Catholic Church
Follow the latest Catholic Church news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
3 hours ago

Pope, looking strong, issues lengthy marching orders to priests during Holy Thursday Mass

Pope Francis is urging his priests to avoid “clerical hypocrisy” and treat their flocks with mercy
3 hours ago
Pope, looking strong, issues marching orders to priests during Holy Thursday Mass
March 28, 2024 at 1:50 AM

Pope appears in better health, praises Israeli and Arab fathers who both lost daughters in conflict

Pope Francis appears in better health, walking into the Vatican audience hall on his own with a cane for his weekly audience and delivering his prepared text with a clear voice
March 28, 2024 at 1:50 AM
Pope appears in better health, praises Israeli, Arab dads who lost kids in conflict
March 25, 2024 at 3:58 AM

Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily at start of busy Holy Week that will test his health

Pope Francis has decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square
March 25, 2024 at 3:58 AM
Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily at start of busy Holy Week
March 17, 2024 at 1:18 AM

Victims of Catholic nuns rely on each other after being overlooked in the clergy sex abuse crisis

The sexual abuse of children by Catholic sisters and nuns has been overshadowed by far more common reports of male clergy abuse
March 17, 2024 at 1:18 AM
1 month ago

Pope Francis visits hospital for tests

During his weekly appearance at the Vatican earlier in the day, Pope Francis said he "still had a bit of a cold."
1 month ago
Pope Francis visits hospital for tests
1 month ago

Pope Francis visits Rome's Gemelli hospital for tests, returns to Vatican

Pope Francis gave a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.
1 month ago
Pope taken to Gemelli hospital for tests
1 month ago

Pope briefly hospitalized with cold

The Vatican confirmed that the pope was hospitalized for about 90 minutes for diagnostic tests but has not given any further details.
1 month ago
Pope briefly hospitalized with cold
3 months ago

Pope Francis delivers midnight mass

Pope Francis delivered his traditional Christmas Eve mass in Vatican City.
3 months ago
Pope Francis delivers midnight mass
3 months ago

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples

ABC News papal contributor Father James Martin discusses the latest after Pope Francis approved blessings for same-sex couples.
3 months ago
Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples
3 months ago

Papal scholar reflects on Pope Francis allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples

The Rev. James Martin spoke with "Start Here" following Pope Francis' change on allowing priests to bless same-sex couples who request it.
3 months ago
Scholar reflects on Pope Francis allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples
3 months ago

Pope allows Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples

Pope Francis has formally signed off on allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples -- a radical change in Vatican policy.
3 months ago
Pope allows Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples
3 months ago

Pope Francis approves allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples

A document from the Vatican's doctrine office released Monday details the declaration.
3 months ago
Pope Francis approves allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples
3 months ago

Pope allows blessing of same-sex couples

Friar James Martin talks about the major update to Catholic doctrine about blessing same-sex couples and what it means for the church.
3 months ago
Pope allows blessing of same-sex couples
3 months ago

Cardinal sentenced to 5 1/2 years in Vatican's financial 'trial of the century'

Cardinal Becciu and 8 others were convicted of financial crimes.
3 months ago
Cardinal sentenced to 5 1/2 years in Vatican's financial 'trial of the century'
4 months ago

Pope Francis cancels trip to Dubai for COP 28 conference on doctor's orders

Pope Francis has canceled a trip to a climate conference in Dubai on doctor's orders, according to the Holy See Press Office.
4 months ago
Pope Francis cancels trip to climate conference on doctor's orders
6 months ago

What you need to know about upcoming Papal meetings

ABC News’ James Longman explains how the Pope is hosting a special meeting to discuss elevating women to decision-making roles in the church and better at welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics.
6 months ago
What you need to know about upcoming Papal meetings
6 months ago

Critical meeting starts at Vatican

Plus, It's Golden Week in China, an annual mid-autumn festival, which has travel booming across the country.
6 months ago
Critical meeting starts at Vatican
6 months ago

