Victoria Cardiel

Victoria Cardiel

As a journalist, Victoria Cardiel has specialized in social and religious news. Since 2013, she has covered the Vatican for various media outlets, including Europa Press and Alfa and Omega, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Madrid.

Articles by Victoria Cardiel

A recent meeting of various members of the ecumenical initiative Easter Together 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Easter Together 2025

Ecumenical initiative calls for unity to celebrate Easter together

Feb 15, 2025 / 07:00 am

This year both Easters — Catholic and Orthodox — fall on the same date, April 20, due to the alignment of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Pope Francis greets Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, on Feb. 10, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of the Grand Mosque of Paris

Paris Grand Mosque rector proposes to Pope Francis a meeting between Muslims and Christians

Feb 11, 2025 / 13:35 pm

Chems-Eddine Hafiz made the proposal on Feb. 10 at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican during an audience with the pope.

Thirty-three university students of diverse faiths participate in the Middle Meets project at the headquarters of Scholas Ocurrentes in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere. Credit: Scholas Ocurrentes

Young Christians, Muslims, Jews at the Vatican: ‘It’s possible to live together in peace’

Feb 10, 2025 / 07:00 am

The “Middle Meets” project aims to create a space for listening and understanding between Muslim, Jewish, and Christian students.

“If the devil divides, the creed unites!” the pope said in his Feb. 6, 2025, remarks to a visiting group of priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches, including Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankar, and Syriac. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis reiterates desire for ‘full unity’ among Christians

Feb 6, 2025 / 15:50 pm

“The proclamation of the common faith requires, first of all, that we love one another,” the Holy Father said in a Feb. 6 audience with Oriental Orthodox priests and monks.

Pope Francis meets with elderly and sick people on his final day in Singapore on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, marking the conclusion of his 12-day, four-country apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania — the longest trip of his pontificate to date. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis highlights hope for fifth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Feb 6, 2025 / 07:00 am

Pope Francis has chosen “Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Lost Hope” as the theme for the fifth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on July 27. 

Pope Francis speaks with Spanish clergy and seminarians on Jan. 30, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis shares with seminarians that his mom did not want him to enter seminary

Feb 1, 2025 / 07:00 am

Pope Francis discussed in a Jan. 30 audience with seminarians and formators how his mother put up quite a bit of resistance to his entering the seminary.

A group of Templar volunteers in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Credit: Courtesy of Danilo Peviani

Reimagined Templar Knights provide assistance to 2025 Jubilee pilgrims

Jan 30, 2025 / 07:00 am

Templars Today, a private association of lay faithful, signed an agreement with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization to assist jubilee pilgrims in Rome.

Pope Francis and the editor of his autobiography, Carlo Musso. Credit: Courtesy or Carlo Musso

Editor of Pope Francis’ autobiography: ‘He gave absolute freedom, without red lines’

Jan 28, 2025 / 11:00 am

“Hope is the mainstay that undergirds Pope Francis’ entire life,” said Carlo Musso, the Italian editor of Pope Francis’ autobiographical work “Hope.”

Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of Lima, Peru, speaks with CNA in Rome on Dec. 5, 2017. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Prominent cardinal denies allegations of sexual abuse that led to disciplinary measures

Jan 27, 2025 / 15:10 pm

Cardinal Cipriani denied the accusations published by the Spanish newspaper El País, stating: “I have not committed any crime nor have I sexually abused anyone.”

The Melkite Greek Basilica of St. Paul in Harissa, Lebanon. Credit: Kevin Jones/CNA

Vatican issues guide on richness of Eastern Catholic Churches

Jan 24, 2025 / 07:00 am

The Dicastery for the Eastern Churches has prepared a pastoral guide for the 2025 Jubilee of the Eastern Churches to be celebrated May 12–14.

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, during an interview at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2024. Credit: EWTN News

Pope Francis sends delegation to Syria to support reconstruction

Jan 23, 2025 / 15:45 pm

“It is the intention of the Holy Father that, in the current situation in Syria, they feel the affection and support of the entire Catholic Church,” the dicastery stated.

Sister Raffaella Petrini. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Italian nun Raffaella Petrini to head Vatican Governorate

Jan 21, 2025 / 16:30 pm

In less than a month and a half, Pope Francis will install Franciscan nun Raffaella Petrini as head of the General Secretariat of the Government of the Vatican City State.