Inside The Vatican

Few events in Pope Leo’s young papacy have built as much anticipation as his first consistory. Summoning the cardinals of the Catholic Church to Rome for two intense days of meetings, the pope laid out clear signals about the direction for the church and a new collaborative style of governance.

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the key takeaways from the consistory, including:

- The significance of the topics chosen: synodality and evangelization

- How Leo is building on Pope Francis’ legacy

- How Leo’...

The pope’s annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia was once a run-of-the-mill affair, but in 2005, the year he was elected pope, Benedict XVI used the speech to lay out his decisive vision for the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. Francis famously used the speech to decry the “diseases” of the Roman Curia.

This week, Pope Leo XIV delivered his own first Christmas address to the Curia. On a special roundtable episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and producers Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes examine how Leo’s speech continued his predeces...

The Jubilee Year is drawing to a close and Christmas is drawing near. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell cover several important arts events the Vatican has hosted in the lead-up to Christmas, including the “Concert for the Poor” featuring Michael Bublé, the Ratzinger Prize concert with conductor Riccardo Muti and a live performance about St. Peter by filmmaker Roberto Benigni.

In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry cover the final major event of the Jubilee of Hope: the jubilee for prisoners and those who work in...

On Dec. 4, the final report from the Vatican’s second study commission on women deacons was published, saying that women can’t be ordained to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders,” but it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while its “assessment is strong…it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time.”

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Vatican correspondents Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell unpack the commission’s report: how it came about, why the commission seems to have left the door open to women dea...

Today, the Vatican published the results of its second study commission on women deacons. It said that women cannot be admitted to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders.”

However, it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while the commission’s “assessment is strong… it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time, as in the case of priestly ordination.”

Stay tuned to Inside the Vatican for a more in-depth look at this story, and read Gerard O’Connell’s report here: Vatican report says...

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Later this week, Pope Leo XIV begins his first international apostolic visit: a six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2. At the center of that journey is his stop in Nicaea—today the town of İznik—where the first ecumenical council (325 A.D.) set down the Nicene Creed, the profession of faith that has united Christians for seventeen centuries. Pope Francis had hoped to make this pilgrimage in May; now, Pope Leo is taking up the mantle.

We’re re-running our deep dive episode on Nicaea today—originally published before Pope Francis’ death. It explores th...

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and executive producer Sebastian Gomes unpack the news from the reports and analyze in-depth the work of the groups studying women’s ministries, seminary formation and the appointment of bishops.

Links from the show:

Synod study groups on ‘controversial’ issues release interim reports

To submit contributions to the liturgy working group: synodus@synod.va (Further info)

The debate on women deacons in the Catholic Church: A short documentary

Podcast: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop

The...

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Senior Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell explains what we know about the meeting, what cardinals are expecting, and what it means that this will be Pope Leo’s first big agenda item that was not already planned for Pope Francis.

Links from the show:

Buy Gerry’s new book (Spanish edition) El último Cónclave!

Pope Leo to call College of Cardinals to Rome for a two-day January meeting

Vatican News: Augustinian Fr Daleng new vice regent of Pontifical Household

Support Inside the V...

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss the new doctrinal statement on Mary and look at St. John Henry Newman being named a doctor of the church and co-patron of Catholic education.

Links from the show:

Pope Leo says ICE should allow ‘pastoral workers’ to bring detained migrants Communion

Vatican officially says no to controversial titles for Mary: ‘Co-redemptrix’ and ‘Mediatrix of all Graces’

Pope Leo declares St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the church and co-patron of Catholic education

S...

Pope Leo XIV delivered remarkably candid responses at a jubilee gathering for synodal teams and participatory bodies, in what senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell called “perhaps the most extraordinary session” he has witnessed since Leo’s election.

0:00 Intro

0:27 Interfaith peace meeting

1:48 Synod Jubilee Q-and-A

17:06 Synod Jubilee homily

23:45 Visit of King Charles III

28:54 Address to Popular Movements

34:28 Meeting with Jesuits

41:05 Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

46:04 Outro and Credits

Links from the show:

When Elise Allen, senior correspondent for Crux, sat down with Pope Leo XIV for his first full-length interview since his election, she heard echoes of Pope Francis’ inclusive vision—“todos, todos, todos”—but also a key difference. As she told Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell, hosts of “Inside the Vatican,” that when it comes to affirming church teaching, Leo is “much more willing to say that upfront and to just be super clear about that, drawing the line from the beginning.”

In the interview, Elise explained how Leo’s pastoral experiences have formed him into a leader whose ministry...

Pope Leo is drawing criticism from some U.S. Catholics over his consistent pro-life ethic, particularly after responding to questions about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, despite Durbin’s support for abortion rights.

While he said he was not familiar with all the details, Pope Leo expressed confidence in Cardinal Cupich’s judgment and emphasized that being truly “pro-life” means opposing not only abortion but also the death penalty and the “inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell notes on “Inside the Vatican” that the pope’s “hon...

