In a world where information flows at dizzying speeds, few portals have managed to establish themselves as references in the field of Catholicism in the Spanish language. Infovaticana, founded in 2013 by Gabriel Ariza and Fernando Beltrán, emerges as a bastion of independent and rigorous journalism. Its beginnings were modest but it has evolved into a dynamic platform that attracts millions of readers in Iberoamerica. Its commitment to truth and criticism of the Catholic Church has positioned it as number one in its category, far surpassing other competitors that sink into disrepute, confusion and vulgarities.
The founding of Infovaticana represented a milestone in digital religious journalism by envisioning an independent space that offered news on the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and related topics, without ties to institutions or political agendas. From its launch, the portal has maintained a focus on in-depth investigation and analysis, highlighting reports on ecclesiastical scandals, papal decisions, and theological debates. This vision has allowed it to inform and foster critical dialogue, not without controversies, within the Catholic community.
One of the most notable aspects of Infovaticana is its recent website renewal, which has introduced a dynamic and modern interface. Although the original design was functional and content-focused, the update has incorporated interactive elements that enhance the user experience, such as intuitive navigation, customizable sections, and a real-time news feed.
This transformation reflects the team’s commitment to technological innovation, adapting to the demands of an increasingly demanding digital audience. Now, readers can easily access articles, blogs, and multimedia, which has boosted engagement and contributed to an increase in visits.
At the heart of Infovaticana beats the participation of its bloggers and collaborators, pillars of its success. Specola, La Cigüeña de la Torre and Sursum Corda provide unique and enriching perspectives to the portal.
Specola, The Daily Observatory of the Pope and the Vatican
Specola, whose name evokes the Latin term for «observatory,» has established itself as a pillar of Infovaticana from its beginnings. Although personal biographical details are not disclosed—maintaining the anonymity typical of some ecclesiastical bloggers—its trajectory reveals an expert in Vatican affairs with a keen pulse for papal and doctrinal current events. Its daily entries make it an indispensable source for those seeking a concise and thematic summary of what happens in the Holy See
Each post is a compilation of key news, interspersed with brief comments that invite reflection. It is not an extensive narrator, but a precise curator, using evocative titles to frame complex debates.
Its key themes revolve around Vatican life: papal trips and internal matters such as Vatican finances or sacred music. It also touches on global topics, such as the radicalization of Islam, human rights violations, or Advent, always with a Catholic thread. Its notable contribution lies in democratizing access to complex information. On a portal with millions of visits, Specola has helped position Infovaticana as the reference in Iberoamerica, surpassing other sites in traffic and engagement. Its focus on synods fosters constructive debate, essential in times of ecclesiastical reforms.
La Cigüeña de la Torre, no one matches that tireless voice
Francisco José Fernández de la Cigoña, known as «La Cigüeña de la Torre» or simply «Paco Pepe», is Infovaticana’s most iconic blogger. Born in Spain, with a career in the legal and journalistic fields, he is a staunch defender of Catholic orthodoxy. His blog, the most visited in Spain, accumulates thousands of entries that combine acidic humor, incisive analysis, and unwavering loyalty to ecclesiastical tradition. In February 2025, the team asked for prayers for his health after a couple of days without posts, a gesture that underscores the community’s affection for this veteran of religious information in Iberoamerica.
The Cigoña style is unmistakable. Direct, provocative, and unfiltered. His posts are narrative, often anecdotal, with an ironic touch that dismantles ecclesiastical hypocrisies. In the book Conversaciones Con Paco Pepe, in an interview with Gabriel Ariza, the character behind the blogger is revealed, and that book ranked 78th on Amazon’s best-seller list and number two in the religion category in 2018.
Recurrent themes include clerical scandals, controversial initiatives (such as those of the Heraldos del Evangelio in El Salvador) and internal tensions in the Spanish and Vatican Church; it is Paco Pepe’s style, like that of a bullet arriving in the ecclesiastical blogosphere, of deep impact, key in reports on abuses and liturgical reforms, attracting readers who value his independence. Despite attacks—including attempts to discredit him for his «ultraconservative» stance—, Cigoña has strengthened Infovaticana’s resilience, contributing to its leadership in monthly visits.
Sursum Corda, “lift up your hearts”
A blog with information from “the other side of the pond,” it stands as an essential space for in-depth and critical analysis of the ecclesiastical reality in Mexico. Edited by Guillermo Gazanini Espinoza, this digital corner not only informs about events in the Church in Mexico but also invites spiritual and social reflection that transcends everyday news.
With a critical focus, it combines rigorous journalism with spirituality for Mexican Catholics and Iberoamerican readers seeking to understand the tensions and hopes of faith in contemporary contexts. Its opening on Infovaticana came after the blogger’s departure from Religión Digital when the site’s directors, José Manuel Vidal and the editor-in-chief, Jesús Bastante, decided to remove him as correspondent in Mexico in July 2021 upon accepting that criticisms toward the Archbishop of Mexico, Carlos Aguiar Retes, were no longer shared by the site’s editorial line, as they estimated and defended the prelate as the Pope Francis’s man in Mexico, despite the scandals and the disaster that was already taking root in that particular church.
The author’s trajectory suggests a deep knowledge of local ecclesiastical dynamics, thanks to his involvement in Catholic media. Gazanini Espinoza, who is also director of the Agencia Católica de Noticias, links these two sites as a committed observer, capable of intertwining concrete facts with theological and social analysis. His style is accessible and journalistic, informative without being dry, critical without falling into sensationalism, and always oriented toward spiritual edification.
In a context where the Mexican Church faces polarizations—from clerical scandals to peace dialogues—, Gazanini stands out for his balance, defending Catholic orthodoxy while questioning institutional inefficiencies; despite recurrent anonymous attacks, the blog maintains the tone by fostering dialogue rather than confrontation. This has contributed to Infovaticana’s leadership in visits by offering truthful and verified content that does not evade painful realities, but illuminates them with faith.
Specola, La Cigüeña de la Torre and Sursum Corda embody the diversity of Infovaticana: informed observation, bold criticism, and spiritual elevation. Together, they have surpassed millions of visits, resisting attacks and consolidating the portal as number one in Iberoamerica. In a turbulent ecclesiastical landscape, their work reminds us that religious information must be truthful, critical, and hopeful.
Infovaticana reaches the end of 2025 as the number one Spanish-language religious information site in Iberoamerica, recording the highest number of visits among Spanish religious information media. With millions of monthly accesses, the portal has left, by far, other sites that, despite their longevity and resources, have not managed to match the traffic and loyalty of millions of users.
This supremacy is due to its commitment to truthful and critical information, addressing sensitive topics such as clerical abuses, liturgical reforms, and internal tensions in the Church, always with a balanced and documented approach.
Infovaticana continues to raise the standard of religious information, reminding us that faith and criticism can coexist in harmony. Its work informs and inspires a generation of readers to question and deepen what happens in the Church beloved by Our Lord Jesus Christ.