“I have had two [face-to-face] meetings with Pope Francis, and other members of the government have met him, too,” Ukraine’s President Zelensky said in an interview. “I am most grateful to him for these encounters. He is helping us!”
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 at World Youth Day: ‘Live each day with hearts free of fear.’
In his homily for the closing Mass at World Youth Day, Pope Francis preached on The Transfiguration and its lessons for young people. He also announced that there will be a Jubilee for young people in Rome in 2025 and that the next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, in 2027.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis prays for peace at Fátima: Mary ‘always hastens to us whenever there is trouble.’
Though he did not mention Ukraine specifically, Pope Francis used his visit today to the Fátima shrine in Portugal to pray for peace.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis to university students in Portugal: Your degree is a mandate to work for a better society.
“This old man now speaking to you also dreams that yours will become a generation of teachers! Teachers of humanity. Teachers of compassion….Teachers of hope.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
In Portugal, Pope Francis challenges Europe to invest in young people, not weapons
On his arrival in Lisbon for World Youth Day, Aug. 2, Pope Francis issued a heartfelt plea for peace.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Analysis: Why Pope Francis recognized a bishop appointed in violation of Vatican-China deal
Why has Pope Francis decided to recognize a bishop installed by Chinese authorities—in violation of the historic Sino-Vatican agreement—more than three months after he was appointed to China’s largest diocese?
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Cardinal Hollerich: ‘The Synod is not Vatican III’
“The Second Vatican Council has given all the elements; there is no new element given by us. Everything which is there is in the council,” Cardinal Hollerich shared in the second part of this exclusive interview.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis to new Salesian cardinal: You can stay in charge of order for one more year
Pope tells Cardinal-elect Ángel Artime that he can remain head of the Salesian order until July 31, 2024, when he will give him a new role in the church.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Exclusive interview: Cardinal Hollerich on how synodality has developed—and how involved Pope Francis has been
In this exclusive interview, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich speaks about the synod of bishops on synodality that will open in the Vatican on Oct. 4, at which for the first time women will participate as full members with the right to vote.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will create 21 new cardinals on Sept. 30, including U.S. nuncio
Pope Francis announced today that he will hold a consistory on Sept. 30 to create 21 new cardinals, 18 of them electors with the right to vote in the next conclave.