Vatican City all Newspaper list
Vatican City all Newspaper list
Vatican City List of Magazine
Independent and other publications
Vatican City List of TV Station
Vatican City – the world’s smallest sovereign state – may cover only 44 hectares and have a population of around 800, but it operates one of the most influential media ecosystems on the planet. Despite its size, the Holy See and Vatican City State publish and support an impressive array of newspapers, news agencies, radio stations, television channels, and digital platforms that reach hundreds of millions of Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide.
This continuously updated 2025 guide provides the most complete list of active newspapers and official media outlets based in or directly managed by Vatican City State and the Holy See.
1. L’Osservatore Romano
- Official Name: L’Osservatore Romano
- Language Editions: Daily (Italian), Weekly (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Polish, Malayalam)
- Founded: July 1, 1861
- Frequency: Daily (Italian edition), Weekly (other languages)
- Type: Official newspaper of the Holy See
- Website: www.osservatoreromano.va
- Print Circulation (2024 est.): 8,000–10,000 daily (Italian), ~70,000 combined weekly editions
- Notes: Considered the “semi-official” voice of the Vatican. While it states it reflects the views of the Holy See rather than being an official organ, papal speeches and documents are published here in full. The daily Italian edition is printed inside Vatican City.
2. Vatican News
- Official Name: Vatican News (successor to the Vatican Information Service and Radio Vatican news portal)
- Languages: 40+ languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili, Tamil, etc.
- Launched: June 27, 2015 (Radio Vatican website); rebranded as Vatican News in 2017
- Type: Official multimedia news portal of the Holy See
- Website: www.vaticannews.va
- Notes: Not a traditional newspaper, but the primary digital news source. Publishes daily news articles, papal documents, live streams, and video reports. Reaches over 80 million unique visitors annually.
3. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS)
- Official Name: Acta Apostolicae Sedis – Commentarium Officiale
- Founded: 1908 (official from 1909)
- Frequency: Monthly
- Language: Latin (with translations of major documents)
- Type: Official gazette of the Holy See
- Notes: The only truly “official” publication of the Holy See. All papal laws, decrees, appointments, and major documents acquire legal force only after publication in the AAS.
4. Acta Diurna (Internal Bulletin)
- Type: Internal daily bulletin for Vatican employees and residents
- Language: Italian
- Distribution: Limited to Vatican City State residents and offices
- Notes: Not available to the public. Contains administrative notices, Mass schedules, and internal announcements.
5. L’Osservatore di Strada (The Vatican’s newspaper for the homeless
- Launched: 2015 by Archbishop Konrad Krajewski (Papal Almoner)
- Frequency: Monthly
- Language: Italian
- Distribution: Free to homeless in Rome
- Notes: Printed using surplus copies of L’Osservatore Romano with a special cover and dedicated content.
6. Photo Service Bulletins (Vatican Media)
- Official Name: Servizio Fotografico – L’Osservatore Romano
- Type: Daily photo bulletins
- Distribution: Accredited journalists and media agencies
- Notes: While not a newspaper, these daily photo packages are widely used by global Catholic and secular media.
Historical but Currently Inactive Newspapers Published in Vatican City
Acta Sanctae Sedis (ASS)
- Years Active: 1865–1908
- Notes: Predecessor to Acta Apostolicae Sedis
Annuario Pontificio
- Years Active: Annual since 1716
- Notes: Official directory (book format, not newspaper)
Giornale del Vaticano
- Years Active: 19th century
- Notes: Early Vatican newspaper
La Correspondance de Rome
- Years Active: 1850s
- Notes: French-language predecessor
Journal de Rome
- Years Active: 1849–1852
- Notes: Published during the Roman Republic period
Vatican-Affiliated but Not Published Inside Vatican City
These publications are closely linked to the Holy See but are printed outside Vatican City walls:
L’Osservatore Romano (Weekly editions)
- Country: Italy
- Language: Multiple
- Notes: Printed in Italy but edited in Vatican City
Famiglia Cristiana
- Country: Italy
- Language: Italian
- Notes: Owned by the Pauline Fathers, not official Vatican
Avvenire
- Country: Italy
- Language: Italian
- Notes: Owned by Italian Bishops’ Conference
Civiltà Cattolica
- Country: Italy
- Language: Italian, others
- Notes: Jesuit review with articles pre-approved by Vatican Secretariat
Zenit News Agency
- Country: Global
- Language: Multiple
- Notes: Independent but historically close to Vatican
Vatican Media Ecosystem (2025 Overview)
Newspaper (Daily)
- Outlet: L’Osservatore Romano (Italian)
- Reach (est. 2025): 10,000 print + digital
Newspaper (Weekly)
- Outlet: L’Osservatore Romano editions
- Reach (est. 2025): 70,000+ combined
Digital News Portal
- Outlet: Vatican News
- Reach (est. 2025): 80–100 million unique visitors/year
Radio
- Outlet: Vatican Radio (105 FM in Rome)
- Reach (est. 2025): 40+ languages
Television
- Outlet: Vatican Media (formerly CTV)
- Reach (est. 2025): Live streams papal events
Official Gazette
- Outlet: Acta Apostolicae Sedis
- Reach (est. 2025): Legal reference for Church law
How to Access Vatican Newspapers in 2025
Physical Copies
- L’Osservatore Romano (daily Italian) is sold at the Vatican Bookshop (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) near St. Peter’s Square and select Roman newsstands.
- Weekly editions are available in many Catholic dioceses worldwide.
Digital Access
- www.vaticannews.va – Free full articles in 40+ languages
- www.osservatoreromano.va – Digital archive and current issues (some paywalled)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis – Free PDF archive on vatican.va
Subscriptions
- Weekly editions of L’Osservatore Romano can be subscribed through local Catholic distributors or directly via the Vatican website.
- Vatican News offers free daily newsletters in multiple languages.
Why Vatican Media Matters Globally
Despite the tiny size of Vatican City, its media outlets are read by:
- Catholic bishops and clergy in 221 countries
- Diplomats from 180 nations with relations to the Holy See
- Over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide
- International journalists covering religion and geopolitics
Pope Francis’s major encyclicals (Laudato Si’, Fratelli Tutti, Dilexit Nos) and apostolic exhortations first appear in L’Osservatore Romano and Vatican News, making these outlets essential primary sources.
Vatican City may be the smallest country in the world, but its media presence is disproportionately large. While only a handful of publications are physically printed within its walls – most notably the daily Italian edition of L’Osservatore Romano and the monthly Acta Apostolicae Sedis – the Holy See’s global media network remains one of the most respected and widely followed in religious journalism.
For researchers, journalists, Catholics, and diplomacy watchers, staying connected to official Vatican publications is essential for understanding the voice of the world’s largest religious institution.