Vatican meetings to decide future of the Catholic Church

Delegates from all over the world are gathering for what is expected to be a defining moment for Pope Francis’s reform agenda.
6 months ago
Vatican meetings to decide future of the Catholic Church
6 months ago

Vatican meeting will discuss contentious issues facing Catholic church

The meeting comes months after Pope Francis suggested it may be possible to bless same-sex unions.
6 months ago
Vatican meeting will discuss contentious issues facing Catholic church
6 months ago

Pope Francis opens possibility for blessing same-sex unions

Pope Francis suggested it may be possible to bless same-sex unions in a newly public response to cardinals who questioned the pope's affirmation of the LGBTQ community.
6 months ago
Pope Francis opens possibility for blessing same-sex unions
6 months ago

Pope Francis opens possibility for blessing same-sex unions

In August, Pope Francis called on the hundreds of thousands gathered before him to yell that the Catholic Church is for "todos, todos, todos" -- everyone, everyone, everyone.
6 months ago
Pope Francis opens possibility for blessing same-sex unions
8 months ago

Pope Francis restates Catholic Church is for everyone, including LGBTQ+ people

"The Lord is clear," the pope insisted on Sunday. "The sick, the elderly, the young, old, ugly, beautiful, good and bad."
8 months ago
Pope Francis restates church is for everyone, including LGBTQ+ people
8 months ago

Pope greeted like rockstar, appears revitalized at 'Catholic Woodstock' in Portugal

Aboard the Papal plane, he joked with reporters that he expected to come out of World Youth Day feeling "rejuvenated." By day three, that seemed to be the case.
8 months ago
Pope greeted like rockstar, appears revitalized at 'Catholic Woodstock' in Portugal
8 months ago

Nearly a million people celebrate with Pope Francis

Pope Francis is wrapping up his five-day trip to Portugal for World Youth Day, his first trip since undergoing abdominal surgery in June.
8 months ago
Nearly a million people celebrate with Pope Francis
9 months ago

Pope Francis names 21 cardinals, including clergymen from Hong Kong, US

Pope Francis announced Sunday he's elevating 21 clergymen from around the world to become cardinals in a ceremony this September.
9 months ago
Pope Francis names 21 cardinals, including clergymen from Hong Kong, US
9 months ago

Pope Francis returns to duties

Two days after being released from the hospital, the Pope greeted thousands in St. Peter's Square this morning for his traditional prayer service.
9 months ago
Pope Francis returns to duties
9 months ago

Pope Francis visits children at his hospital

More than a week after his surgery, the wheelchair-bound pontiff visited the children’s oncology wing at Gemelli Hospital, where he’s recovering.
9 months ago
Pope Francis visits children at his hospital
9 months ago

Vatican releases first photos of Pope Francis recovery ahead of Friday discharge

The Vatican press office released photos on Thursday of Pope Francis recovering after undergoing intestinal surgery.
9 months ago
Vatican releases first photos of Pope Francis recovering from surgery
10 months ago

Pope Francis recovering after abdominal surgery

It is not clear when the 86-year-old pontiff will return to the Vatican.
10 months ago
Pope Francis recovering after abdominal surgery
10 months ago

Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery

Pope Francis' night "passed well" after he underwent intestinal surgery on Wednesday, Vatican officials said Thursday morning.
10 months ago
Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery
10 months ago

Pope's night 'passed well' after intestinal surgery in Rome

Pope Francis' night "passed well" after he underwent intestinal surgery on Wednesday, Vatican officials said Thursday morning.
10 months ago
Pope's night 'passed well' after intestinal surgery in Rome
10 months ago

Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery

Pope Francis is out of surgery after a three-hour operation on his abdomen.
10 months ago
Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery
10 months ago

World View: Pope Francis is in the hospital for abdominal surgery

On today’s World View, ABC News correspondent James Longman explains Pope Francis’ operation, and Prince Harry testifies in a phone hacking case.
10 months ago
World View: Pope Francis is in the hospital for abdominal surgery
10 months ago