Pope Leo XIV has released his first major teaching document, “Dilexi Te” (”I Have Loved You”). The apostolic exhortation, addressed “to all Christians on love for the poor,” was begun by Pope Francis and completed by Pope Leo. It emphasizes that the poor reveal a fundamental way of encountering Christ.

Gerard O’Connell, senior Vatican correspondent, and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., associate editor, join Colleen Dulle, host and Vatican correspondent, for a roundtable discussion on the document’s themes, its continuity with Pope Francis and the challenges and encouragement that it offers Christians.

Credits

P...

The Swiss Guard is the oldest army in the world. Steeped in tradition, bearing the weight of history, the Pontifical Swiss Guard—like the whole of the Catholic Church—is in a constant balancing act between safeguarding heritage and responding to modern-day needs.

In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” the team reports from the Swiss Guard’s barracks on how the historic corps is navigating the tension between past, present and future.

Interviews include:

David Alvarez, military historian and author of The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican Duration: 00:58:23

Pope Leo made a surprise appointment to fill the position he left behind as Prefect for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, the office that vets and recommends candidates to lead dioceses around the world. The man he chose, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, age 67, is an Italian bishop and member of the Carmelite Order. He was not, per Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell, among the names circulated before the appointment was made.

In this short episode of “Inside the Vatican”—abbreviated because of a forthcoming deep dive episode—Colleen and Gerry discuss Archbishop Iannone’s background and what he may bring t...

As protests for Gaza shut down ports, schools and transit services in Italy this week, Pope Leo spoke again about the Holy Land, on Sunday greeting representatives from various Catholic groups that are “engaged in works of solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip.” This week on Inside the Vatican, co-hosts and Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss Pope Leo’s comments on Gaza both on Sunday and in his first major interview with Crux’s Elise Allen. They analyze Leo’s hesitance to name the conflict a genocide and discuss a Vatican News editorial that laid ou...

Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams hosted an unprecedented pop concert in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday night, Sept. 13, the eve of Pope Leo XIV’s 70th birthday. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” America Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss the concert, the Pope Leo’s birthday, and excerpts from his first major papal interview.

The hosts discuss Pope Leo’s comments on his American and Peruvian identity, synodality, polarization and the role of the Holy See as both a mediator and a voice for peace.

Links from the show:

Leo turns 70...

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” America Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss the canonization of Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Gerry shares the sense of renewal he sees in the church given the popularity of these saints among young Catholics, and Colleen asks about some of the political and financial considerations in the saint-making process.

In the second half of the show, Colleen and Gerry discuss the “official-unofficial” nature of the LGBT Jubilee, which brought LGBT Catholics from around the world to Rome for a pilgrimage through the Holy Door at St. Peter’...

Welcome to the eighth season of Inside the Vatican!

This week, America’s Senior Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell and Vatican Correspondent Colleen Dulle unpack two significant meetings Pope Leo XIV held this week: One with their colleague the Rev. James Martin, S.J., and the other with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Gerry and Colleen reveal the significance of seemingly small details like the inclusion of Father Martin’s meeting on the Vatican’s daily bulletin and the disagreement between the Holy See and Israel over whether or not the pope invited the president.

In the seco...

Father Robert Prevost, O.S.A., has long been recognized as a bridge builder—a pastor who listens deeply, builds consensus, and seeks unity without imposing authority. In the third and final episode of our first-ever “Inside the Vatican” Deep Dive series on Pope Leo XIV, we follow his extraordinary journey—from his early years as pastor and formator in northern Peru to the chair of St. Peter.

Pope Leo’s ministry in Peru was marked by his dedication to empowering lay leaders and nurturing vibrant communities amid challenging circumstances. After returning to the United States, he served bri...

Father Robert Prevost’s early years in Peru shaped his ministry and vision for the church—but few know the brutal reality he encountered there in the 1980s and 1990s.

In this second episode of our “Inside the Vatican” Deep Dive series on Pope Leo XIV, we follow the future pope to northern Peru. He first served in Chulucanas as a canon lawyer, helping establish the new diocese after its elevation from an apostolic prelature. Following a brief return to Rome to defend his doctoral thesis, he came back to Peru as a formator for diocesan and Augustin...

No one expected a pope from the U.S. In this first-ever “Inside the Vatican” Deep Dive series, those who know him best reveal who Pope Leo XIV—“the American pope”—really is.

Across three episodes, we trace his vocation from Chicago’s South Side through his formative years as an Augustinian friar in the Midwest; training as a canon lawyer in Rome; early ministry in Peru as canon lawyer, priest and formator of future friars and diocesan priests; leadership of the Augustinian Order worldwide; a return to Peru as bishop; and, finally, to the Vatican—first as cardinal and...

Following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Pope Leo renewed his persistent plea for peace—condemning escalating violence and urging diplomacy over destruction. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss his appeals for an end to war since his election and his unexpected remarks at the premiere of a play about journalist Paola Ugaz, who exposed abuse in Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a powerful Peruvian lay group suppressed by Pope Francis earlier this year. They also preview Pope Leo’s upcoming retreat to Castel Gandolfo, reviving a papal tradition for rest, reflection and planning.<...

