In a note sent to bishops globally, Pope Leo XIV invited them to embed Vatican News’ new video widget on the websites of dioceses, parishes, and Catholic organizations. The tool, he wrote, is designed as “a tool for evangelization” and an opportunity “to create a network and exchange gifts between Rome and the Church in your country.”
“It is a way for your parishes and communities to constantly obtain information from the primary source,” the Pope explained.
Developed by the Dicastery for Communication, the widget allows Catholic institutions to feature updated news and short videos about the Pope and the Holy See at no cost. Once installed, it refreshes automatically.
About Vatican Media
Its network includes:
-Vatican News – The central news portal providing daily coverage of the Pope and the Holy See in dozens of languages.
-Vatican Radio – Founded in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi at the request of Pope Pius XI, it broadcasts radio programming worldwide.
-Vatican Television Center (now part of Vatican Media) – Produces and distributes live video of papal liturgies, audiences, and events.
-L'Osservatore Romano – The Vatican’s daily newspaper, established in 1861.
-Vatican Publishing House – Publishes official papal documents and Church texts.
Together, these outlets ensure global access to the Pope’s teaching, Vatican events, and the Church’s magisterial documents in print, audio, video, and digital formats.
Visitors to parish or diocesan websites — whether on computers, tablets, or smartphones — will see a live feed of Vatican News content in their chosen language. The widget also links directly to the Pope’s full texts on Vatican.va, ensuring access to official speeches, homilies, and documents without mediation.
The Prefect of the Dicastery, Paolo Ruffini, encouraged bishops to promote the initiative widely. Broad distribution would highlight the bond between local Churches and the Bishop of Rome and serve as “a useful tool for evangelization.”
Fighting fake news
Andrea Tornielli, Editorial Director of the Dicastery, told Vatican News that the widget can also help address the spread of misinformation. By directing users to original sources, it offers clarity and transparency — priorities that Pope Leo XIV himself underscored in supporting the project.
The widget includes direct links to Vatican News, L'Osservatore Romano, and Vatican Radio. Content is available in multiple languages and can be displayed in horizontal or vertical formats, with adjustable dimensions and fonts to suit a website’s design. Videos can also be shared easily on social media.
Installation requires a single step: a webmaster selects the preferred language and layout through the Vatican News generator page and copies the customized code into the website. After that, the content updates automatically without further maintenance.
The initiative highlights a practical expression of ecclesial unity. By placing official Vatican content directly on local platforms, dioceses and parishes can remain closely connected to the teaching and daily activity of the Successor of Peter.
