Pope Francis conveyed a “message of hope” to Chinese Catholics and expressed his desire to one day visit the Basilica of Holy Mary, the Help of Christians, in Shanghai, China, during an interview released on Friday.

The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has announced the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Peace 2025, which will be celebrated on Jan. 1: “Forgive Us Our Trespasses, Grant Us Your Peace.”

Pope Francis sent a message to the Knights of Columbus convention in Quebec, expressing his “profound gratitude” for their “concrete witness to the faith that works through love.”

The Vatican has approved devotion at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, India, the site of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the 16th century. 

On Aug. 7, Pope Francis resumed general audiences at the Vatican after a brief and normal pause during the month of July. The following is an explanation of the nature and purpose of these encounters with the Holy Father.

Two animal rights activists connected to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) temporarily interrupted Pope Francis’ Wednesday audience in Vatican City, calling on the 87-year-old pontiff to take action against bullfighting.

Pope Francis held his first general audience after a monthlong break on Wednesday, reminding pilgrims in Paul VI Hall that “with God all things are possible” when we invite Jesus into our lives as Mary did.

The president of the Vatican Court, Giuseppe Pignatone, is under investigation by the Italian judiciary for allegedly collaborating with the Mafia in the early 1990s.

In his homily during second vespers on the solemnity of Our Lady of the Snows at the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Monday evening, Pope Francis meditated upon the significance of grace in the life of the Mother of God and in the life of every Catholic.

Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary Through Miracles and Traditions

Based on the new norms for studying alleged apparitions in the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has denied the supernatural nature of the events related to Elenita de Jesus and Holy Mountain Shrine in Puerto Rico.

Pope Francis joined Rome’s annual celebration of the “Miracle of the Snow,” the fourth-century Marian miracle that inspired the construction of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the papal basilica in Rome dedicated to the Mother of God.

Pope Francis has appointed Providence, Rhode Island, Bishop Richard Henning as the archbishop of Boston as longtime Archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley is retiring at age 80.

In response to the July 26 Paris Olympics opening ceremony that mocked the Last Supper — and after the French bishops and other Catholic and world leaders decried the display — the Vatican on Saturday issued a statement denouncing the scene.

In a Roman neighborhood whose name is difficult to pronounce by pilgrims and tourists to Rome alike, a

Pope Francis on Sunday noted three gestures from the Bible account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes which he argued are mirrored by Jesus at the Last Supper and by the faithful in each Mass.

The Discalced Carmelites of San José monastery in Lucena, Spain, are being forced to leave after over 400 years due to a lack of vocations, despite Pope Francis's messages to them because of his friendship with a former prioress.

On July 25, 1967, Pope Paul VI set foot on Turkish soil — the first papal visit to the city of Istanbul since it was called Constantinople.

On July 24, the Vatican approved the "spiritual experience" at the Sanctuary of Maccio in Italy, marking the fifth announcement by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith since its May 17 norms for discerning "alleged supernatural phenomena."

Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec announced Monday that he will resume his duties as archbishop after a voluntary six-month withdrawal amid abuse allegations.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday at the end of a diplomatic visit to the country.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is in Ukraine this week for what is the diplomat’s first visit to the country since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.

Digital and print news outlets, including Italian Catholic news agency ACI Stampa and Catholic youth evangelisation and cultural platform ChurchPOP Italiano, as well as two global cable services and a publishing group.

Pope Francis is slowing down his liturgical schedule a bit this summer as he prepares to head out on the longest international trip of his pontificate in September.