As the Vatican-China agreement on bishop appointments nears its October renewal, Pope Francis' recent journey through Southeast Asia has highlighted the Holy See's complex relationship with Beijing.

Before the second session of the Synod on Synodality kicks off in Rome at the beginning of October, participants will gather in retreat to pray together and ask forgiveness for sins in a penitential prayer vigil led by Pope Francis.

Cardinal Víctor Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will lead a press conference on the “spiritual experience” of Medjugorje this Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Vatican.

During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis appealed for the release of the remaining Hamas hostages as he remembered 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five others whose bodies were recovered by Israeli military in Gaza last month.

Pope Francis definitively ruled out the possibility of visiting France for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral on his return flight on Friday from Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis said that American voters face the choice between “the lesser evil” in the U.S. presidential election during an in-flight press conference Friday on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia.

Pope Francis has united two Welsh dioceses to create the new Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, the Vatican announced Sept. 12, the feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

At Mass with approximately 50,000 Catholics in Singapore on Thursday, Pope Francis recalled the example of the great missionary to Asia, St. Francis Xavier, who responded with enthusiasm to the call to spread God’s love.

Pope Francis on Thursday praised Singapore for its “shining example” in building a united country based on harmony and cooperation but highlighted risks rapid progress could have on the family, human relationships, and the weakest members of society.     

Before departing East Timor on Wednesday, Pope Francis told a group of young adults he will never forget the smiles he witnessed during his visit to Asia’s youngest and most Catholic country.

Catholicism is the fastest-growing religion in Singapore, thriving alongside a strong Buddhist presence and marked by active Church participation in social and liturgical life.

An estimated 600,000 Catholics attended Pope Francis’ Mass on Tuesday in East Timor, a small island country that is 98% Catholic.

On the second day of his apostolic visit to East Timor (Timor-Leste), Pope Francis first met with children and religious sisters at the Irmãs Alma School in Dili on Tuesday morning and thanked them for their testimony of love.

Cardinal Parolin conveys Pope Francis' message for International Literacy Day 2024, highlighting the importance of multilingualism and literacy in fostering a more educated and peaceful society

Pope Francis calls on youth in Papua New Guinea to unite through love and service, helping each other rise after every fall.

Pope Francis encourages the faithful of East Timor to let the fragrance of the Gospel bring healing, peace, and transformation to their nation.

During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis reflected on the sacrifices of early Catholic missionaries and martyrs who braved the rainforests to spread the Gospel to "the ends of the Earth."

The gift of the Eucharist helps us to become the body of Christ for others, Pope Francis said in a video message sent to the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, on Sunday.

Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged Catholics in a remote town in Papua New Guinea to continue to be missionaries where they live, working together to replace superstition and fear with love.

Pope Francis presided over Mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday, delivering a powerful message to Papua New Guineans that despite the far distance that separates them from Rome, they are in the center of Christ’s heart.

Pope Francis called on Catholics in Papua New Guinea on Saturday to continue in their efforts of bringing the Gospel to the most marginalized and remote communities within the country.

The bishop of Kundinawa in Papua New Guinea, Paul Sundu, said that of the 300,000 people expected to see Pope Francis this weekend, “many walked two or three weeks before the papal visit” from all the dioceses of the island country.

Pope Francis began his historic visit to Papua New Guinea on Saturday (local time) with a call for stewardship of the nation’s rich natural resources and a plea for peace amidst ongoing tribal conflicts.

Pope Francis touched down in Papua New Guinea on Friday, the second country of his 12-day apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania, following emerging reports of a failed attempt on his life during his Indonesia visit.