This week’s Vaticano Updates – the most important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican.     

New Vatican Pro-Life Guidelines 

The Vatican launched new pastoral care guidelines for the protection and promotion of human life. The 40-page pastoral framework document highlights the urgent need to respond to Pope Francis’ call “to solidarity and fraternal love for the great human family” in a society that has “lost its ability to identify good and evil.” The Vatican’s new guidelines were created to help local Churches to implement the principles, which condemn abortion, surrogacy, euthanasia, human trafficking, and sexual abuse. 

Pope Francis: Protect Children! 

Pope Francis urged the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to continue to “keep watch while the world sleeps”. In his written message he also called the group to care for victims and survivors by listening to their experiences. The Holy Father asked the commission to build alliances with civil authorities, experts, and associations outside of the Catholic Church to improve the prevention of abuse. 

King Charles III Postpones Vatican Visit  

King Charles and Queen Camilla postponed their visit to the Vatican at the advice of Pope Francis’ doctors. The royal couple was set to visit the Vatican in April to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee but after the doctors said the Holy Father needs more rest time following his recent illness, the audience was cancelled.  King Charles shared his good wishes for Pope Francis’ recovery, he and his wife will go ahead with the other components of their April state visit to Italy.  

Pope Francis Gives Medal of Freedom to Buenos Aires Cathedral 

Pope Francis has gifted his Presidential Medal of Freedom to the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires. The medal is the highest honor given to a civilian by the United States, which former president Joe Biden decided to bestow upon the Holy Father in January. The Holy Father has decided to send the medal to the Buenos Aires cathedral, where he served as archbishop and cardinal primate until the conclave that elected him the successor of Peter in 2013. 

Call to Protect Christians in the Holy Land 

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti appealed to all Churches to support the Christians in the Holy Land. The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches underlined the importance of reestablishing a genuine and meaningful dialogue. In view of the ongoing conflict with the terrorist organization Hamas in the Holy Land, Cardinal Gugerotti said, the Church must defend the sanctity of life.

Adapted by Jacob Stein

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