Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV thanks preacher at end of Lenten exercises
Bishop Erik Varden closed a weeklong retreat for the Roman Curia with meditations on the cross and hope.
Vatican issues stamp honoring Ukrainian Catholics as war enters fourth year
The stamp features the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.
Angels don’t indulge whims, Bishop Varden tells Vatican officials
The Cistercian bishop reflected on angels as mediators of God’s providence and on St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s realism rooted in mercy.
Bishop Varden tells Vatican retreat: Not every fall ends in joy
Bishop Erik Varden warned Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia that corruption within the Church has caused profound harm.
Pope Leo XIV responds to an atheist ‘who loves God’
An atheist expresses his quandary that although he does not believe in God yet somehow he loves him. Pope Leo responds with thoughtful, insightful counsel.
The polyglot popes: How language builds bridges in the Church
The Vatican website offers content in more than 60 languages today, reflecting a commitment to reach people by speaking to them in their mother tongues.
Pope Leo says nationalism tramples the weakest
The pontiff warns that peace is “both a gift and a commitment” and urges prayer, reconciliation, and diplomacy amid a world wounded by conflicts.
Pope Leo to visit Monaco in March, Spain in June
The pontiff’s visit will be the first papal trip to Spain since 2011.
Vatican announces Pope Leo XIV’s 11-day pastoral visit to 4 African countries in April
The Holy Father will undertake his first pastoral visit to the continent of Africa as pontiff April 13–23, beginning with a stop in Algeria.
Vatican spiritual exercises: Christian freedom and the splendor of truth
In the fourth and fifth meditations offered to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia, Bishop Erik Varden reflected on how the modern debate over “freedom” challenges Christians.
St. Peter’s Basilica unveils new Stations of the Cross
A cycle of paintings by Swiss artist Manuel Dürr has been installed for Lent, marking the basilica’s quadricentennial.
Pope sends humanitarian aid to Ukraine
The aid — worth more than $1.17 million — responds to a request from Ukrainian bishops after recent Russian bombardments.
Vatican, Microsoft launch digital font inspired by Michelangelo’s handwriting
The new “Michelangelus” typeface, created for St. Peter’s Basilica’s anniversary, will appear in the latest versions of Microsoft Office.
Vatican spiritual exercises: St. Bernard ‘the Idealist’
As the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat continued, Cistercian abbot-bishop Erik Varden reflected on St. Bernard of Clairvaux and on the biblical conviction that God comes to our aid.
Cardinals criticize Society of St. Pius X for plan to consecrate bishops without papal approval
Canon law prescribes the penalty of automatic excommunication for those who participate in episcopal consecrations unauthorized by Rome.
Varden: Don’t use the Gospel as a weapon
Opening the Vatican’s Lenten spiritual exercises, the Norwegian Cistercian bishop warned against weaponizing the Gospel in culture wars.
Pope Leo XIV begins Lenten spiritual exercises led by Bishop Erik Varden
Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian from Trondheim, Norway, is leading the Lenten spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, which are taking place Feb. 22–27 at the Vatican.
Pope says switch off smartphones to make ‘space for silence’ in Lent
At the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV also urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine as the war approaches its fourth year, insisting peace “cannot be postponed.”
Pope Leo XIV: Freedom is fulfilled by saying yes to God
During a Lenten pastoral stop near Rome’s Termini station, the pope joked that he once considered joining the Salesians: “They came in second place, sorry!”
‘He was never fed up with it’: Scholars honor Benedict XVI’s fight for Europe
At the German Embassy to the Holy See, scholars honored Benedict XVI’s vision for Europe including the late pontiff’s warning that Europe cannot survive without its Christian roots.
Pope tells priests to use their brains, not AI, to write homilies
Here’s what Leo said in a private Q-and-A with priests this week.
Vatican to use AI to translate Masses at St. Peter’s into 60 languages ​​in real time
Mass attendees at St. Peter’s Basilica will be able to understand the readings, chants, and prayers live and in their own languages with a new AI-assisted translation system.
Society of St. Pius X says it will consecrate bishops without papal mandate despite Vatican warning
The SSPX refused to postpone the July 1 consecrations as a condition of doctrinal talks. Canon law foresees automatic excommunication for bishops involved in unauthorized episcopal consecrations.
Pope Leo encourages young priests in crisis to share their fatigue
The pontiff told the clergy of Rome to “rekindle the fire” of their ministry.
Pope Leo XIV to visit major migrant landing point on July 4
The pope’s Italy itinerary also includes stops in Pompei, Naples, Acerra, Pavia, Assisi, and Rimini through August.
