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Pope Francis is pictured at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Luxembourg on 26 September

Pope says church must 'seek forgiveness' for child abuse

Pope Francis has said that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" over the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, in a speech before political and civil society leaders in Belgium - a country scarred by decades of scandals.

World • 27 Sep 24

The Bosnian village has become a major pilgrimage site, attracting hundreds of thousands each year and giving many people what they say is a renewed sense of spirituality

Pope Francis allows devotion to Medjugorje

Pope Francis has approved a Catholic spiritual devotion centred in Medjugorje, a town in Bosnia that has been steeped in controversy over whether the Virgin Mary appears to local people, the Vatican has said.

Europe • 19 Sep 24

The inquiry has recommended that the Government consider a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools (Stock image)

Abuse report: More than 160 contacts made to gardaí

Gardaí have received more than 160 contacts since their appeal on Wednesday relating to historical sexual abuse at schools run by religious orders.

Ireland • 07 Sep 24

A Vatican spokesperson reiterated that the Pope remained committed to a welcoming church for all (File image)

Pope Francis apologises for homophobic slur, says Vatican

Pope Francis, widely quoted as having used a derogatory word to describe the LGBT community, did not intend to use homophobic language and apologised to anyone offended by it, the Vatican has said.

World • 28 May 24

Carlo Acutis was informally known as 'God's influencer'

Pope clears sainthood for boy known as 'God's influencer'

Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to an Italian teenager who in his short life used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith, clearing the way for him to become the first saint of the millennial generation.

News Lens • 24 May 24

Statue of 'Our Lady of Fatima' is carried during a procession at Fatima shrine, in Portugal, on 13 May

Vatican tightens rules on investigating the supernatural

The Vatican has sharpened its rules for investigating supernatural events such as visions of Christ or the Virgin Mary, acknowledging that overactive imaginations and outright "lying" risked harming the faithful.

World • 18 May 24

Pope Francis pictured in Venice, Italy, today

Pope travels to Venice for mass in first trip in months

Pope Francis presided over mass in Saint Mark's Square in Venice today while warning of environmental damage and over-tourism, in a closely watched visit marking the ageing pontiff's first trip outside Rome since last year.

World • 28 Apr 24

The announcements were made by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Tuam

Major reorganisation of west of Ireland church leadership

The Vatican has announced a major reorganisation of diocesan church leadership in the west of Ireland.

Ireland • 10 Apr 24

The document, 'Dignitas infinita' was published by the Vatican's department of doctrine

Vatican defends 'human dignity', says 'no' to sex changes

The Vatican on Monday published a new document setting out "grave violations of human dignity", listing abortion, surrogacy and gender theory alongside discrimination against migrants and LGBTQ people.

World • 08 Apr 24

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus blessing from his studio overlooking St Peter's Square on 7 April

Pope Francis meets families of Israeli hostages

Pope Francis has met relatives of several Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, the Vatican said.

World • 08 Apr 24

The Vatican said about 60,000 people were in St Peter's Square for Easter Sunday

Pope calls for Gaza ceasefire in Easter address

Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages in an Easter Sunday address that marked the most important day on the Christian calendar by deploring the suffering caused by wars.

Vatican • 31 Mar 24

Pope Francis greeting pilgrims in St Peter's Square yesterday

It's a job for life - Pope Francis has no plans to retire

Pope Francis has no plans to retire and is not suffering from any health problems that would require doing so, saying in a new memoir he still has "many projects to bring to fruition".

World • 14 Mar 24

A Ukrainian flag pictured in St Peter's square as Pope Francis addressed the crowd during his Sunday Angelus prayer

Ukrainian minister criticises Pope's 'white flag' call

Ukraine's foreign minister, responding to Pope Francis's call to show "the courage of the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia, has said that Kyiv would never capitulate and told the Vatican to pay special heed to its role in World War II.

Ukraine • 10 Mar 24

Pope Francis pictured at this morning's general audience in the Vatican

Pope had CT scan during hospital check-up, sources say

Pope Francis, who has been suffering from influenza, made a brief trip to a Rome hospital for medical tests today but was able to return to the Vatican, his office said in a statement.

World • 28 Feb 24

Pope Francis addresses the faithful outside St Peter's Basilica in Rome yesterday

Pope calls for global ban on 'deplorable' surrogacy

Pope Francis called for a global ban on parenting via surrogacy, calling the practice "deplorable" and a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child.

World • 08 Jan 24

The Vatican said that blessings for same-sex couples are 'not an endorsement of the life that they lead'

Vatican clarifies approval of same-sex blessings

The Vatican has moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have reacted negatively to last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not "heretical" or "blasphemous".

World • 04 Jan 24

Labour MP Peter Mandelson was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2000 (file photo)

Opus Dei was removed from NI list after Vatican protest

The British government scrapped a requirement for Northern Ireland police officers to declare membership of Opus Dei after receiving strongly worded criticism from the Vatican.

State Papers • 09 Jan 24

Pope Francis pleaded for an end to the war in Gaza

Pope decries 'desperate humanitarian situation' in Gaza

Pope Francis has deplored the desperate humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages in his Christmas message.

World • 25 Dec 23

Blessings can be carried out under certain conditions

Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples

The Vatican said in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.

World • 18 Dec 23

Cardinal Angelo Becciu has appealed his conviction for embezzlement (File pic)

Will Cardinal Becciu go to jail after conviction?

None of the six people who received jail sentences at the end of the Vatican's big corruption trial will likely be spending behind bars anytime soon and some perhaps not ever, according to legal and security experts.

World • 18 Dec 23

Angelo Becciu has always strongly protested his innocence

Vatican court convicts cardinal of embezzlement

A Vatican court has convicted Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu of several counts of embezzlement and sentenced him to five-and-a-half years in jail.

World • 16 Dec 23

The coat of arms of the Freemasonic organisation The Grand Orient de France

Vatican confirms ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons

The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an estimated global membership of up to six million.

World • 15 Nov 23

Pope Francis said there are 'situations' where a priest can assess whether blessings may be given to gay couples

Pope shows 'change in attitude' on blessing gay couples

Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese has said Pope Francis has shown a change in attitude after suggesting there could be ways to bless same-sex unions.

World • 03 Oct 23

Francis made his opinion known in one answer to five questions from five conservative cardinals (file pic)

Pope hints at slight opening to bless same-sex couples

Pope Francis has appeared to leave open the possibility of priests blessing same-sex couples, if they are limited, decided on a case-by-case basis and not confused with wedding ceremonies of heterosexuals.

World • 02 Oct 23

Newly elevated cardinal, Chinese bishop of Hong-Kong Stephen Chow Sau-Yan is congratulated by fellow cardinals

Pope appoints 21 new cardinals to fill highest ranks

Pope Francis has 'created' 21 new cardinals at a ceremony in the Vatican.

Vatican • 30 Sep 23