Inside The Vatican

Today the Vatican released its long-awaited handbook, or “vademecum,” on how bishops and superiors of religious orders should handle allegations of sexual abuse against minors by clergy. This is the first time that all of the Vatican’s guidelines for handling abuse, from reporting to investigating and taking juridical action have been put together in one step-by-step format. In this special update episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle unpacks what’s new in the handbook and why it took a year and a half for the Vatican to develop this document. Links from the show: Vatican publishes handbook for bishops and religious superiors to guide response to abuse allegations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April of this year, the Vatican announced the creation of a new commission to study the female diaconate, following up on Pope Francis’ promise to reopen the question at the behest of the Amazonian bishops. Pope Francis had set up a previous commission to study the roles of female deacons in the early church in 2016. Though that commission’s final report had not been published, the pope described its findings as inconclusive and the members as “toads from different wells.” This week, on our last episode of “Inside the Vatican” before our summer hiatus, producer Colleen Dulle speaks with one of that commission’s members, Hofstra University Professor Phyllis Zagano. We discuss the church’s history not only of ordaining women deacons, but also the recent history of the conversation around ordaining them again. When the new commission was named in April, some who favor reinstituting the female diaconate expressed concern that the many of the new commission’s members opposed ordaining women deacons. On this week’s show, Ms. Zagano, who favors ordaining women deacons, gives her take on the new commission: “Looking at the membership, they are, interestingly enough, qualified to answer a single question that I think still needs to be determined on behalf of the Holy Father, which is, what is the ministry of the diaconate today? … And if you describe that, then what about that can a woman not do?” Links from the show: Pope Francis has set up a new commission to study women deacons Women: Icons of Christ by Phyllis Zagano, via Paulist Press Review: Phyllis Zagano makes the case for women deacons Video: Women Deacons: Past, Present, Future with Phyllis Zagano and Bernard Pottier, S.J. Inside the Vatican Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI left Italy for the first time in seven years last week, traveling to Germany to visit his ill brother, Georg. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry explains the challenges travel poses for the emeritus pope and why Benedict returned to the Vatican after only a few days. Since it is Colleen and Gerry’s last episode together before the summer break, the two also look ahead to the next few months. Gerry explains how the Pope spends his summers, and Colleen and Gerry discuss what’s next for the Vatican’s ongoing coronavirus response and the long-awaited Vatican report on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Inside the Vatican will release a few special episodes this summer, beginning with an interview next week with researcher Phyllis Zagano about the two papal commissions to study women deacons. Finally, don’t forget to take our Inside the Vatican listener survey! Links from the show: Benedict XVI makes surprise visit to gravely ill brother in Germany Benedict XVI returns to Vatican after visiting his brother in Germany Podcast: What does the pope do on vacation? Inside the Vatican Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò was back in the spotlight after President Donald Trump tweeted promoting an open letter that Viganò had written to him. The letter praised Mr. Trump for “defending the right to life” and expressed Archbishop Viganò’s belief in a number of conspiracy theories, including the idea of a “deep state” group undermining the American government and a parallel group within the Catholic church. Archbishop Viganò has published many such letters since his original 11-page “testimony,” published in 2018, accusing a number of top church officials of knowing about abuse by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, blaming a “homosexual network” in the Vatican for the abuse crisis, and calling on Pope Francis to resign.  The Vatican has been relatively tight-lipped in response to the archbishop: When journalists asked Pope Francis about the “testimony,” the pope refused to comment beyond saying, “Read that statement attentively and make your own judgment,” adding, “I think the statement speaks for itself, and you have a sufficient journalistic ability to make a conclusion.” Many of the archbishop’s claims have since been called into question, and the Vatican is conducting its own investigation into Mr. McCarrick. On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell and producer Colleen Dulle discuss why the Vatican has remained quiet in response to Archbishop Viganò and whether that is likely to change following President Trump’s endorsement. The hosts also discuss Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of the Poor, along with the new fund he established with the mayor of Rome and the governor of Lazio to aid workers who had not previously been eligible for government assistance. Links from the show: President Trump tweeted about Archbishop Viganò. So, who is he? Archbishop Viganò is aligning with Trump to stay in the spotlight. Pay him no attention. From 2018: Cardinal Marc Ouellet responds to Viganò charges, accuses him of blasphemy From 2018: It is time for Archbishop Viganò to meet the press Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of the Poor amid pandemic: We are all responsible Pope Francis sets up new fund for workers left out of coronavirus support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been five years since the release of “Laudato Si’,” and Pope Francis has called for a year of prayer and study on the encyclical’s themes of integral human ecology—that is, the importance of protecting the environment and the poor, who are most directly affected by climate change and the destruction of nature. But five years out, as the church works with new resolve to implement “Laudato Si’,” it is worth asking: Did the document make a difference the first time around? On this episode of Inside the Vatican, I speak with Sam Winter-Levy and Bryan Schonfeld, two Princeton University doctoral candidates in sociology, who recently released a paper studying the impact of “Laudato Si’.” The two examined data sets from a survey of Americans’ opinions on climate change from before and after the encyclical’s release, and they found that among churchgoing Catholics, there was a significant shift towards belief that climate change is real and caused by humans, and that there is a moral imperative to take action on it. We discuss their findings, and what the results reveal about the role religious leaders like Pope Francis can have in shaping public opinion. Read more: Who can convince Americans to follow the science on coronavirus? Religious leaders. | The Washington Post Full Paper: Factual or Moral Persuasion in the United States? Evidence from the Papal Encyclical on Climate Change Website: Bryan Schonfeld Website: Sam Winter-Levy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Francis spoke out on the police killing of George Floyd last week as