Pope Leo appeals for “reason and responsibility” amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran—and lights up the jumbotron in Chicago. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerry O’Connell report on the pope’s plea for peace and his message to 30,000 faithful at Rate Field, where he urged them to be “beacons of hope” in a divided world.

Find full show notes and related links on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠

Support our podcast—become a ⁠⁠digital subscriber to America Media.

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We pause our usual “Inside the Vatican” weekly format to continue the conversation from America Media’s subscriber-only Conclave Debrief event this past Monday, June 9. Hosts Colleen Dulle, Gerard O’Connell, and producer Ricardo da Silva respond to subscriber questions about Pope Leo XIV and the recent conclave.

Gerard compares this conclave with the 2013 election of Pope Francis, highlighting what made it unique. Colleen shares her firsthand experience covering a conclave live from the Vatican for the first time, while Ricardo reflects on the surprising surge in secular media coverage and growing interest in the papacy both in the U...

Gerard O’Connell shares insights from his interviews with seven cardinal-electors about why they chose Pope Leo XIV: a missionary with a global outlook, a leader known for deep listening, a promoter of synodality, and someone they found deeply credible. We also cover Pope Leo’s first priestly ordinations in Rome, where he urged new priests to live “lives that are known, lives that can be read, lives that are credible.” At the Jubilee Mass for Families, he said, “We must be prepared to defend the family.” Though some saw this as signaling a return to a firmer stance, this is a te...

Pope Leo XIV met with 5,000 Vatican employees this week, thanking them for their dedication and recognizing their role as the Vatican’s “institutional memory.” To acknowledge their extra work during the papal transition, he surprised them with a €500 bonus. We discuss what this gesture reveals about his leadership style and efforts to boost staff morale. We also recap his packed Sunday schedule: his installation at St. John Lateran, prayers at Pope Francis’s tomb and before the Salus Populi Romani icon, and a meeting with the mayor of Rome. Plus: his renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and releas...

A week into the papacy of Pope Leo XIV—the first U.S.-born pope—hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell take stock of the emerging contours and dimensions of his leadership. They begin with his private meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and what it might suggest about his diplomatic approach amid tensions between the Vatican and the U.S. over issues like migration and climate. They then turn to his emotional inauguration Mass, where the pope quoted St. Augustine, received the woolen pallium and fought back tears as the Fisherman’s Ring was placed o...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the first days of Leo XIV’s historic papacy.

Today, Pope Leo met with members of the Vatican press corps and the thousands of other media in Rome covering his election, telling them to be peacemakers and calling for the release of all imprisoned journalists. 

On our final episode recorded in Rome, the team discusses:

How Pope Leo related to the media, and the importance of his message of peace and truth in a world threatened by war a...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, the team discusses the Augustinian (and American) roots of Pope Leo XIV.

They discuss:

Pope Leo XIV is an alum of Villanova University. What’s the atmosphere is like on campus right now?

The Augustinian roots of Pope Leo: the intellectual, spiritual and social principles that will lead his ministry

How poverty, chastity and obedience are a path to freedom and joy

Subscribe to America to get our extensive coverage of the historic election of Pope Leo XIV at: ⁠⁠https...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O'Connell speaks to Colleen Dulle and Sam Sawyer, SJ about the unexpectedly quick election of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on the fourth ballot in the conclave.

They discuss:

What the speedy election tell us about the conclave?

Why a pope from the U.S. was thought to be "impossible", and why it happened anyway.

Analyzing Leo XIV's first address to the world and homily to the cardinals.

Who was Leo XIII? Who is Le...

Welcome to the America magazine conclave podcast. We are thrilled to join the church in welcoming Pope Leo XIV!

Our team was just in St. Peter’s Square for the historic election, and we’re here with first reactions and some important details about the life and ministry of the missionary Augustinian friar turned pope: the now former-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost.

Links from the show:

Robert Francis Prevost elected first American pope

Peru rejoices for their former bishop: Pope Leo XIV

Prepare to be surprised by the next pope

Do we really trust the Holy Spirit to guide the election of a pope? What does that trust feel like? Are we hopeful or fearful for what is to come? Why does it feel so hard to pray in Rome sometimes? 

The cardinals have asked for our prayers repeatedly in the run-up to the conclave. While they are sequestered away on the second day of conclave, Sebastian Gomes, Ashley McKinless, Zac Davis and J.D. Long García talk about what their prayer has been like while covering the lead-up to the conclave.

Read more:

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

The protocols being followed by the cardinals in conclave

The “habemus papam” moment, what the pope wears and other telling symbolic gestures 

What happens in the days immediately following the election of a pope?

This episode features:

Sam Sawyer, S.J., America’s editor in chief

Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” pod...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses the frontrunners entering the conclave, and explains how the voting could quickly confirm papabile lists or pivot to an unexpected candidate.

