The local Church or diocese established in Rome was founded by the two Apostles Peter and Paul and sanctified by the lives of many martyrs. As the spiritual leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Pope is also the Bishop of Rome in the footsteps of St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope and Bishop ...read more

At a press conference in Rome this morning, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri formally presented the preparatory document for the upcoming Extraordinary Synod on Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization. Archbishop Baldisseri, the head of the Synod of Bishops, said the family is an area that the church will work on for the ...read more

This week’ Vatican Connections looks at the innovations of Pope Francis: using the Vatican’s media spokesperson to confirm the date of a consistory for new Cardinals, and celebrating All Saints day Mass at the Verano Cemetary for the first time in 20 years. Plus we bring you a look at the Vatican’s involvement in the ...read more

Two weeks ago there was a huge victory for opponents of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada in a case that determined that doctors must obtain consent before removing life-support from a patient. The case was that of Hassan Rasouli who apparently was misdiagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state since October 2010. According ...read more

Here is the translation of Pope Francis’ address during an audience with the directors, employees and collaborators of the Vatican Television Center (CTV) on the occasion of their 30th anniversary. Dear friends, The Vatican Television Center, commissioned by Blessed John Paul II, was born on October 22nd, 1983. On this path there has been much ...read more

Over 100 thousand people gathered with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square for Mass today, Sunday, October 27th, 2013, to mark the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time and the World Family Day at the close of the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which met in Rome this past week to ...read more

Today, Saturday, October 26, Pope Francis gathered with families for the The Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Tomb for the Year of Faith, an event planned by the Pontifical Council for the Family. Here is the Holy Father’s address: Dear Families! Good evening and welcome to Rome! You have come as pilgrims from many parts of ...read more

Every WYD has a theme and WYD 2013 was no different. Matthew 28:19 “go and make disciples of all nations” inspired everything that happened in Rio de Janeiro this past summer. But Pope Francis was part of many events and celebrations. Outside of the four main World Youth Day events, he was part of some ...read more

Here is a translation of the message that Pope Francis sent to the Director of the Vatican Television Center (CTV), Monsignor Dario Edoardo Vigano, and to the participants in the “Thirty Years of the Vatican Television Center: TV That Relates the Pope to the World” Conference, organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of ...read more

Today is the 87th World Mission Sunday. After the Angelus, Pope Francis addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s square with these words: Dear brothers and sisters, Today is World Mission Day. What is the mission of the Church? To spread throughout the world the flame of faith that Jesus has lighted in the world: ...read more