Follow the latest Catholic Church news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
December 12, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Pope calls for debt reduction for poorer nations to mark Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year
Pope Francis is calling on wealthy countries and institutions to substantially reduce if not outright cancel debt as a matter of justice on the occasion of the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee Year
December 12, 2024 at 1:24 PM
December 7, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Pope creates 21 cardinals to carry out his reform plans
Pope Francis has installed 21 new cardinals, many of whom are key figures in his reform agenda
December 7, 2024 at 6:14 PM
3 months ago
Pope Francis cancels events amid illness
The Vatican announced that the pope is suffering from what it calls “mild flu-like symptoms” just days before a planned trip to Belgium and Luxembourg.
3 months ago
3 months ago
An inside look at the Pope’s 12-day trip around the world
ABC News’ Ines de La Cuetara joined the Pope on his 12-day four-continent trip, the longest of his papacy, at 87 years old.
3 months ago
3 months ago
Pope Francis in Papua New Guinea reaches out to 'peripheries' of Catholic Church
Pope Francis held mass in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to a packed stadium of about 35,000.
3 months ago
3 months ago
Pope Francis promotes religious harmony in Indonesia, condemns violent extremism
As he continues to promote religious harmony, Pope Francis visited Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, on Thursday.
3 months ago
3 months ago
Pope Francis heads to Asia
The pope announced he would "start an apostolic trip to Asia" this week, with visits planned to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
3 months ago
3 months ago
What to know as Pope Francis embarks on longest trip of papacy
Pope Francis on Monday began a 12-day, four-country, two-continent odyssey; with stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
3 months ago
6 months ago
Pope Francis is the first pope ever to address G7 summit
Pope Francis has challenged leaders of the world's wealthy democracies to prioritize human dignity in developing and using artificial intelligence.
6 months ago
6 months ago
Pope Francis meets more than 100 comedians at Vatican
Pope Francis hosted a very different audience at the Vatican on Friday, celebrating the importance of humor.
6 months ago
6 months ago
President Biden to meet with Pope Francis at G7
Pope Francis warned world leaders in Italy about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence as well as the war in Ukraine.
6 months ago
6 months ago
Pope Francis to attend G7 summit for 1st time
Pope Francis expected to meet President Joe Biden and summit leaders to discuss AI, as well as the war in Ukraine.
6 months ago
7 months ago
Pope apologizes for reported use of offensive term for gay men
Pope Francis is apologizing after reports that he used an offensive term for gay men in a closed-door conversation about gays and the priesthood.
7 months ago
7 months ago
Pope apologizes for reported use of offensive term for gay men
Italian media sourced the use of the term to unidentified bishops who reportedly overheard Pope Francis' speech at the Italian bishops’ conference from the hallway.
7 months ago
7 months ago
Garth Brooks calls performing at the Vatican an 'unbelievably special' experience
Garth Brooks opened up about performing at the Vatican over the weekend as part of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity.
7 months ago
8 months ago
Pope Francis travels outside of Rome for first time this year
The 87-year-old Pontiff traveled to Venice for a popular arts festival that featured a Vatican exhibition at a women's prison.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Vatican issues declaration on threats to 'human dignity'
The Vatican's doctrine office issued the "Infinite Dignity," which was approved by Pope Francis, and declares sex change operations and surrogacy on par with abortion and euthanasia.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Pope Francis presides over Easter Sunday Mass
Francis, 87, had skipped a Good Friday ceremony so that he'd be able to attend the Sunday Mass, the Vatican press office said in a statement on Friday.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Pope Francis overcoming concerns about his health
Pope Francis made an appearance in St. Peter's Square Easter Sunday to more than 60,000 followers.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Holy Easter activities commence, Pope Francis calling for peace
Pope Francis presided over an Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square and later used his blessings to invoke prayers for victims of war, calling for an end to ongoing conflicts.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Pope Francis returns to Easter services
87-year-old pontiff skipped a Good Friday procession to preserve his health ahead of Easter Sunday. He has had health issues in recent months and now needs a wheelchair or a cane to move around.
8 months ago
8 months ago
Pope Francis presides over Easter ceremonies
Despite cold and flu symptoms and mobility issues, the pope is determined to carry out a full schedule during Easter weekend, the most important time of year for Christians.
8 months ago
10 months 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."
10 months ago
10 months ago
Pope taken to Gemelli hospital for tests
Pope Francis gave a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.
10 months ago
10 months 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.
10 months ago
1 year ago
Pope Francis delivers midnight mass
Pope Francis delivered his traditional Christmas Eve mass in Vatican City.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year ago
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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year ago
Pope Francis cancels trip to climate 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year ago
Pope Francis restates 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."
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year 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.
1 year ago
1 year ago
Vatican releases first photos of Pope Francis recovering from surgery
The Vatican press office released photos on Thursday of Pope Francis recovering after undergoing intestinal surgery.
1 year ago
2 years ago
Pope Francis recovering after abdominal surgery
It is not clear when the 86-year-old pontiff will return to the Vatican.
2 years ago
2 years ago
Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery
Pope Francis' night "passed well" after he underwent intestinal surgery on Wednesday, Vatican officials said Thursday morning.
2 years ago
2 years 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.
2 years ago
2 years ago
Pope Francis recovering from intestinal surgery
Pope Francis is out of surgery after a three-hour operation on his abdomen.
2 years ago