Vatican News

Say 'no' to drugs, 'yes' to life, love, job creation, Pope says

June 20, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said legalizing marijuana and other so-called "recreational drugs" has never curbed drug addiction rates and has little impact on the criminal organizations trafficking drugs around the world.

Pope Francis to visit the heart of Italy’s mafia country

June 19, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will travel to the heartland of the Italian mafia for the first time June 21, visiting the southern town where a three-year-old was murdered in a local drug war earlier this year.

None of your business? How Church and finance may profit together

June 18, 2014

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis condemns a "cult of money" and the "dictatorship" of a faceless economy, he isn't trying to damper entrepreneurial spirit or shutter business.

Pope appeals for peace in Iraq, announces plans to visit Albania

June 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis expressed his fears over increasing violence in Iraq and prayed for peace, security and reconciliation in the country.

Pope, Anglican archbishop urge joint action to share God's love

June 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Although they have not yet reached full unity, Roman Catholics and Anglicans continue their dialogue, come together in prayer and work side by side, including on a new project to combat human trafficking around the world.

Pope: Corruption is easiest 'sin at fingertips' of anyone with power

June 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - For everyone who has any kind of authority over others, the one sin "at your fingertips" is the sin of corruption, Pope Francis said.

Could Pope be China-bound?

June 14, 2014

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis visits South Korea Aug. 14-18, he will take part in Asian Youth Day with delegates from some 30 countries, preside over the beatification of 124 Korean martyrs and meet with President Park Geun-hye.

Pope Francis: ‘Inside every Christian is a Jew’

June 13, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Underscoring the close ties between Christianity and Judaism and calling Holocaust denial “madness,” Pope Francis told an interviewer that “inside every Christian is a Jew.”

Pope announces canonizations, advances sainthood causes

June 13, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis formally announced six men and women would be made saints Nov. 23, the feast of Christ the King. He made the announcement during a morning "ordinary public consistory," a meeting of cardinals and promoters of the sainthood causes that formally ends the sainthood process.

Pope Francis says world economic system inevitably leads to war

June 13, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said the world economic system inevitably promotes military conflict as way to enrich the most powerful nations.