An important international conference in Rome on May 21 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in China. Here’s what you need to know.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis on Pentecost: Christians are called to ‘tirelessly proclaim peace’
The pope devoted his entire Pentecost homily to describing how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of Christians with both “power and gentleness.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Citing social media and abuses, Vatican updates norms for approving apparitions and visions
Today’s text from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith makes clear that henceforth, as a rule, the Holy See will not declare any alleged spiritual phenomenon, such as an apparition, as authentic‚ that is, “of divine origin.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Hope is the central message of Pope Francis’ decree for Jubilee Year 2025
Pope Francis today promulgated the decree, known as a “Bull of Indiction,” for the Jubilee Year 2025, which he will open in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2024, and close on Jan. 6, 2026.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
The synod can’t succeed without parish priests, Pope Francis says in new letter
Pope Francis wrote a letter of encouragement to parish priests, who were largely missing from the first synod session.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope Francis accepts invitation to 2024 G7 summit—the first pope ever to attend
“His presence brings prestige to our nation and to the entire Group of 7. It is the first time that a pope will participate in the work of the G7,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
How the pontifical university founded by St. Ignatius is changing to meet the needs of modern students
In Part II of his exclusive interview with Gerard O’Connell, the rector of the soon-to-be integrated Gregorian University describes his mission to educate seminarians who are ‘open to growth.’
Posted inFaith
Interview: Big changes are coming for the Gregorian—Rome’s oldest and largest pontifical university
The Gregorian’s American-born rector, Mark Lewis, S.J., describes how three Jesuit academic institutes in Rome will be integrated to better serve a changing church.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
After Iran’s attack on Israel, Pope Francis warns against ‘a much bigger war’
Pope Francis also appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid to the 2.3 million Palestinians living there.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will head to Asia and Oceania in September for his longest foreign trip yet
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from Sept. 2 to 13.