 2023

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Vincent Rakotozafy from the pastoral care of Tôlagnaro Diocese in Madagascar, and has appointed Mons. Luc Olivier Razafitsimialona, and member of the Clergy of the Diocese of Ihosy in the Indian Ocean Island nation, as his successor.

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Francis Signs Interfaith Climate Statement As Part of COP28 Summit in Dubai

Dec 4, 2023

“Our faith instills in us a sacred duty to cherish not only our human family but also the fragile ecosystem that cradles us,” the document said.

Papal aide Monsignor Paolo Braida reads Pope Francis' prepared remarks for the Sunday Angelus on Dec. 3, 2023, from the chapel at the papal residence at Casa Santa Marta. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis on First Sunday of Advent: "I’m improving, but my voice still doesn’t work"

Dec 3, 2023

Pope Francis, for the second consecutive Sunday, was assisted by an aide in praying the Angelus, as he continues to recover from an acute bronchial infection.

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Francis to COP28: Environmental Destruction is "an offense against God"

Dec 2, 2023

Pope Francis canceled his scheduled trip to Dubai days before the climate summit at the request of his doctors.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin. | Claude Truong-Ngoc via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Cardinal Parolin Will Represent Pope Francis at Climate Conference

Dec 1, 2023

The pope was advised by his doctors earlier this week not to travel to Dubai due to a bronchial infection.

Pope Francis meets on April 29, 2023, with children and adults who are visually impaired and have other disabilities at a Catholic institute in Budapest, Hungary, dedicated to Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann. | Credit: Vatican Media

This is Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for the Month of December

Dec 1, 2023

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December is for people with disabilities.

Pope Francis meets participants in the Ethics of Healthcare Management seminar on Nov. 30, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Says He Has "very acute infectious bronchitis"

Nov 30, 2023

“As you can see, I am alive,” Pope Francis quipped as he met participants in a health care ethics seminar on Thursday morning.