Inside The Vatican

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry preview Pope Leo’s planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, highlighting key events and speeches and discussing Pope Leo’s health ahead of the trip. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 0:00 Pope Leo voted in the midterm elections 1:07 Pope Leo’s health ahead of the trip 4:40 Why Pope Leo is visiting secular Uruguay 9:45 Pope Leo’s message to Argentina 14:00 Leo’s outreach to the poor and workers 17:12 Our Lady of Lujan’s significance 19:02 Pope Francis ‘will be omnipresent’ 20:59 Pope Leo’s Peruvian homecoming 24:45 Leo to visit the ‘margins’ of Peru 28:25 Leo’s familiarity with social and church issues 32:06 Outro and credits Links: Jesuitical: Catholic Midterm Discussion with Christopher White What to expect from Pope Leo’s trip to Uruguay, Latin America’s least Catholic country Deep Dive: Who is Rutilio Grande, and what does his beatification mean for the people of El Salvador? CTAs: Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of contentious elections around the world, Pope Leo XIV is preaching unity, both in the Catholic Church and in the world. But what does unity—or “unity in diversity,” as Leo often advocates—look like in practice? Church historian Massimo Faggioli joins host Colleen Dulle to talk about Pope Leo’s effort and tactics for promoting unity and peace. Find Dr. Faggioli’s new book, Leo XIV and the Global Church: Unity and Peace in English from Liturgical Press here. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:40 Significance of a U.S.-born pope 5:42 Social vs. liberal vs. democratic Catholicism 11:55 Pope Leo XIV’s social Catholicism and its roots 15:41 Leo’s ability to speak to the United States 20:03 ‘Unity in diversity’ as a ‘spiritual posture’ 25:22 Liturgy as a case study in Leo’s unity 28:09 Leo’s techniques for calm and unification 31:15 Synodality vs. collegiality under Pope Leo 36:33 Tensions between Catholicism and democracy 40:04 Catholics’ changing participation in U.S. politics Links: Pope Leo will travel to Latin America just weeks after cancer surgery The bishops who prayed over Trump and apologized—and gave us a lesson in moral responsibility Archbishop of Detroit calls out voter suppression ahead of midterms: ‘It’s an affront to God’ Prevost’s Parish Ministry: The Chicagoland church that helped form Pope Leo XIV Montse Alvarado prepares to step into Vatican communications prefect role Nov. 1 Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen evaluate how Pope Leo XIV’s recovery from his lung surgery is progressing and discuss questions of how the operation might affect his immediate future plans. In the second part of the show, they look at Leo’s personal intervention on behalf of a besieged city in Ukraine. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 0:00 Health update and intro 1:55 Pope Leo returns to audience in St. Peter’s Square 5:59 Leo’s emphasis on family at general audience 7:47 Leo’s hospitalization and resuming work 12:07 Can Leo still go to Latin America? 17:24 Leo’s planned trip to Assisi Oct. 27 19:23 Will Leo slow down or accelerate his work? 22:53 Leo’s calls with Putin and Zelensky 28:02 Does Leo think Ukraine should cede land? 30:56 Effect of Leo’s intervention for Oleshky 35:17 Outro and credits Links: Pope Leo needs no further cancer treatment, doctors say Pope’s brother speaks about Leo’s cancer diagnosis and recovery in new interview Pope Leo speaks with Putin by telephone from hospital Pope Leo spoke by phone with President Zelensky about reaching a ceasefire in besieged city of Oleshky Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerard O’Connell, veteran Vatican correspondent for America Media, examines what is known about Pope Leo XIV’s unexpected lung cancer diagnosis, surgery and uncertain recovery. He also explores a Vatican meeting on Amoris Laetitia, changing family realities, migration and the election of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as dean of the College of Cardinals.

Austen Ivereigh, a Catholic journalist and Pope Francis biographer, and Sebastian Gomes, an expert on Vatican affairs and synodality, revisit the heated family synods behind Amoris Laetitia. They discuss divorced and remarried Catholics, conscience, pastoral discernment, polarization, quiet implementation, and Pope Leo’s plans to revisit the document while addressing fragile family life and marriage preparation.

