Christopher White

Ahead of the Vatican's 2025 Jubilee Year, Pope Francis pressed world financial ministers on June 5 to support an international mechanism to alleviate foreign debt, which is now estimated at some $313 trillion globally.

Ahead of his ambitious trip to the Asia-Pacific and Oceania in September, Pope Francis will participate in an online dialogue with students from the region.

Australia's bishops have approved a liturgy incorporating elements of Aboriginal language and culture. The decades-old Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit will now be submitted to the Vatican for official recognition. 

Pope Francis expressed firm opposition to the idea of ordaining Catholic women as deacons in a new U.S. television interview, raising doubts that the ongoing three-year synodal process could move forward on the issue.

In a new crackdown aimed to prevent scams, hoaxes and heresies, the Vatican has updated its guidelines for reviewing apparitions, visions and alleged revelations, and reaffirmed that only a pope could formally deem something to be "supernatural."

Pope Francis is planning to visit Belgium this September. The reason for the trip isn't exactly clear, even if it's welcome.

Listen: In this episode of The Vatican Briefing, Australia's ambassador to the Vatican, Chiara Porro, says the global Catholic Church is making progress in hearing women's viewpoints.

 Ahead of meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican this weekend, New York's Mayor Eric Adams told NCR the pontiff is akin to a global "influencer." Said Hizzoner: "I think he's the right leader for the time we're in right now." 

Noted Czech theologian Fr. Tomas Halik helped lead a Vatican gathering for some 200 parish priests about the ongoing synod process. He told NCR he was encouraged by the open and frank discussions that took place.

 Pope Francis has now established 10 working groups to study some of the most controversial issues that have emerged in the Synod of Bishops. Theologians say it is difficult to assess what their impact might be.

Pope Francis has written to a group of parents of LGBTQ persons, responding to their criticism of a Vatican document that condemned gender theory and gender-affirming surgeries. He told them he received their critique with an "open heart."

Two new major studies on clergy sexual abuse reveal the Catholic Church's efforts toward safeguarding and child protection are being met with mixed results.

Listen: In this episode of The Vatican Briefing, a leading Catholic bishop on the U.S.-Mexico border expresses "grave concern" that the 2024 presidential race could lead to further demonization of migrants seeking to enter the country.

In the 1960s, the Catholic cardinal of Los Angeles labeled the art of Corita Kent as blasphemous. But on Sunday, April 28, it will be given the spotlight by Pope Francis in a Vatican-organized exhibition.

Theologian Anna Rowlands, a key synod adviser, says Pope Francis is more interested in deepening the practice of synodality within the Catholic Church rather than wading into debates over the hot-button issues.

Listen: In The Vatican Briefing, Joshua McElwee and Christopher White discuss the Vatican's document Dignitas Infinita. And they speak with a Vatican journalist about his book-length interview with Pope Francis. 

Pope Francis will embark on an ambitious 12-day trip across Asia-Pacific and Oceania in September, the Vatican announced on April 12.

When Bishop Thomas Gumbleton died on April 4 at 94, he was the most senior member of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Among those who had recently sent him birthday greetings: Pope Francis. 

Sex change operations, gender theory and surrogate motherhood pose grave threats to human dignity — as does the criminalization of homosexuality — according to a major new Vatican document.

Pope Francis used his Easter message to reiterate his ongoing appeal for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages as war continues to rage in the Holy Land.