The pope, who turned 88 Dec. 17, mostly uses a wheelchair and presides over rather than concelebrates most public liturgies. Still, this year he had the longest trip of his papacy and opened the Holy Year 2025 on Dec.

By AC Wimmer Despite health challenges that led to a canceled trip to Dubai for COP28, Pope Francis maintained an ambitious travel schedule in 2024 that saw him draw large crowds in Asia and make his first-ever visit to Corsica as well as visiting Belgium and Luxembourg. Asia-Pacific journey draws historic crowds

Pope Francis opens the Holy Year 2025, continues calls for peace, and addresses global challenges, emphasizing love, hope, and dialogue amid crises

The first Holy Year was called in 1300, and in recent times they are generally celebrated every 25 to 50 years.

In this episode of Inside the Vatican, Colleen and Gerry examine insights from Pope Francis' forthcoming autobiography and reflect on the first-ever visit of a pope to the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Sunday,

Did you know Pope Francis was a nightclub bouncer, his favorite movie is “La Strada” by Federico Fellini, and that he doesn’t watch television? On the

Pope Francis called on Catholics to focus their Holy Year 2025 pilgrimages on Jesus Christ, who is both the path and destination for Christian hope.

The year 2024 was marked by inspiring events for the Catholic Church—worldwide, such as the Synod, the reopening of Notre Dame, and the pope's trip to Corsica. We take a look back at 12 of these major dates.

Asia, like Africa, is a growth area for the Catholic church. In Georgetown University’s ranking of attendance at mass, Lebanon (69%) and the Philippines (56%) placed third and fourth. Although the number of Asian candidates for the priesthood fell by 9% from 2013 to 2022, this was less than the dizzying 31% drop in Europe.

Pope Francis lights a candle at the small statue of the Madonuccia (Ajaccio's patron saint) in Ajaccio, as part of his trip on the French island of Corsica, on December 15, 2024. [AFP] Pope ...

Never, never this,” Francis said about mobile phones at the family table. “Talk, listen to each other, this is the dialogue that is good for you and that makes you grow!”

During Sunday prayer on Dec. 15, Pope Francis referred to Russia and Ukraine as "brothers ... Peace to the whole world," the pope said during a visit to the French island of Corsica. As a precursor to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin repeatedly ...