Pope Leo: Lenten ashes carry ‘the weight of a world that is ablaze’
Leading Ash Wednesday rites, the pontiff linked the call to repentance with the devastation of war, broken justice, wounded creation, and a fading sense of the sacred.
Ukrainian women tell Pope Leo of abandoned prisoners of war
A delegation supporting families of missing and captured Ukrainian soldiers shared their concerns and presented the pontiff with symbolic gifts.
Pope Leo XIV insists on his freedom to defend truth in turbulent times
The pontiff said he must be free to denounce injustice amid today’s challenges.
Pope Leo XIV: The liturgy is an experience of God’s unity
The pope continued his weekly lessons dedicated to the Second Vatican Council, focusing on the dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium and the theme of unity.
UPDATE: Cardinal Parolin: The Vatican ‘will not participate in Trump’s Board of Peace’
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, announced that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace," promoted by the U.S. president to address Gaza and other conflicts.
St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access
The Vatican will open new parts of St. Peter’s — including the full terrace — and roll out a “SmartPass” digital entry system as it marks the basilica’s 400th anniversary.
‘Aventine procession’: A centuries-old tradition Pope Leo XIV will lead for the first time
The brief Ash Wednesday walk between two hilltop basilicas marks the start of Lent in Rome.
Vatican official says Notre Dame controversy shows need for dialogue on abortion
The Church should engage with universities about how to take “an ethical approach” to the dignity of unborn life, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said.
Pope Leo XIV eliminates committee created by Francis for World Children’s Day
Pope Leo XIV has eliminated the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, transferring the committee’s functions to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life.
Apostolic vicariate in Rome dedicates its day of arts to Gaza
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was the focus of a day of the arts at the Lateran Apostolic Palace on Feb. 14, drawing attention to the ongoing suffering of residents in the Gaza Strip.
Pope appoints Catholic Harvard professor to Vatican social sciences academy
Tyler J. VanderWeele, a Catholic, is an epidemiologist and director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University.
Pope Leo XIV tells Opus Dei no decision yet on revised statutes
Pope Francis moved the prelature’s Vatican oversight from the office for bishops to that of clergy, triggering an ongoing review and rewrite of its governing norms.
Pope Leo XIV: ‘All lives are not equally respected’ amid war and inequality
The pope told the Pontifical Academy for Life it is hypocritical to call health a universal value while ignoring policies that drive disparities.
Just what does it mean to be named a ‘chaplain of His Holiness’?
Father Fermín González Melado, who was recently named a “chaplain of His Holiness” by Pope Leo XIV, explains the qualifications and purpose of bestowing this honorary title.
Pope Leo to mark start of Lent with historic procession on ancient Roman hill
Pope Leo XIV will preside over the traditional Ash Wednesday procession and Mass on Feb. 18 on Rome’s Aventine Hill, an important place of Christian pilgrimage for more than 1,500 years.
Pope Leo XIV, in first Roman parish visit, calls for ‘disarming’ meekness
The pontiff urged “coherence between faith and life” and persistent prayer for peace.
Pope Leo XIV prays for Madagascar after twin cyclones
In his catechesis before the Angelus, Leo said Jesus fulfills the Law by calling Christians beyond minimal righteousness to great love.
‘It was the best thing I’ve ever done’: Abuse victim details papal meeting
David Ryan, a 61-year-old Irishman who suffered sexual abuse as a teenager, shared his story face-to-face with Pope Leo XIV, the first time the pope met with a victim individually.
Pope’s visit brings hope to seaside community challenged by drugs, prostitution
A popular summer destination for tourists, Ostia will be the first of five parishes where the pope, as bishop of Rome, will celebrate Mass on Sundays in February and March.
Pope proposes Lenten ‘fast’ from hurtful words
Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to listen more closely to God and others — and to “disarm” their language by fasting from words that wound — in his message for Lent 2026.
Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid worsening national crisis
The country’s growing economic and social instability prompts request to delay meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Vatican offers talks with Society of St. Pius X, warns illicit consecrations would end dialogue
The Vatican’s doctrinal office told a traditionalist group that consecrating bishops without a papal mandate would mean a “decisive rupture” of communion.
Vatican bank launches 2 new equity indexes aligned with Catholic principles
Two indexes with 50 companies each that adhere to Catholic social teachings were announced by the Vatican Bank in order to promote ethical Catholic investing.
Jubilee 2033: Rift between Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates threatens ecumenical progress
The 2033 Jubilee will commemorate the bimillennium of the Redemption but the main ecumenical obstacle is the rift between the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Archbishop Checchio takes helm in New Orleans as pope accepts Archbishop Aymond’s resignation
Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop James Checchio coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans in September 2025 to automatically succeed the 76-year-old Archbishop Gregory Aymond upon his retirement.