Featuring:

Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History

Colleen Dulle, co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast

Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor in chief of America

Read more at: https://www.americamagazine.org

<...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

Final preparations for the conclave, including additional meetings for the cardinals

President Trump’s A.I. pope image

Covering the conclave for secular media, with NPR’s Scott Detrow

The quirky procedures and protocols of the conclave, with Religion News Service’s Thomas Reese, S.J.

This episode features:

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

The security measures being taken at Casa Santa Marta, where the cardinal electors will stay during the conclave, including lock inspections and sealed windows

The history and recent rise of betting on who will be the next pope, as well as Fantasy Football-style apps for building your conclave team

The influence of the Synod on Synodality for the conclave—and wha...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

The latest conclave news, including the installation of the chimney of the roof of the Sistine Chapel and how many cardinals have arrived in Rome

The cardinals have asked Catholics to pray for them and the conclave. What exactly should we be praying for? And should we be scandalized by the intermingling of politics and spirituality?

This episode features:

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

Cardinal Beniamino Stella’s stunning attack on Pope Francis in Wednesday’s general congregation meeting of the College of Cardinals

The “election” of a new bishop in mainland China—while the chair of St. Peter is empty

Papabile: How do conclave watchers come up with their lists of the next pope (and should we trust them?)

This episode fe...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

President Donald Trump’s choice for pope

The latest from the cardinal pre-conclave meetings

The question: Will the next pope be an Italian?

The unfinished business of Pope Francis’ papacy, including: synodality, fighting sexual abuse, reforming Vatican governance and an ecumenical trip to Turkey on the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea  

This episode features:

S...

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. 

In today’s episode, the team discusses:

- The controversial presence at the pre-conclave meetings of Cardinal Becciu, convicted of embezzlement, and Cardinal Cipriani, who was sanctioned by the Vatican for alleged sexual abuse

- The topics emerging in the cardinals’ secret meetings

- How “unity” and “clarity” are becoming buzzwords for reversing Francis’ style of governance

This episode features:

- Sebastian Gomes, America’s executive editor...

America Magazine’s editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. As part of the coverage, the team is producing a new podcast episode every day and releasing it on Inside the Vatican and Jesuitical.

In today’s episode, the team discusses:

- The funeral of Pope Francis

- The cardinal’s decision to start the conclave on May 7

- The College of Cardinals by the numbers

- How the conclave is (and isn’t) a referendum on Pope Francis’ pontificate

Pope Francis—the first Jesuit and Latin American pope—has died.

As 1.4 billion Catholics begin mourning the loss of their pastor, and the world grieves one of its most prominent spiritual leaders, the Church remembers the pope who saw himself not only as the bishop of Rome, but as a parish priest to the whole world.

Now, a momentous process begins in Rome: the funeral, the mourning rites, and the election of a new pope.

In this special deep-dive episode of Inside the Vatican, host...

“We’ve lost a friend on earth—and gained one in heaven,” says Gerard O’Connell as he mourns Pope Francis. In this special Inside the Vatican roundtable, recorded the day after the pope’s death, hosts Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle join their producer, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., for a heartfelt conversation about the life, legacy and final days of a pope who changed the Catholic Church—and changed them.

Gerry, who perhaps knew Francis more as a friend than as pope—having shared a personal bond for more than two decades, and whose...

Pope Francis died early this morning at 7:35 a.m. Rome time. He was 88. His death follows a 38-day hospital stay for double pneumonia that ended last month.

He died at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lived. A brief service was held there, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, who now oversees preparations for the next conclave.

In announcing the pope’s death, Cardinal Farrell said Francis “taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the...

The Nicene Creed, which emerged from the Council of Nicaea, remains a foundational declaration of Christian faith today. But what exactly was Nicaea? Why does it still matter to Christians centuries later? 

This special deep dive unravels what made the council groundbreaking and explores how it continues to impact Christian life today. Host Colleen Dulle brings listeners inside its rich history through interviews with experts; theologians, ecumenical scholars and historians.

Our guests include:

Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick died on April 3; he was the first cardinal to be removed from the College of Cardinals over sexual abuse and was ultimately laicized. This week, we’re re-presenting “Inside the Vatican”’s 2020 deep dive, “The Rise and Fall of Theodore McCarrick,” which was published just after the Vatican published an unprecedented report into how McCarrick was able to rise through the church’s ranks despite his abuse being an “open secret.”

In this episode, America’s Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle explain the rise and fall of Theodore McCarrick...

On Mar. 20, Pope Francis said in his written Sunday Angelus address that he was experiencing Lent as a time of “healing” in his body and his soul. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell walk us through the pontiff’s recovery, including “slight improvements” in his speech.

In the second half of the show, Colleen and Gerry discuss an announcement made by the bishop of Lourdes that the mosaics on the doors of the Lourdes Shrine by alleged abuser Marko Rupnik will be covered up this week. Duration: 00:27:45

Pope Francis has returned home after 38 days in the hospital, which included two life-threatening respiratory crises. In this episode, host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss a revealing new interview that the pope’s doctor gave to an Italian newspaper. Gerry describes the scene at the Gemelli Hospital when the pope made his first public appearance on March 23, and the two describe what they know so far about what to expect from the pope’s planned two-month convalescence period.

