International

As the Pontifical Lateran University begins the celebration of the 250th anniversary of its founding, Cardinal Mario Grech reflects on the Second Vatican Council and synodality.

Cardinal Parolin, Sr. Smerilli, and environmental protagonists partake in the global premiere of 'The Letter' film, featuring Pope Francis' participation, on 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in the Vatican's New Synod Hall. The documentary is devoted to protecting and saving our Common Home.

Pope Francis encourages Christians to strive toward self-knowledge by engaging in patient soul-searching in order to discover what we are most sensitive to, as well as recognize what is truly important for us during his catechesis at the General Audience on Wednesday.

On the Feast of St Francis Cardinal Matteo Zuppi celebrates Mass in Assisi, the saint’s hometown, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses the congregation.

The Catholic University of Mozambique (UCM) recently organised an International Conference to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Mozambique’s peace agreement, signed in Rome on 4 October 1992.

The Vatican Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, states the Holy See’s position on crime prevention and criminal justice, international drug control, and on countering the use of ICTs for criminal purposes at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The Holy See's Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN in Geneva encourages respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and upholds the role of Indigenous women as custodians of a collective accumulation of important traditional knowledge and skills.

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of October, in which he asks that the Church be one of synodality, which means walking together, along the same road.

Pope Francis holds an audience with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate for their 37th General Chapter, and urges them to carry the Gospel light of hope, joy, and peace throughout the world.

The Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community organises events to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Reception for migrants and refugees who have lost their lives during their journeys to Europe.

Pope Francis urges Stella Maris to never waver in highlighting issues affecting seafarers, and points out challenges faced by the maritime community in his address to the 25th World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea.

Pope Francis’ appeal during the Angelus is a call to stop the war machine that is dragging the world toward an abyss with no return.

Monsignor Janusz S.Urbańczyk, the Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the OSCE, calls for legal, judicial and practical measures to be employed to address violence against women and girls, and highlights that all are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

In this fifth episode of a special seven-part series, we take you on a spiritual journey through the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome to learn more about the history, art, architecture, and spiritual wealth of each of these storied places of worship, continuing with the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

Pope Francis expresses concern over the nuclear threat and military escalation in the war in Ukraine, dedicating his entire Angelus address to the situation and issuing a powerful appeal for an immediate ceasefire. He deplores the annexations, calls for respect for the territorial integrity of every country and the rights of minorities. He is saddened by the thousands of victims, especially children.

Pope Francis expresses closeness and offers prayers for victims of Hurricane Ian in Cuba and Florida and for the scores who died or were injured in clashes following a soccer match in Indonesia.

Catholic charitable organizations working in Ukraine express their gratitude for the Pope's frequent appeals for dialogue and peace, among them the International Catholic Migration Commission which just concluded a two-day meeting to review Catholic humanitarian efforts in the war torn nation.

Addressing the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Pope Francis encourages the Redemptorist missionaries to “rethink” their Alphonsian charism in the light of the signs of the time, and warns against the hardening of the heart which hinders the renewing action of the Spirit.

As the Church marks the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jonathan Montaldo offers his thoughts on the day’s liturgical readings under the theme: “Waiting in silence”.

Pope Francis transfers responsibility for the pastoral care of tourism from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development over to the Dicastery for Evangelization, following a recent audience with Cardinal Michael Czerny.

Pope Francis meets with participants at a Vatican meeting on “Sport for all. Cohesive, Accessible and Tailored to each Person” and encourages them to "strive to make sport a home for everyone, something open and welcoming."

Marking the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, a book that traces the conciliar path undertaken by Pope St. John XXIII to the current synodal process called for by Pope Francis, goes to press with a preface by the Argentine Pope himself.

Pope Francis meets with members of the Fraternidad de Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino and stresses that what they do in cultivating education is essential for the growth of spiritual mercy.

As Pope Francis appoints 10 new Members to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, the Commission’s President, describes its renewed mission to be “the voice of the survivors in the community.”

Pope Francis encourages student participants at the Ursuline Global Education Compact to embrace true beauty and allow it shine throughout the world by welcoming the marginalized and working to defend our common home.

Pope Francis sends a message to the FAO on the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, highlighting the importance of putting an end to inequalities that deny the poor of food in the face of increasing numbers of hungry people across the globe.

The Bishops of Canada wrap up their first in-person Plenary Assembly since 2019, and pledge to continue “to walk together with Indigenous Partners on the Healing and Reconciliation Journey.”

Even though there are only 5,000 Catholics living in Estonia, the local Church community continues to grow thanks to the imprint left by German Jesuit Eduard Profittlich, the Archbishop who promoted Catholicism in the Baltic nation before he died a martyr during the Soviet persecution of the 1940s.

Among some of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communications staff awarded with papal honours for services to the Church’s communication ministry is Fr Richard Mjigwa.

As the Synod on Synodality enters a new phase, we bring you the fourth in a series of videos to explore how the continental phase is being prepared, following the completion of documents from the diocesan and national levels.