Junno Arocho Esteves

Jesus wants to nourish the souls of those who are spiritually famished from the loneliness and anguish that come from life's difficulties, Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square Aug. 8.

The Francis Chronicles: In a video message released by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network Aug. 3, the pope offered his prayer intention for the month of August, which is dedicated to the church's mission of evangelization.

On the first day of his trial at the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Becciu announced a lawsuit against an old foe: Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui. The move added an unforeseen twist worthy of a modern-day court drama or soap opera.

On the first day of a Vatican trial involving alleged financial crimes and abuse of office, lawyers for the 10 defendants questioned the Vatican's jurisdiction and insisted on more time to prepare their defense.

On the eve of a trial for financial malfeasance connected to the Vatican's purchase of a property in London, the office that handles most of the Vatican's investment portfolio, including real estate, made public a summary of its annual budget for the first time. 

The Vatican reported the Roman Curia had a $78 million deficit in 2020, and on the same day, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, which administers Vatican properties and investments, made a summary of its annual budget public for the first time.

Pastoral workers in Amazon must share what they are doing and stress formation of deacons and lay leaders, Cardinal Hummes says.

The Francis Chronicles: Pope Francis' September trip to Hungary and Slovakia features a jam-packed schedule that shows he has no intention of slowing down despite his recent recovery from colon surgery.

The Vatican released the names of members of two commissions charged with assisting the leaders of the Synod of Bishops' general secretariat in reviewing documents, drafting resources and developing best practices. According to the synod website, the theological commission and the methodology commission will include religious and lay experts from around the world. The theme chosen by the pope for the next synod is: "For a synodal church: communion, participation and mission."

A Vatican prosecutor requested that Fr. Gabriele Martinelli, who is accused of sexually abusing a younger student at the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary, be sentenced to six years in prison if convicted.

The Vatican's indictments of Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine others may prove to be a litmus test for Pope Francis' efforts to reform the Vatican's finances, which have been marred by scandals over decades.

Pope Francis has chosen Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, a Jesuit, to serve as relator general of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.

Business leaders must invest more in the common good and less in lining their own pockets, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis congratulated retired Pope Benedict XVI on the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Sts. Peter and Paul were great not just because of their zeal for the Gospel, but because they allowed Christ to enter their hearts and change their lives, Pope Francis said.

While the suffering brought on by the coronavirus pandemic continues to make headlines, there is another serious illness plaguing the world today that deserves attention, Pope Francis said.

Even in the rush to recoup losses due to the global pandemic, governments must work for the benefit of all and avoid implementing measures that further isolate the poor and the vulnerable, Pope Francis said.

To bring God's love to families, he explained, the church needs the help of families themselves and "their concrete experience of life and communion."

Several priests, some of whom were former students at a minor seminary located in the Vatican, testified at the ongoing trial of Fr. Gabriele Martinelli, who is accused of sexually abusing a younger student at the St. Pius X Pre-Seminary.

The United States added Vatican City State to its list of countries that conform to international standards regarding the verification of the identity of persons conducting financial transactions through its institutions, including the so-called Vatican bank.