Note: After this podcast was recorded, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charle...

Pope Francis’ doctors announced at a press conference early this evening Rome time, March 22, that he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, March 23, following a six week hospitalization for double pneumonia, the longest of his pontificate. The pope will give a quick wave from his balcony at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital tomorrow, then return to the Vatican.

The doctors said he will have to observe a recovery period of two months before he can return to his usual pace of work. During this time, he can work and have individual meetings, but no big...

Buckingham Palace announced a meeting between King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 8. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry discuss whether the pope is on track to leave Gemelli Hospital in time for the royal visit, noting his gradual health improvements and the absence of setbacks since March 3. In the second part of the show, Francis appears to be shoring up his legacy, announcing the next stage in the global synodal process: a three-year implementation phase culminating in an ecclesial assembly in 2028.

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Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger, according to the Vatican and doctors at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has now entered his fourth week of treatment. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Ricardo da Silva, S.J., speaks with veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell to provide the latest updates on Pope Francis’ slow but steady recovery. 

In the second half, Ricardo and Gerry discuss a recent talk in Germany given by the Vatican’s doctrinal chief Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, which appears to present a pastorally sensitive response to those expe...

After 21 days of hospitalization, Pope Francis sent a brief message of thanks that was played for those praying for him in St. Peter's Square the night of March 6.

Read Gerard O'Connell's report on the message here.

Visit americamagazine.org for the latest on Pope Francis' health.

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Pope Francis has been hospitalized for nearly three weeks with double pneumonia. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Ricardo da Silva, S.J., speaks with veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell about the pope’s health, ongoing work, and the misinformation surrounding his condition. While stable, the pope’s condition remains serious, and his prognosis is “guarded,” meaning he is not yet out of danger.

In the second half, Ricardo asks Gerry about his recent interview with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, where they discussed ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as diplomatic re...

Earlier today, March 3, the Vatican announced that the Pope experienced two acute breathing crises caused by a significant buildup of mucus in his airways, linked to his ongoing pneumonia infection. Doctors performed two bronchoscopies to clear the mucus and resumed non-invasive ventilation with an oxygen mask to assist his breathing, without the need for intubation.

His prognosis remains guarded, and doctors will continue to closely monitor his condition.

Subscribe to americamagazine.org for the latest.

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In this special update, we report on a concerning turn in Pope Francis’ health. Earlier today, Feb. 28, the Vatican announced that the pope suffered a severe “bronchial spasm,” causing vomiting and inhalation complications that worsened his breathing. Doctors cleared his airways and stabilized him, but informed sources tell America he is back in a “critical state.”

His prognosis remains guarded, and doctors say it will take a day or two to assess the impact of this setback.

Subscribe to americamagazine.org for the latest

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Pope Francis remains in critical condition after being hospitalized for bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia. While his condition is serious, there are signs of improvement, including progress in his lab results and increased mobility. However, his doctors caution that he is not out of danger, and his condition could still worsen.

In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell provide a comprehensive update on Pope Francis’ health crisis, discussing the Vatican’s daily health reports and a recent press conference in which the pope’s medical team shared details of his condition. D...

The Vatican told the press this evening, Saturday, Feb. 22, that Pope Francis experienced what it called a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis”—essentially, the symptoms of a severe asthma attack—requiring him to receive high-flow oxygen.

This evening’s update also said that Francis’ most recent blood tests revealed “thrombocytopenia,” which is a lowered level of platelets in the blood that is common in critical care patients. This condition resulted in a need for the pope to receive blood transfusions.

Repeating what doctors said at the press conference yesterday, the Vatican said, Po...

Pope Francis remains hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since his admission on Feb. 14 with a respiratory infection, later confirmed as double pneumonia. He is stable, without fever, and in good spirits. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss his diagnosis, treatment, and how the week has unfolded for the pope.



In the second half of the show, Colleen and Gerry use Pope Francis’ letter to the U.S. bishops—offering a strong critique of U.S. immigration policy under Trump—as a springboard to explore broader policy tensions between...

Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital on Friday, February 14 for a respiratory infection that the pope referred to as bronchitis. He underwent tests and rested over the weekend, skipping his Sunday Angelus for the first time in 12 years. The Vatican said his condition was improving on Saturday and Sunday and that the fever he entered the hospital with had gone away.

A statement from the Vatican Monday morning, however, revealed that Pope Francis may need to stay in the hospital longer than originally anticipated. When the pope entered the hospital, the Vatican announced...

The Vatican released the long-awaited document Antiqua et Nova ("Ancient and New") on artificial intelligence on Jan. 28. It explores the relationship between human and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that humans cannot be replaced by AI, which must always serve the common good. Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary for the culture section of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, joins Inside the Vatican host Colleen Dulle to discuss the document, and Vatican's broader approach and response to AI.

Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media.

Learn more about...