This week on Jesuitical, Colleen Dulle joins hosts Zac Davis and Sebasian Gomes to discuss Pope Leo’s recent visit to France, including his messages on assisted dying, European identity and the role of the Catholic Church in a secular country. Colleen also reflects on her experience of traveling with the pope for the first time. Sign up for Colleen’s newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 00:00 First time on the papal plane! 4:02 Why Pope Leo went to France 6:45 Catholic revival? 9:43 Secularity in France 14:02 Pro-life issues in France 17:57 Is Europe a "Christian" culture? 24:55 Pope meets abuse victims 34:08 Liturgy and division Links: Pope Leo’s trip to France won’t be a victory lap—and that’s a good thing. Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo navigates tensions between secularism and Catholic history on France visit ‘More than a monument’: Pope Leo’s speech at the newly renovated Notre-Dame Pope Leo draws 800,000 to Mass in the heart of Paris Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo addresses French conversion boom, warns against complacency Pope speaks out against French assisted-dying and abortion laws in Lourdes visit Mother: Pope Leo’s blessing of special-needs daughter recognizes ‘segment of humanity often set aside’ Pope Leo meets with survivors of abuse in Lourdes Pope Leo: Europe must return to path of dialogue, not military buildup Pope Leo is not ‘in panic mode’ about an A.I. catastrophe, but ‘we can’t just sit back’ and do nothing You can sign up for Colleen's 'Vatican Notebook' newsletter here: https://www.americamagazine.org/sign-up-for-vatican-notebook-email-newsletter Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support the show by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen preview Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, set for Sept. 25-28. The two unpack Pope Leo’s itinerary for the trip, give context for the political situation in the country and discuss what messages the pope may send to both secular and ecclesial authorities in a country and church that are being reshaped by the arrival of newcomers. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 00:00 News: Pope Leo to visit Latin America2:12 Background on Pope Leo's trip to France11:07 The EU, war, and multilateralism15:19 The pope's diplomatic balancing act18:20 A religious spring in France?24:00 Scandals, wounds and reconciliation29:20 Who the pope is meeting Links: Pope Leo XIV will meet with the French abuse survivors as critics demand action As Pope Leo prepares to visit France, can its ‘Catholic moment’ become a lasting revival? Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen discuss the “birthday gifts” Pope Leo XIV gave to the Vatican on his 71st birthday: an expansion of the Vatican Library and archives and the repeal of Covid-era salary cuts. The hosts explain Vatican salaries and what has changed financially for the Holy See since the pandemic. In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry give a primer on “Baby Bishops’ School,” the annual training for newly-ordained bishops that recently concluded in Rome. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:42 Pope Leo repeals Covid-era salary cuts 4:52 How Vatican employees are compensated 7:52 The Vatican’s financial recovery since 2024 10:39 Vatican finances under Pope Leo 15:06 Vatican Library and archive expansion 18:33 Baby Bishops’ School explained 21:03 Bishops get international perspective 24:49 Pope Leo’s address to new bishops 29:43 The Pope Leo ‘style’ of being bishop 33:40 What could change for bishops under Leo 35:30 Outro and credits Links:Pope Leo celebrates his 71st birthday—by giving gifts to the Vatican Is Pope Leo ‘Americanizing’ Vatican fundraising? What Pope Leo has said about an ‘A.I. pause’ Pope Leo calls for ‘culture of negotiation’ at meeting of North and South American leaders Synodality, multiculturalism and working with Pope Leo: Archbishop Costelloe on the Australian Catholic Church Pope Leo warns technology cannot replace the value of human relationships Cardinal Czerny awarded inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal Pope Leo commemorates 9/11, praying for all who ‘bear wounds of that tragic day’ Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen take the opportunity of Pope Leo’s 71st birthday on Monday, Sept. 14, to look back at what he has accomplished thus far in his papacy and what major items remain on his desk for the fall, including trips to France and Latin America, a series of high-profile appointments and the ongoing trials of Marko Rupnik and Angelo Becciu. The hosts also announce the launch of the newest America newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Subscribe here. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 3:21 Pope Leo celebrates his 71st birthday 5:50 A review of Pope Leo's first year 10:01 Pope Leo's effect on geopolitics 13:53 Pope Leo assembles a diverse new team 21:50 Leo's focus on peace, poverty and A.I. 28:10 Pope Leo is in no rush 29:10 The pope's preferences for bishops 35:11 Plans for filling bishop vacancies 37:03 Marko Rupnik trial updates 40:53 A new attitude on Vatican finances 44:30 Outro Links: How do popes celebrate their birthdays? Pizza, parties and puppies (from 2025) Is Pope Leo ‘Americanizing’ Vatican fundraising? Pope Leo: Catholics cannot be ‘unengaged spectators’ amid ‘injustice, discrimination and violence’ Pope Leo’s visit to France likely to attract a million people Peruvian city to unveil world’s tallest statue of Pope Leo for trip to South America A long-awaited reckoning: A timeline of the Father Marko Rupnik case Subscribe to Vatican Notebook Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo today received the National Constitution Center’s liberty medal and gave an acceptance speech via livestream from the Vatican. Colleen Dulle recaps his message. Links from the show: Read: Pope Leo’s message to the United States on its 250th anniversary Subscribe to America Magazine (use promo code VATICAN for $10 off an annual digital subscription) Fill out our listener survey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices