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Vatican news

Pope Francis pictured on April 17, 2013. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis Hails Musicians’ "new creativity" amid Pandemic Disruption

Feb 4, 2021

Pope Francis praised musicians on Thursday for showing “new creativity” despite severe restrictions imposed on their work by the coronavirus pandemic.    

Pope Francis gives a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Feb. 3, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Without Liturgy, Christianity is Without the Whole of Christ: Pope Francis

Feb 3, 2021

Pope Francis said Wednesday that it is essential for Christians to participate in the liturgy and the sacraments to encounter the Real Presence of Jesus.

Pope Francis after praying the Angelus in the Vatican's apostolic palace on March 29, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis’ Angelus Address Moves Outdoors as Coronavirus Restrictions Ease in Rome

Feb 3, 2021

Pope Francis will speak to a live audience once again as his weekly Angelus address moves back to St. Peter’s Square on Sunday after a seven-week absence.

The Raising of Lazarus (1857), by Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat. Public Domain.

Pope Francis Adds Feast of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus to Church Calendar

Feb 2, 2021

Pope Francis on Tuesday added the memorial of Sts. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to the General Roman Calendar, giving the siblings the combined feast day of July 29.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Feb. 2, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Learn from Patience of Simeon and Anna: Pope Francis on Feast of Presentation

Feb 2, 2021

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Francis pointed to Simeon and Anna as models of having a “patience of heart” that can keep hope alive during difficult times.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in London, England, on March 14, 2011. Credit: Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk.

Vatican Cardinal Speaks out against Social Stigma for Leprosy Patients

Feb 1, 2021

People with leprosy suffer not only from physical disease but also from harmful social stigmas which can lead to mental illness, Cardinal Peter Turkson said on Sunday.

Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on April 17, 2013. / Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis appeals for fight against ‘unacceptable poverty’

Jan 29, 2021

Pope Francis encouraged Catholic organizations on Friday to continue to fight against “unacceptable poverty.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin attends an ordination at the Basilica of Sant'Eugenio in Rome, Sept. 5, 2020. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Vatican Cardinal Visits Cameroon as Catholic Church Seeks to Resolve Anglophone Crisis

Jan 28, 2021

The Vatican’s Secretary of State kicked off a week-long trip to Cameroon on Thursday in which he will visit a region blighted by clashes between government forces and separatists.

World Food Program head David Beasley meets Pope Francis at the Vatican Jan. 28, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Meets World Food Program Head as Agency Warns about Child Hunger

Jan 28, 2021

Pope Francis met on Thursday with the head of the World Food Program, as the organization issued a warning that more than 300 million children are going hungry amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Jan. 24, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Prays for Homeless Man Who Died in Freezing Cold Near St. Peter’s Square

Jan 24, 2021

Pope Francis prayed on Sunday for a homeless man who died near St. Peter’s Square amid freezing temperatures.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Nov. 15, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Forced to Miss More Events Due to Recurrent Nerve Pain

Jan 23, 2021

Pope Francis has been forced to cancel three public appearances scheduled for Sunday and Monday due to a recurrence of the nerve pain that struck him at the end of 2020. 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Credit: Julian Fong via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Pope Francis Praises Martin Luther King Jr.’s "timely" Message of Peace

Jan 18, 2021

Pope Francis said on Monday that Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream “of harmony and equality for all people” is still relevant today.

The Institute for Religious Works, or 'Vatican bank'. (File Photo/CNA).

Vatican Court Due to Hold Sentence Hearing for ex-Vatican Bank President

Jan 15, 2021

The Vatican court is due to hold a sentence hearing next week in a criminal trial against the former president of the Institute for Religious Works.

Pope Francis greets Pope emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Nov. 28, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis and Benedict XVI Receive First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Jan 14, 2021

Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Vatican confirmed on Thursday.

The Vatican is administering the coronavirus vaccine in the atrium of the Paul VI Audience Hall. Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City Begins Administering First Doses of Coronavirus Vaccine

Jan 13, 2021

Vatican City State began administering the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday.

Pope Francis gives a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Urges Catholics to Praise God in Happy “but above all in difficult moments”

Jan 13, 2021

Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to praise God not only in happy times, “but above all in difficult moments.”

Pope Francis visits the Bambino Gesù di Palidoro hospital in Rome, Italy, on Jan. 5, 2018. Credit: Vatican Media.

Coronavirus Pandemic Has "exposed inefficiencies" in Care of the Sick: Pope Francis

Jan 12, 2021

Pope Francis said on Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic had “exposed inefficiencies in the care of the sick.”

Pope Francis greets Pope emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery on Nov. 28, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Benedict XVI to be Vaccinated against Coronavirus “as soon as the vaccine is available”

Jan 12, 2021

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI will receive the coronavirus vaccine as soon as it is available, his personal secretary said Tuesday.

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Feb. 26, 2020. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis Admits Women to Serve as Lectors, Acolytes in Latest Canon Law Change

Jan 11, 2021

Pope Francis issued a motu proprio Monday that changes canon law to allow women to serve as lectors and acolytes.

Pope Francis, April 21, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis’ Opening of Lector and Acolyte Ministries to Women Explained

Jan 11, 2021

On Jan. 11, Pope Francis published an apostolic letter issued motu proprio (which means “on his own impulse” in Latin), modifying canon law regarding women’s access to the ministries of lector and acolyte. He also released a letter to Vatican doctrinal chief Cardinal Luis Ladaria explaining his reasoning for the decision.