Vatican News

No ifs, ands or buts: Christians must live Christ's way, Pope says

March 24, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Don't be "halfway Christians," who accept Christ, but then start looking for excuses and stammering, "yes, but ..." when it is time to follow his way, Pope Francis said at a morning Mass.

Nuns mob Pope before blood of Naples' patron saint miraculously liquefies

March 23, 2015

VATICAN CITY - After Pope Francis was mobbed by a group of cloistered nuns, and at the end of a spontaneity-filled meeting with priests, seminarians and religious in the cathedral of Naples, a vial of dried blood of the city's patron saint appeared to miraculously liquefy.

Pope preaches hope to Naples' unemployed, immigrants, prisoners

March 23, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Hope is the first act of resistance to evil, Pope Francis told the people of Naples as he pleaded for respect for the dignity of immigrants, jobs for the unemployed and the conversion of the city's notorious mafia families.

Pope Francis calls death penalty 'unacceptable,' urges abolition

March 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis came out squarely against the death penalty once again, calling it "unacceptable" regardless of the seriousness of the crime of the condemned.

Pope accepts cardinal's decision to renounce duties, rights of office

March 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis accepted Scotland Cardinal Keith O'Brien's decision to renounce all "duties and privileges" associated with being a cardinal.

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints

March 18, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a miracle so that, for the first time, a married couple can be canonized together.

Francis’ reforms run into strong headwinds

March 15, 2015

VATICAN CITY - One reason the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis two years ago was a brief but powerful speech the Argentine cardinal made shortly before the conclave in which he denounced the “theological narcissism” of the Roman Catholic Church.

Historic cemetery inside Vatican walls a 'little piece of paradise'

March 14, 2015

VATICAN CITY - A small, inconspicuous cemetery inside the Vatican walls made headlines recently with the burial of a Belgian homeless man, Willy Herteleer.

At Lenten penance service, Pope announces Holy Year of Mercy

March 13, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the Catholic Church's "mission to be a witness of mercy."

Anniversary interview: Pope talks about his election, papacy, future

March 13, 2015

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis went out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time, he said he did not prepare what he was going to say, but "I felt deeply that a minister needs the blessing of God, but also of his people."