Pope Francis

Pope Francis sent his condolences on the attack on the Pentecostal church in DR Congo in a telegram message on January 17. He offered compassion and closeness to all the families affected by the tragedy.

Pope Francis announced the date of an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil for Synod to take place in St Peter's Square on September 30 at his traditional angelus message. The Pope announced the date of the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in connection with the traditional Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which occurs every year from January 18 to 25.

Pope Francis thanked the Italian police for their service for security around the Vatican at the audience with the Vatican Inspectorate of Public Security. “For all this, I heartily reiterate my esteem and appreciation for your helpfulness and for your dedicated and professional service,” the Pope says.

In his telegram message, Pope Francis said, “I am sad for the news of the passing of the Cardinal, Prefect Emeritus of the Secretariat of the Economy.” Cardinal Pell died in Rome on January 10, following cardiac complications after hip surgery.

Pope Francis met with the former bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun in a private audience at 3:30 PM on January 6, at Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican. “It was wonderful. He was so very warm!” the elderly cardinal said.

Pope Francis commended Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to God the Father in his homily at the funeral mass of the late Pope Emeritus in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday morning. The Pope prayed, “Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!”

Archbishop Joseph Arshad, "It will further strengthen diplomatic relations and facilitate mutual understanding between the Holy See and the United Arab Emirates."

Pope Francis appointed Father Sebastiao Mascarenhas SFX (63) as the new Bishop of Baroda, India.

A group of mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and aunts of Ukrainian prisoners-of-war hand Pope Francis a traditional embroidered blanket, advocating for the protection and return of their loved ones.

Pope Francis requested a “special prayer” for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the end of the General Audience on Wednesday. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told the journalists, "In the last few hours, there has been an aggravation of his health due to advancing age.”

On the feast of St. Stephen, Pope Francis renews his appeal for peace in the world, especially remembering those suffering from the devastating war in Ukraine.

Pope Francis reflected on the manger as Jesus’ closeness, poverty, and concreteness in his homily at Christmas midnight mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday evening. “What then does the manger tell us? It tells us three things, at least: closeness, poverty, and concreteness,” Pope Francis said.

At the conclusion of Wednesday's General Audience, Pope Francis greets a Ukrainian woman whose husband is a prisoner of war and their son, who came bearing gifts for the Pope, including a calendar showing the devastation of the Azovstal steelworks plant.

In an interview with the Spanish daily ABC, Pope Francis reveals that at the beginning of his pontificate he gave the then-Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, a letter declaring he would step down in the event of serious and permanent health impediments that made it impossible for him to exercise his role as Bishop of Rome and pastor of the universal Church.

Meeting with children assisted by the Vatican’s “Santa Marta” Pediatric Dispensary on Sunday, as well as their parents and volunteer staff, the Pope urged everyone to pray for peace in Ukraine.

Pope Francis chose Father Pablito Tagura of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) to be the new Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in the province of Occidental Mindoro on December 17.

Pope Francis encouraged the newly appointed ambassadors to the Vatican to be peacemakers. On December 15, at Clementine Hall, Pope Francis addressed the ambassadors of Belize, Bahamas, Thailand, Norway, Mongolia, Niger, Uganda, and Sudan, who presented their credential letters to Pope Francis.

At the conclusion of the General Audience, Pope Francis called on everyone to renew closeness to Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are suffering greatly, to help them with humanitarian aid and keep them in our hearts throughout Advent and Christmas.

Pope Francis urges the Seminarians to live a life of prayer as the foundation of the priest’s life. The Pope said, “Remember that, when you become priests, your first obligation will be a life of prayer born of gratitude for that love of predilection which God showed you in calling you to his service.”

Pope Francis entrusted the world to Mother Mary with a prayer before the column of Immaculate Conception at Rome’s Piazza di Spagna on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8. The pope prayed for peace in the world, especially for peace in “martyred” Ukraine.