Inside The Vatican

Gerry traveled to Mongolia with Pope Francis from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. On this episode of “Inside the Vatican”—the premiere of season six—Gerry and Colleen analyze the pope’s trip to the world’s most sparsely-populated country and the message he sought to deliver there.Click here to read the full show page with additional stories and links for further reading.Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While much of the world’s attention has focused in recent years on global superpowers Russia and China, the vast and sparsely-populated nation sandwiched between them, Mongolia, has often gone overlooked.Once the seat of the mightiest land empire in history, Mongolia has a rich history and strong cultural identity rooted in Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire. The Catholic Church in Mongolia, however, is young: Aside from a few missionary visitors in the Middle Ages, the church has only had a presence in Mongolia for about 30 years.Pope Francis will visit Mongolia’s 1,400 Catholics from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, speaking to civil and religious leaders, including missionaries and participants at an ecumenical and interreligious gathering, and will dedicate a new House of Mercy, one of the charitable organizations that are often Mongolians’ first encounter with the Catholic Church.In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle speaks with historian Dr. Timothy May, current missionary Br. Andrew Tran and former missionary Fr. Peter Turrone about the history and current situation of Catholicism in Mongolia, and what Pope Francis hopes to achieve in his visit.Read more:Explainer: Mongolia only has 1,400 Catholics. Pope Francis is going there anyway.Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World Youth Day wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 6, having gathered 1.5 million young people from around the world. On this special summer episode of “Inside the Vatican,” America editors Ricardo da Silva, S.J. and Gerard O’Connell, who reported on the ground from Lisbon, recap the event with host Colleen Dulle.Links from the show:Spanish teen says she regained her sight at World Youth Day MassPope Francis fields questions on abuse, his health on return flight to RomePope Francis at World Youth Day: ‘Live each day with hearts free of fear.’Behind the scenes of a Way of the Cross like no other at World Youth DayPodcast: ‘Todos! Todos! Todos!’ A rejuvenated Pope Francis tells young people the church is for everyonePlease support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America editor Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell report from Lisbon on the opening of World Youth Day in this special episode of Inside the Vatican.An energized Pope Francis arrived yesterday, Aug. 2, giving a speech to Portuguese civic leaders in which he urged them to invest in young people and work for peace, especially in Ukraine. He also celebrated vespers and met with a group of survivors of clerical sexual abuse.The pope is scheduled to participate in several more World Youth Day events and travel to Fatima, where he is again expected to pray for peace in Ukraine.Links from the show:Ricardo da Silva, S.J.: How reporting from World Youth Day is reinvigorating my faithJames Martin, S.J.: ‘Does God exist?’ and other FAQs about faith and religion (World Youth Day address)Ricardo da Silva, S.J.: Ahead of World Youth Day, the head of the Jesuits had a candid Q&A with six young pilgrimsGerard O’Connell: In Portugal, Pope Francis challenges Europe to invest in young people, not weaponsCatholic News Service: As sex abuse crisis hits Portugal, Pope Francis says listen to the ‘anguished cry of the victims’Gerard O’Connell: Pope Francis to university students in Portugal: Your degree is a mandate to work for a better society.Follow Gerry on Twitter: @gerryorome Follow Ricardo on Twitter: @ricdssj Please support the production of "Inside the Vatican" by subscribing to America Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Two U.S. dioceses recently had visits from Vatican investigators, and one led to the resignation of a bishop. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry unpack what these official reviews mean, then look to some of the younger bishops Pope Francis has been appointing to ensure his legacy.After that, Gerry and Colleen give a preview of what’s happening in the Vatican this summer.Please fill out our listener survey!Other links from the showExclusive interview with Archbishop Frank Leo, Pope Francis’ ally in TorontoPope Francis appoints Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez as the new head of Vatican office for doctrineDays after Wagner coup attempt, Pope Francis sends cardinal for peace talksDeep Dive: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishopTwo U.S. bishops were recently subject to Vatican visitations. What do these interventions mean?Pope Francis is appointing more young bishops. Will they secure his legacy?Ignatian Wisdom Fellowship from Loyola University ChicagoSacred Heart Major Seminary’s online course "An Introduction to Spirituality”Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colleen and Gerry unpack the Synod on Synodality's working document and the clues it provides about the synod’s first global meeting in October. They explain the unique approach of “conversation in the Spirit” and explore the document’s key questions on communion, participation, and mission.Find the full show page and links for further reading here.Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have an exciting new podcast from America Media to share with you. It’s called “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast.” On each episode listeners will first hear an inspiring homily, especially delivered for the podcast, and then take a privileged peek into the heart and mind of the preacher in a conversation with the host, Jesuit priest and America’s associate editor, Ricardo da Silva, S.J. Whether you’re a preacher looking for inspiration or a Catholic in the pews, who believes like Pope Francis, that Catholic homilies could use some work, I hope you’ll check out the Preach podcast!To give you a taste of the show, we’re sharing this week’s episode of Preach, featuring America’s editor in chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J.Listen to more episodes of Preach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) announced today that the well-known religious artist Fr. Marko Rupnik has been dismissed from the Jesuit order after he was credibly accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women between 1985 and 2018.Read more: Jesuits expel prominent artist Marko Rupnik after allegations of abuse against adult women Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Francis has been in the hospital since Wednesday, June 7, recovering from an operation on an abdominal hernia. In this episode, Colleen and Gerry give an update on the pope’s recovery and analyze how the Vatican has been communicating about the pope’s condition.Find the full show page and links for further reading here.Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices