On Monday evening Pope Francis received, in a private and unexpected audience, the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The meeting lasted 30 minutes and they talked about the aggravation of the political crisis in the South American country. It has turned into an increasingly serious situation since now the president himself is being harshly criticized by people ...read more

It is here on the Mount of Beatitudes that many witnessed Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes. Here his voice carried over the hills, between the trees, mixed in the air with the sun, the hills, the birds, the grass and the people. We tend to want to picture and pray about this moment with a ...read more

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Tuesday published a new instruction on the burial of the dead and on the conservation of the ashes in cases of cremation. The instruction reiterates the long held view that the Church is not opposed to the practice of cremation, though it continues to recommend ...read more

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday – celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday of October (which is why October is also celebrated as Mission Month), so we can pray and raise funds for missions and missionaries around the world and for the poor and emerging Church. This year’s theme is in harmony with the Jubilee ...read more

Argentina, 1976 – A right-wing military group seized power in a time of social instability, in the name of fighting communism and protecting “Christian civilization.” They kidnapped and tortured thousands. About 90% of Argentina was Catholic at the time, which meant that Catholics were persecuting other Catholics who were considered communist sympathizers and subversives. So, what ...read more

At the canonization mass for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, Pope Francis spoke of the latter with these words: “In his own service to the People of God, John Paul II was the pope of the family. We are now in the process of journeying with families towards the Synod on the family. ...read more

After announcing 13 new cardinals two weeks ago, the Pope presided over the canonization mass of seven blessed on Sunday, October 16, 2016, in front of 80,000 people, who filled St. Peter’s Square for the occasion. Speaking of the new saints, during his homily, the pontiff said the saints are men and women who enter fully into the ...read more

Every Friday, from October 28th at 4:30pm ET tune in to a Perspectives Weekly in Italian, a 25-minute show in which Italian Producer Matteo Ciofi discusses themes and events in the Church featuring different guests every week. Topics discussed in the the Italian Perspectives Weekly series include the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis, major events in the Church and the ...read more

On October 9, 2016, Pope Francis announced the creation of 17 new cardinals to take place next November at the Vatican, on the eve of the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pope Francis has said before that being selected to become a cardinal is not a sign of honour but one of service. ...read more

Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square, before a crowd of nearly 80,000 people, Pope Francis presided over Holy Mass for the canonization of seven new Saints. José Sánchez del Río (Mexico); Salomon Leclercq(France); José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero (Argentina); Manuel González García (Spain); Lodovico Pavoni (Italy); Alfonso Maria Fusco (Italy) and Elizabeth of the Trinity (France). Below ...read more