Vatican Dispatch

Italy’s Prime Minister tells bishops to back off over constitutional reform

rome – after the leader of the italian bishops recently appeared to throw cold water on a key constitutional reform backed by italy’s conser...
Crux Staff

US Ambassador to the Holy See to step down

new york – after two years serving as the u.s. ambassador to the holy see, joseph donnelly will soon step down from the post and return to h...
John Lavenburg

Rupnik case in ‘advanced stage’ despite complexities, says Vatican investigator

rome – seven months after the vatican reversed its previous course and opened a canonical inquiry into accusations of long-term abuse commit...
Elise Allen

It's time Pope Francis learned the dangers of careless talk

the pope is christ’s vicar on earth, the spiritual head of the church. but this pope can also be humanly indiscreet and imprudent. francis h...
The Catholic Herald

Vatican issues apology on Pope’s behalf over offence caused by reports of ‘faggotry’ slang use

after reports circulated internationally about pope francis appearing to use a crude italian slang term to refer to homosexuality in catholi...
Elise Allen

A busy week in Rome: World Children's Day, China, Palestine and a distinct lack of taxis

rome – sometimes a week on the vatican beat doesn’t offer up one grand narrative, but instead supplies a series of vignettes illustrating th...
John L Allen

Pope Francis's latest book: reflections on history and moments of clarity

just over three years ago i wrote a piece for the herald called “ the battle of the papal biographers ” (march 2021). in it i noted that sin...
Serenhedd James

Cardinal Fernández battles to fix rift with Copts over gay blessings document

rome – the vatican’s doctrinal chief has held talks with the coptic leader to heal the rift caused by rome's decision to provide non-liturgi...
The Catholic Herald

Problems with the Vatican's new norms for vetting supernatural phenomena

one of the most compelling attractions of catholicism is the immersion in the supernatural. the church birthed with the miracle of the resur...
Gavin Ashenden

Carlo Acutis will be canonised after second miracle recognised

pope francis has recognised a miracle attributed to the intercession of blessed carlo acutis and today signed a decree which paves the way f...
The Catholic Herald