This morning, Feb. 11, Pope Francis sent a letter to the U.S. bishops denouncing President Trump’s mass deportation program, which has already deported thousands of people and sparked fear in the migrant community.

Read more at americamagazine.org

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On Monday, Feb. 3, the Vatican hosted its first International Summit on Children’s Rights, which Pope Francis called an “open observatory” for children’s protection in an attempt to showcase “the reality of childhood throughout the world, a childhood that is unfortunately often hurt, exploited, denied.” In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry dive into the goals of the summit and unpack Pope Francis’ plan to write a papal document dedicated to children, described as an attempt “to give continuity to this commitment and promote it throughout the church.”

In the second half of th...

This special deep dive episode recaps the 2024 VaticanRoman meeting of the Synod on Synodality, featuring interviews with five synod delegates about the tensions and unexpected breakthroughs in the Synod hall—and outside it.

The episode brings listeners inside Synod meetings with archival audio, and parses the synod’s final document, which Pope Francis adopted as part of the church’s magisterial teachings. Finally, host Colleen Dulle and expert guests look at what the Synod’s results demand now from church leaders and every baptised Catholic.

Guests include:

- Archbi...

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., filling in for Colleen Dulle, speaks with Gerard O’Connell about Pope Francis’ recent interview on Italian TV. In the interview, given on the eve of the U.S. presidential inauguration, the pope announced that by March he would appoint a woman to lead the Vatican City-State government. He also criticized President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans as a “disaster.”

Last week, the Biden administration announced that Cuba would release 553 political prisoners, and in return, the U.S. would remove Cuba’s designation as...

The Vatican has approved new guidelines from the Italian Bishops’ Conference, allowing gay men to enter seminaries if they commit to celibacy, as expected of all seminarians regardless of sexual orientation. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss whether this signals a shift in admissions policy and the potential implications for seminarians worldwide.

They also cover Pope Francis’s annual address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, where he called for a “diplomacy of hope.”

Later, Gerry shares highlights from his interview with Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David, who faced d...

Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy as archbishop of Washington and Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian Consolata missionary, as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Her appointment makes her the first woman to lead a major Vatican department and to have a cardinal as her deputy.

On this week's episode of “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O'Connell discuss the challenges Cardinal McElroy may face in Washington, D.C., due to his views on issues like racism, migration, poverty, and climate change, which may...

The Catholic Jubilee Year, established in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, is rooted in the Jewish tradition of releasing prisoners, forgiving debts, and restoring harmony every 50 years. During the Jubilee, Catholics can receive plenary indulgences, which remove the temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven and can be offered for others, such as those in purgatory.

In this episode of Inside the Vatican, Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the 2025 Jubilee Year, beginning on Christmas Eve 2024 and ending in January 2026. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” Pope Francis seeks to rekindle hope and tr...

On his 88th birthday, Pope Francis revealed he survived two assassination attempts during his 2021 apostolic visit to Iraq, a journey already recognized as high-risk. In this episode of Inside the Vatican, Colleen and Gerry examine this shocking disclosure and other insights from his forthcoming autobiography, Hope, with excerpts released to mark the occasion ahead of its January publication. They also reflect on the first-ever visit of a pope to the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Sunday, Dec. 5, where he participated in a conference on popular religiosity and celebrated Mass for the island’s predominantly Catholic community.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell take a closer look at  Pope Francis’ latest consistory, which created 21 new cardinals on Saturday, Dec. 7. In the second half of the show, they discuss the pope’s call for an end to the death penalty in the United States and for ceasefires in the world’s wars before Christmas. 

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On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell investigate Pope Francis’ new letter on the final synod document, his address to experts of the International Theological Commission on developing a theology of synodality and Gerry’s interviews with Archbishops Charles Scicluna and Timothy Costelloe. They also unpack Pope Francis’ hope to leverage the 2025 Jubilee Year to end international wars.  

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In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World, a new book being released this week in which Pope Francis calls for the investigation of allegations of genocide in Gaza. They also unpack the Pope’s celebration of the eighth World Day of the Poor on Sunday, Nov. 17 with a lunch shared by 1300 poor and homeless people in St. Peter’s Square and a moving homily at Sunday Mass.

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Inside the Vatican’s Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell unpack the Vatican’s response to the re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. They also cover several stories, including a new AI model of St. Peter’s Basilica developed in part by Microsoft, new Vatican appointments and a slate of Jesuit news out of Rome. 

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On this week’s episode, host Colleen Dulle interviews Catholic author and academic Michael W. Higgins to discuss his new book, “The Jesuit Disruptor: A Personal Portrait of Pope Francis.” They unpack the pope’s responses to scandals, his reform efforts, and his spiritual and intellectual formation—all of which have profoundly shaped his moral voice at the helm of an evolving church. 

Find full show notes and links for further reading here.

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Gerry and Colleen unpack their takeaways from the 2024 Synod on Synodality’s final document  and from the 2021-2024 synodal process as a whole. In the second part of the show, Colleen interviews Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark about what the experience at the synod means for the U.S. church and how bishops exercise authority.

