News of pontiff

Pope pushed himself, knew he 'did not have long left' – Vatican source

Today 16:45 Weakened by five weeks battling double pneumonia in hospital, some in the Vatican suspect the 88-year-old pontiff knew that his strength was abandoning him.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pope Francis's delicate ties with politics in Argentina

Today 07:15 Buenos Aires-born pontiff undertook dozens of foreign visits, including trips in South America to Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Peru – but he never returned to the beloved city where he was schooled.

PRAYERS FOR POPE

Hundreds attend special mass for Pope Francis

25-02-2025 10:17 Catholics gather at Plaza Constitución in Buenos Aires to pray for Pope Francis' speedy recovery.

POPE FRANCIS

Critically-ill Pope Francis shows 'slight improvement'

24-02-2025 16:22 The Vatican announces a "slight improvement" in Pope Francis' health, reporting that the pontiff is "not in pain," eating "normally" and even "in a good mood" despite his critical condition.

POPE HEALTH

Pope's condition 'complex,' hospital stay extended

17-02-2025 13:25 Pope Francis followed Sunday mass and his traditional Angelus weekly prayer on television in a Rome hospital where the 88-year-old pontiff is being treated for bronchitis.

Catholic Church

Fresh health fears as Pope Francis is hospitalised with bronchitis

14-02-2025 15:39 Pope Francis admitted to hospital in Rome for tests and treatment for ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican announces.

FRANCIS FEUD

Pope told to 'stick to Church' after Trump critique

11-02-2025 14:12 The Argentine pontiff accused US President Donald Trump of 'damaging the dignity' of migrants through his stringent deportation policy.

argentine pontiff

Girls, rivalries, football in Pope Francis's first memoir

15-03-2024 12:46 Pope Francis' new autobiography, which will be released next week, sees the 87-year-old is storytelling mode, joking around about his past. But he also addresses serious aspects, like his role during Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship.

WHEN JAVIER MET FRANCIS

Milei praises Pope in reversal after Vatican meeting

12-02-2024 14:25 "One of the things I have realised recently is that the Pope is the most important Argentine person in the whole of Argentina," says Javier Milei in interview.

FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTER

President Milei mends fences in private with Pope Francis at Vatican

12-02-2024 09:18 President Javier Milei shares a lengthy 70-minute private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican – a once unthinkable proposition given his previous public criticism of his fellow countryman.

PRESIDENT @ THE VATICAN

Smiles and hugs between Pope and President on Mama Antula's day

11-02-2024 16:36 After insults and a staged reconciliation, the president embraced the pontiff on Sunday when he saw him for the first time at the Vatican.

ANALYSIS

Argentina’s power duo meets at the Vatican after trading insults

11-02-2024 09:55 President Javier Milei and Pope Francis meet after libertarian leader's campaign trail insults.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Finally face-to-face: Milei, Pope Francis meet at Vatican

11-02-2024 09:13 Argentina's top political and religious leaders, President Javier Milei and Pope Francis, met for the first time Sunday in Rome ahead of tomorrow's private audience.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

'Mama Antula,’ nation's first female saint, brings Milei and Pope together

16-01-2024 15:51 María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, more commonly known as ‘Mama Antula,’ will be canonised by Pope Francis on February 11 at the St Peter’s Basilica. The ceremony to mark the occasion is something of a miracle itself – it will bring the pontiff together with his once-fierce critic President Javier Milei.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Davos, Israel and maybe the Vatican – Milei draws up first foreign trips

14-12-2023 13:15 Local news outlets, citing La Libertad Avanza sources, report Argentina’s new President Javier Milei will attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Trips to Israel, Ukraine and potentially the Vatican to visit Pope Francis also being considered.

HOLY SEE CALLING

Milei tones down rhetoric on Pope Francis after call

22-11-2023 14:55 Pope Francis communicates with Argentina’s president-elect to congratulate him on his electoral victory. They spoke for five minutes on good terms and Milei invited him to visit next year.

Election 2023

Priests hold Mass in defence of Pope Francis following Milei barbs

05-09-2023 20:35 Priests repudiate verbal attacks at Pope Francis from La Libertad Avanza presidential candidate Javier Milei; Catholic leaders question libertarian leader’s attitude towards Argentine pontiff and questions if temperament is appropriate for public office.