The pealing of a precious ancient bell marked a momentous beginning to the 2025 Jubilee Year at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, where Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas opened the Holy Door on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Pope Francis began 2025 with a plea for peace and the protection of human life, calling for “a firm commitment to promote respect for the dignity of human life, from conception to natural death” in his New Year’s Day homily.

Pope Francis marked the Angelus prayer on the first day of 2025 by calling on Christian nations to set an example through debt relief for the world’s poorest countries and renewing his passionate plea for peace in global conflict zones.

The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released the Holy Father’s list of prayer intentions for the year 2025.

Cardinal Kurt Koch celebrated a pontifical Mass at the tomb of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, marking the second anniversary of the pope emeritus’ death.

Pope Francis celebrated first vespers for the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, saying the last day of 2024 is a time to reflect and give thanks for the “universal vocation” of Rome.

Thirteen missionaries and pastoral workers were killed in service to the Catholic Church in 2024, according to a new report published on Monday.

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Pope Francis praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s “firm commitment” to peace and reconciliation in a message of condolence following Carter’s death at age 100 on Sunday.

Pope Francis expressed profound sorrow Sunday for the victims of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster.

On Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis highlighted the Family of Nazareth as a model of dialogue and mutual listening while warning against allowing mobile phones to disrupt family communication.

Media reports about Pope Francis potentially visiting Ukraine have raised hopes the Holy Father could accept an invitation to visit the war-torn country in 2025.

Despite health challenges that canceled his COP28 trip to Dubai, Pope Francis kept an ambitious 2024 travel schedule, to Asia, Corsica, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Pope Francis called on Catholics to become “pilgrims of hope” in a BBC podcast on Friday, emphasizing that “hope and kindness touch the very heart of the Gospel."

Pope Francis recalled the witness of persecuted Christians around the world on Thursday as he celebrated the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr.

The pope's Thursday Mass at Rome's Rebibbia Prison on St. Stephen's feast marked the start of the Jubilee of Hope, symbolizing redemption and new beginnings for inmates.

Pilgrims from around the world are passing through the open Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which Pope Francis opened on Christmas Eve to begin the 2025 Jubilee.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025.

Hope lives, Pope Francis said in his homily for Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican as he reflected on the incredible fact that the infinite God became a small Child.

Pope Francis on Christmas Day delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi address and blessing in Vatican City, inviting all individuals and nations to “silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions.”

Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the ball sport of bocce during an audience with representatives of the Italian Bowling Federation on Dec. 20.

The head of the Vatican’s office for Eastern Catholic Churches offered a stark assessment of the situation facing Christians in the Holy Land and Syria, warning of increasing instability and humanitarian challenges across the region.

The Knights of Columbus have donated a state-of-the-art mobile broadcasting van to the Vatican, just in time for the start of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.

The Vatican this month officially opened the beatification process of King Baudouin of Belgium, remembered as the humble leader willing to abdicate his throne rather than approve the decriminalization of abortion in his country.