More from this episode:

An English translation of the Synod's Final Document will be posted here

Father James Martin: The conversions I had at the synod

...

On this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., interview Dr. Catherine Clifford, a professor of systematic and historical theology at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada, who served as an elected member of the 2024 Synod on Synodality’s drafting commission for the final document

They discuss the meetings on the discernment of women deacons that happened during the synod, as well as the document-drafting process and Dr. Clifford’s reactions to the final decisions the synod took.

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On the eve of the highly anticipated publication of the final report for the Synod on Synodality, Inside the Vatican host Colleen Dulle and Jesuitical host Zac Davis speak with their colleague and synod delegate James Martin, S.J., about his experience this month inside the second assembly.

Zac and Colleen discuss:

- The atmosphere at this year’s synod assembly compared to last year’s

- How controversial topics like L.G.B.T. issues and women’s ordination have been tackled

- The deep c...

The “Inside the Vatican” team is together in Rome—live and in person—for the Synod on Synodality’s final week. Host Colleen Dulle, veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O'Connell and producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., discuss last week’s most contentious story out of the Vatican: the scheduled meeting of Study Group 5, which is considering ways to increase participation for women in the Church, including the possibility of women deacons.

The team examines the “palpable outrage” reported by delegates during their scheduled meeting, where they expected to engage with the Vatican's doctrinal chief and study group members. Instead...

On this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., are joined by Rev. Matthew Laferty, a Methodist minister who works for the World Methodist Council and represents the Methodist church’s relationship with the Catholic Church and the Vatican. They discuss how the Catholic Church’s current Synod on Synodality is inspiring deeper conversations and greater unity between the Christian churches.

A link to further reading from the episode will be added here soon.

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The 2024 session of the Synod on Synodality has reached its halfway point. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., reporting from Rome, provides an overview of the second week of the synod.

Then, joined by Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell, the two explore some central themes that are beginning to emerge from this session of the synod, including the growing role for theologians, the reimagining of ordained ministries and how the Catholic Church's efforts to foster unity with fellow Christian churches are central to its understanding of synodality. 

In...

On this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle is joined by Laurence Gien, a survivor of clerical sexual abuse who spoke about his experience as part of a penitential celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Oct. 1, 2024.

Calling for healing for survivors and administrative urgency from the church to address their pain, Mr. Gien saw his testimony as an important symbolic act to promote transparency and accountability for people wounded by the Catholic Church—many of whom remain unnamed and unheard.

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The second session of the Synod on Synodality began with a penitential liturgy at St. Peter's Basilica, where a victim of child sexual abuse shared his story for the first time during an official liturgy there. This underscored the church's commitment to naming its sins, greater transparency and accountability.

On this episode of Inside the Vatican, host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell are joined by producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., to recap the first week of the synod. While the consideration of contentious issues like the ordination of women to...

Colleen Dulle and Gerard O'Connell tackle your burning questions in a special mailbag episode of “Inside the Vatican.” Tune in for their answers on issues that matter to ordinary Catholics. What real changes can we expect from the Synod on Synodality? Why won’t Pope Francis travel to Paris for the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral this December? And how is the Vatican responding to the rapidly expanding war in the Middle East? Colleen even shares her thoughts on who the next pope might be, while Gerry explains why he prefers to opt out of such speculation.

...

This episode of “Inside the Vatican” was originally slated to be our mailbag Q. and A. episode, but with so much news, Gerry and Colleen are focusing this week on the most newsworthy moments from Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium. Sexual abuse was a main issue going into this visit; what was less expected were the criticisms the pope faced on the role of women in the church and society.

In the second half of the show, Colleen and Gerry explain the expulsion of ten members of an influential Catholic lay group in Peru. One of...

Among the youngest people in a room of mostly bishops, Julia Oseka and José Manuel De Urquidi were in the first group of lay voting members at a synod, as delegates to the Synod on Synodality held at the Vatican last year. In an episode of “Inside the Vatican” recorded last month, José and Julia join host Colleen Dulle for an interview about their experience at the synod: a month of deep listening, dialogue, and disagreement handled with respect—even on sensitive topics like LGBT issues and women’s ordination—and what they expect from this year’s gathering.

On Sept. 19, the Vatican officially recognized Medjugorje as a place of pilgrimage and popular piety, stopping short of confirming the supernatural origin of the apparitions. The next day, Pope Francis, in a fiery speech to global grassroots organizers, criticized the wealthy for obstructing social justice and advocated for higher taxes on billionaires, an end to sports betting, and a universal basic income.

Also on the show, host Colleen Dulle and Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell discuss Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium and Luxembourg from Sept. 26-29 and what he might find in these increasingly secu...

Pope Francis’ 12-day Southeast Asia visit ended in striking contrast to its start, reports veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell. Singapore’s relatively empty streets upon his arrival gave way to 55,000 supporters in the stadium for his final Mass, where he took extra time to greet and bless children. On the flight back to Rome, resuming his now-anticipated press conferences, Pope Francis criticized U.S. presidential candidates, labeling Kamala Harris’s views on abortion and Donald Trump’s migration policies as “both against life.”

