Vatican News
Pope: 'Christmas is not just a family celebration, it’s helping the suffering'
Greeting some children of Italy’s Catholic Action lay movement ahead of Christmas, Pope Francis urges them to spread the wonder of Jesus’ love for us every day by being close to the needy and those suffering war, especially other children.
Father Pasolini: The greatness of God lies in smallness
The Preacher of the Papal Household, Franciscan Father Roberto Pasolini, delivered the third and final Advent meditation on the theme of smallness—not as a limitation, but as humility that creates space for encounter.
Pope sends letter to prison inmates: Welcome Jesus into your hearts
At a Mass in a Florentine prison, the city’s Archbishop reads a letter Pope Francis sent to the inmates to extend his Christmas greetings and blessings.
Vatican inaugurates new post office in St Peter's Square
The new Vatican mobile post office, where one can "send and receive God's announcements," opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in St Peter’s Square.
Pope speaks by phone with Joe Biden
Pope Francis and outgoing US president Joe Biden spoke by phone yesterday about various current issues, beginning with peace efforts in view of Christmas. The US leader thanked the Pope for "his work to promote human rights and protect religious freedom." He then accepted an invitation to visit the Vatican in January. A theme close to the Pope's heart is the fate of US death row inmates for whom he launched an appeal at the Angelus on 8 December.
The blessing of the 'Bambinelli': From Pope Paul VI to artistic display
The traditional gathering of Roman oratories for the blessing of Baby Jesus figurines in the Vatican on Sunday, 22 December, is enriched this year by an artistic contest inspired by the theme “A Heart of Light.”
AI and democracy: Threats and opportunities
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes culture, information, and communication, and influences democratic processes, a group of international experts is preparing to release a “Global Policy Brief” to help policymakers use AI responsibly.
Vatican Media to offer full coverage of Jubilee 2025 events
Thanks to audio streams on Vatican Radio and videos provided by Vatican Media, in collaboration with YouTube, the faithful will be able to follow every major moment of Jubilee 2025 thanks to the Vatican News portal, offered in 53 languages including sign language.
Pope: Assist the poor with a joyful heart
In a meeting with a group of Vietnamese benefactors of the Pontifical Missionary Works from the United States, Pope Francis highlights the "steadfast faith" of many Catholic immigrants from Vietnam living in America.
UN: 2024 saw ‘highest death toll of migrants in transit’
As the world marked International Migrants Day, Tunisia’s coastguard recovered the bodies of 20 African migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, a grim reminder of the deadliest year on record for migrants seeking a better life.
Pope expresses closeness to Ukraine at Christmas
As Christmas approaches, Pope Francis sends a gift of a mobile hospital and other medical supplies to Ukraine
Forty thousand children impacted by Vanuatu earthquake
Following catastrophic 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, decries the disaster's impact on some 40,000 children.
Jubilee Films for Pilgrims of Hope: 'Perfect Days'
Wim Wenders' 2023 film Perfect Days may resonate with many viewers for its intrinsic beauty and amazing soundtrack. Father Greg Apparcel, CSP, film critic, associate pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish in Rome, and the Paulist Fathers’ Procurator General to the Holy See, shares his reflections on the movie.
Pope: A pilgrimage needs silence, the Gospel, and Matthew 25
Speaking to pilgrims from the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Pope encourages the group to reflect on what makes a pilgrimage versus a simple journey.
Aid missions to Gaza still denied by Israel, say UN aid workers
According to UN humanitarians, the new refusal adds to the 38 missions Israel blocked at the start of December.
Pope approves beatification of martyred Estonian Archbishop Profittlich
Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, a German-born Jesuit who served in Estonia and was martyred in the Soviet Union in 1942.
Pope prays for victims of cyclone in Mayotte
Pope Francis prays for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which is feared to have killed thousands, and asks Polish pilgrims to remember Ukrainian refugees this Christmas.
Pope: The Jubilee, a grace-filled opportunity for encounter
The Italian daily newspaper Il Messaggero publishes a reflection by Pope Francis on the Jubilee.
Bishop Faddoul: Maronite Church's contribution to Synod on synodality
As synodality begins to root into the Church, the Maronite Bishop for Central and West Africa explores how the Synod resonates with African culture.
Pope begins catchesis tied to Jubilee: “Jesus Christ, our hope"
With the opening of the Holy Door less than 6 days away, Pope Francis holds his weekly General Audience and begins the cycle of catechesis that will mark the entire Jubilee Year, focusing on "Jesus Christ, our hope."
