Vatican Launches First Major Website Overhaul Since the 1990s, Emphasizing Multimedia and Accessibility
Newsroom (May 27, 2025, 11:05, Gaudium Press) The Vatican has unveiled a comprehensive redesign of its official website, vatican.va, marking its first major update since the site’s creation in the 1990s. The revamped platform now prominently features multimedia content and streamlined access to Vatican offices and ministries. Many Catholics on social media humorously attribute this change to the intervention of Bl. Carlo Acutis
The homepage, published earlier this week, showcases a striking banner image of Pope Leo XIV against a light blue backdrop. Among the most notable changes is the replacement of outdated dropdown menus with a large, clickable “Magisterium” button—adorned with the pontiff’s coat of arms—providing direct access to papal homilies, speeches, and Vatican resources.
The updated site also simplifies the process of securing tickets for papal audiences and liturgical celebrations. Earlier this year, the Prefecture of the Papal Household—one of four Vatican offices now featured on the homepage—launched a dedicated portal with digital registration forms for individuals and pilgrim groups.
Other key ministries highlighted on the site include the Church’s charitable arm Peter’s Pence, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and details on the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
Additionally, the homepage offers daily news and event calendars related to Pope Leo XIV and Vatican activities in nine languages: Arabic, English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Visitors can also access essential Church documents, including the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, codes of canon law, ecumenical council texts, Catholic social teaching, and reports on the Church’s response to abuse cases.
The redesign reflects the Holy See’s ongoing efforts to modernize its digital presence and improve accessibility for a global audience.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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