In the second half of the show, Gerry and host Colleen Dulle...

Pope Francis continues his longest international visit to date: an almost-two-week tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell reports live from Dili, the capital city of Timor Leste, sharing insights into the pope’s historic visit to Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste—where nearly half of the country’s population gathered to celebrate Mass with him—and previews the final leg of the trip to Singapore.

Read more about the pope's historic trip to Asia

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This week, Pope Francis embarked on the longest journey of his pontificate: A two-week trip across Southeast Asia and Oceania. In the season premiere of ‘Inside the Vatican,’ veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell reports from Jakarta, Indonesia, on how the visit is progressing and what lies ahead as the pope travels to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore.

Find links for further reading on the pope’s Asia trip here.

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The Vatican declared Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò guilty of schism and excommunicated on July 4. For anyone who has followed the archbishop’s public statements over the past few years, the decision was anything but a surprise. Still, no one could have predicted that this Vatican diplomat with more than 40 years of service would fall so precipitously from favor.

In this special deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle interviews journalists, a canon lawyer, and a historian to trace Viganò’s transformation from top Vatican official to being excommunicated for schism, and what that...

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò faces a Vatican trial for schism that is likely to end quickly. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle explain the charges against the Vatican’s former nuncio to the U.S., and what happens next in his extrajudicial disciplinary process.

Later, Colleen shares with Gerry what happened when she asked the prefect of Vatican communications Paolo Ruffini’s to explain why his dicastery continues to use artwork by the disgraced ex-Jesuit Marko Rupnik in its publications.

Find l...

Pope Francis met individually with ten world leaders at the G7 Summit. He also made history as the first pope to attend and deliver a speech at the gathering, where he urged delegates to prioritize ethics in artificial intelligence for the common good. Earlier that day, he had met with 100 international comedians at the Vatican. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell bring you inside both events.

Father James Martin, S.J., joins them to discuss the pope’s meeting with comedians, which he attended, and his hour-lon...

U.S. Cardinal Robert McElroy urged U.S. Catholics to be “more vigorous advocates” in support of Pope Francis’ calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, in an interview with America’s veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell.

On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and host Colleen Dulle discuss Gerry’s interview with the cardinal and give an overview of a busy week for the pope. On Friday, he will meet with a group of comedians including Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen Colbert, then travel to southern Italy for the G7 summit, where he will meet U.S. President J...

Pope Francis hosted the inaugural World Children’s Day, a Vatican initiative held from May 25 to 26 at Rome’s Olympic Stadium and St. Peter’s Square. The event drew around 50,000 children spanning more than 100 nationalities and featured conversations between the young participants and Pope Francis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and actor Roberto Benigni were also in attendance. With the event, the pope hoped to raise awareness about the plight of children caught in war, promote global peace, care for the environment and empower the younger generation.

On the show, producer and guest host Ricardo da Silva, S.J...

Pope Francis is under fire for reportedly using a homophobic slur during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops at the Vatican on May 20. The incident occurred during a Q&A session where seminary admissions policy for gay candidates was discussed. Despite a swift apology from the Vatican on the pope’s behalf, the incident has led many to question whether there are limits to what had hitherto been perceived as Pope Francis’ welcoming and inclusive stance toward L.G.B.T.Q. persons.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and co-host and vete...

A day after news broke that Pope Francis had allegedly used a derogatory word about gay men applying to seminaries in a closed-door conversation with Italian bishops, the Vatican has issued an official response:

“Pope Francis is aware of articles that recently came out about a conversation, behind closed doors,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. “The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term, reported by others.”

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In his 60 Minutes interview with Norah O’Donnell, Pope Francis said a categorical “no” to women deacons with Holy Orders. In this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell unpack the implications of the pope’s comment and discuss the broader highlights of the interview, including Pope Francis’ thoughts on his U.S. critics, antisemitism, and the hope he finds in humanity.

In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry dig into the Vatican's new document on authenticating Marian apparitions and alleged “supernatural phenomena.” Released May 17, the 13-page guide establis...

On May 9, Pope Francis issued a papal bull proclaiming the 2025 Jubilee Year. The document, resembling a social encyclical, urges nations to grant amnesty to prisoners and calls on the world’s most powerful entities to forgive the debts of poor countries. Can Pope Francis’ calls match the impact of John Paul II’s in the Jubilee of 2000?

Later, Colleen shares her review of reports from a global synod meeting of 200 parish priests, held just outside Rome, and suggests that this meeting gave rise to a collective vision for a “synodal parish”.

Links from the episode here.

As the war in the Holy Land continues to escalate and protests break out on university campuses around the world, Pope Francis persists in his calls for peace. But is it possible? Where does peace begin?

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” David Neuhaus, S.J., an Israeli priest who teaches Scripture in Israel and Palestine, joins hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell for a conversation on what he believes can bring peace in the Holy Land war. He reflects on how Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs can engage in dialogue without dismissing each other’s painful...