Pope Francis set to undergo abdominal surgery

The 86-year-old pontiff will be under general anesthesia and will remain in the hospital for several days, according to the Vatican.
10 months ago
Pope Francis set to undergo abdominal surgery
10 months ago

Pope Francis to undergo intestinal surgery in Rome

Pope Francis will undergo an intestinal surgery on Wednesday and spend several days in the hospital recovering, Vatican officials said.
10 months ago
Pope Francis to undergo intestinal surgery in Rome
10 months ago

Pope's latest health scare

The 86 year-old pontiff canceled his meetings on Friday after running a fever.
10 months ago
Pope's latest health scare
10 months ago

Pope cancels meetings over fever

The Vatican said the Pontiff is expected to preside over mass on Sunday.
10 months ago
Pope cancels meetings over fever
1 year ago

Pope Francis to allow women to vote at bishop’s meeting

Pope Francis approved changes to allow women to vote at the upcoming bishop’s meeting, a move being called "a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling.”
1 year ago
Pope Francis to allow women to vote at bishop’s meeting
1 year ago

Francis defends John Paul II against missing girl insinuations

Pope Francis is defending St. John Paul II after the brother of a missing teenager linked her disappearance in 1983 to the late pope. ABC’s Rhiannon Ally has more.
1 year ago
Francis defends John Paul II against missing girl insinuations
1 year ago

Pope Francis holds Easter services for thousands in St. Peter’s Square

The pontiff prayed for conflict resolution between Ukraine and Russia, as well as peace in the Middle East as violence has escalated recently in the region.
1 year ago
Pope Francis holds Easter services for thousands in St. Peter’s Square
1 year ago

Pope Francis leads Easter Sunday mass in front of millions worldwide

One week after his release from the hospital, Pope Francis leads Easter Sunday services at the Vatican.
1 year ago
Pope Francis leads Easter Sunday mass in front of millions worldwide
1 year ago

Pope misses traditional Good Friday procession

The Pope was missing from the procession following his bout of bronchitis last weekend but he is still expected to preside over the Easter Vigil.
1 year ago
Pope misses traditional Good Friday procession
1 year ago

Pope misses Good Friday procession

The Vatican announced the pontiff could not attend the outdoor procession of the stations of the cross.
1 year ago
Pope misses Good Friday procession
1 year ago

Pope Francis expected to take part in Good Friday events

The pontiff has been active following his recent health scare and is expected to attend multiple events during one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar.
1 year ago
Pope Francis expected to take part in Good Friday events
1 year ago

Pope Francis presides over Holy Thursday mass

The pontiff presided over Holy Thursday mass, five days after he was released from the hospital.
1 year ago
Pope Francis presides over Holy Thursday mass
1 year ago

Pope Francis leaves hospital after treatment for respiratory infection

The 86-year-old pontiff led Palm Sunday mass in Vatican City after leaving the hospital.
1 year ago
Pope Francis leaves hospital after treatment for respiratory infection
1 year ago

Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday service

Marking the beginning of Holy Week, Pope Francis thanked those who prayed for his health 24 hours after leaving the hospital for infectious bronchitis treatment.
1 year ago
Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday service
1 year ago

Pope Francis takes part in Palm Sunday services

ABC News' Ines de la Cuetara reports on Pope Francis taking part in Palm Sunday services at the Vatican a day after his release from the hospital where he was treated for bronchitis.
1 year ago
Pope Francis takes part in Palm Sunday services
1 year ago

Pope Francis has 'progressively improved' in hospital stay for respiratory infection, Vatican says

Pope Francis was diagnosed with a respiratory infection Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital, where he will remain for several days.
1 year ago
Pope Francis has 'progressively improved' at hospital, Vatican says
1 year ago

Pope Francis released from hospital

The 86-year-old pontiff was treated for bronchitis, jokingly telling reporters today, "I'm still alive."
1 year ago
Pope Francis released from hospital