Vatican News

Pope Francis to celebrate wedding Mass for 20 couples

August 30, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will officiate at the weddings of 20 couples who plan to tie the knot at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sept. 14.

Catholic Church must welcome ‘unconventional couples,’ says top Italian bishop

August 28, 2014

ROME - The Catholic Church should make “unconventional couples” feel at home instead of making them targets of “de facto discrimination,” the leader of the Italian Bishops Conference and an ally of Pope Francis said this week.

Polish diplomat raises extradition for Vatican official accused of sex abuse

August 27, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Poland’s ambassador to the Holy See has forcefully condemned the alleged sexual abuse of children by a Polish-born former archbishop and Vatican diplomat, and said Warsaw is considering a fresh request to extradite Jozef Wesolowski to face trial in his homeland.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass with former doctoral students

August 26, 2014

VATICAN CITY - With "spiritual freshness and joy" despite his physical frailty, retired Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass and met briefly with his former doctoral students at the Vatican Aug. 24.

Vatican says laicized nuncio could stand trial in Dominican Republic

August 25, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican denied covering up for a former papal ambassador accused of sexually abusing boys and suggested he might have to stand trial on the charges in the Dominican Republic.

Pope Francis marks Ukrainian Independence Day, prays for peace

August 25, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis lamented "tension and conflict" in Ukraine and prayed for "peace and tranquility" there on the country's Independence Day.

Pope Francis appeals to Iraqi president to end crisis

August 21, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis wrote to the president of Iraq, calling for an end to the “brutal suffering of Christians and other religious minorities” and urging political leaders to end the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Pope Francis' 2015 World Peace Day message to focus on human trafficking

August 21, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Human trafficking destroys the lives of millions of children, women and men each year, making it a real threat to peace, the Vatican said as it announced Pope Francis' 2015 World Peace Day message would focus on the phenomenon.

Pope Francis thanks people for prayers after deadly crash kills relatives

August 20, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, in mourning for the deaths of his nephew's wife and two small children, thanked people at his weekly general audience Aug. 20 for their prayers.

Pope Francis hints he might one day retire

August 19, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Addressing journalists on his return from his intense five-day visit to South Korea late Monday (Aug. 18), Pope Francis bantered with reporters and lightheartedly said he may only have “two or three” years left to live.