protests against racism spread across the globe. This week on Inside the Vatican, veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell describes the protests in Europe and the change of heart some Europeans have had about racism in their countries. Pope Francis made his position on the death of George Floyd clear as he called two American bishops to thank them for speaking out against racism. One, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, had been photographed kneeling with a Black Lives Matter sign; the other was Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. On the show, Gerry and producer Colleen Dulle unpack the pope’s statement that “we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.” The hosts also give an update on the recent arrest of one of the two Italian real estate brokers who profited from the Vatican’s controversial London real estate deal. Gerry explains what role Gianluigi Torzi, the broker who was arrested, played in the deal and what questions remain to be answered in the Vatican’s ongoing investigation. Links from the show: Pope Francis calls U.S. bishops to offer prayers amid George Floyd protests Pope Francis on the death of George Floyd: We cannot tolerate racism and claim to defend life Vatican arrests businessman in shady London real estate deal Podcast: The Vatican’s $200 million London real estate scandal, explained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Francis took a major step in his ongoing reform of Vatican finance on June 1 by putting in place a centralized system to approve who gets contracts to work with the Vatican. The change amounts to what Crux editor John L. Allen, Jr. called a “direct frontal assault on Vatican nepotism.” This week on the Inside the Vatican podcast, America’s veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and I explain how the former system had led to corruption and how the new system aims to stamp it out.  Beginning in July, Vatican offices will have their contracts and budgets approved by a central authority, which will then oversee accepting bids from an approved group of contractors. The contractors will be vetted for ethics violations, tax evasion, and illegal activities before they are approved. Despite limiting Vatican entities to pre-approved contractors, the new system aims to increase competition for Vatican contracts and thus drive down prices—an important priority for the financially struggling institution. After that, Gerry and I discuss Pope Francis’ Pentecost messages, which focused on ensuring justice for those on the margins of society during the Covid-19 pandemic. I connect them with the ongoing protests in the United States sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, and Gerry says it is likely that the pope will comment on the unrest. Links from the show: In major reform, Pope Francis issues new regulations on awarding contracts in the Vatican In his Pentecost homily, Pope Francis asks Christians to reject narcissism and pessimism How can Catholics help lead the fight against racism? To fight racism, Catholics must hunger for justice like we do for the Eucharist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, America’s Rome correspondent, Gerard O’Connell, gives an exclusive look inside the Vatican museums, which will reopen with new social distancing measures in place on Monday, June 1. Then, Gerry and producer Colleen Dulle discuss the death of the former superior general of the Jesuits, Adolfo Nicolás. Father Nicolás led the Jesuits from 2008 to 2016 and was responsible in large part for implementing the justice-oriented vision laid out by the Jesuits’ 34th General Congregation. Colleen and Gerry examine Father Nicolás’ legacy and his friendship with Pope Francis. Up next, the Vatican spoke out against a U.S.-backed proposal for Israel to annex up to 30 percent of the West Bank. On the show, Gerry explains what the Holy See, which recognizes Palestinian statehood and has diplomatic relations with both it and Israel, aims to accomplish with its recent statement. Finally, Colleen and Gerry give a few updates on Pope Francis’ recent message to Chinese Catholics, his announcement of a year of prayer and study of Laudato Si’, and plans for the pope’s Pentecost Mass.   Links from the show: Former Jesuit superior general Adolfo Nicolás has died in Tokyo Watch Adolfo Nicolás’ funeral on YouTube Arturo Sosa remembers his predecessor, Adolfo Nicolás Watch: Remembering Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.: A Conversation with Fr. James Grummer, S.J. The Vatican objects to Israeli plan to annex Palestinian territory Pope Francis announces year of reflection on “Laudato Si’” and prays for Catholics in China Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Italy gradually reopens and public Masses resume there, the Vatican is facing the challenge of a decreased income while working to lead the world’s humanitarian and diplomatic response to the coronavirus pandemic. This week on the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell describes the scene in St. Peter’s Basilica on its first day open to the public since the start of Italy’s lockdown. Gerry and producer Colleen Dulle discuss Pope Francis’ last livestreamed daily Mass, which was celebrated on the centenary of St. John Paul II’s birth. Gerry explains how a Polish documentary on clerical sexual abuse cast a shadow on the centenary celebration, and what follow-up steps the Vatican may take to investigate. Colleen and Gerry also take a look at the Vatican’s finances in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Like many governments and companies around the world, the Vatican is facing a major loss in income. The Dicastery for Finance has instructed Vatican offices to build austere budgets for next year covering only what is essential—a move that could signify big changes for offices that were only required to prepare budgets for the first time a few years ago. Finally, the Vatican’s coronavirus task force has given its first update on its wide-ranging diplomatic, humanitarian and environmental work. Gerry and Colleen unpack their updates on how global hunger and migration have been impacted by the pandemic.   Links from the show: Pope Francis celebrates St. John Paul II centenary: ‘God sent his people a prophet.’ Vatican faces difficult budget choices as coronavirus pandemic crushes revenue Pope Francis highlights ways for Christians to help internally displaced people Vatican task force says millions risk hunger problems during pandemic; calls for ‘creative solidarity’ to solve global problems Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, producer Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss the Australian Royal Commission’s findings that Cardinal George Pell knew about priests abusing children in the Ballarat diocese as early as 1973, a year after he began working in that diocese, and that Cardinal Pell was involved in transferring pedophile priests between parishes.  The commission’s findings were previously released in a redacted form while Cardinal Pell’s trial and appeal process were underway. The Australian High Court overturned a lower court’s conviction of Cardinal Pell on sexual abuse charges in early April. On the podcast, Colleen and Gerry discuss what, if any, consequences may follow the Royal Commission’s findings. In this episode, the hosts also discuss changes in the Italian church as that country prepares to resume public Masses next week. Colleen details the sanitation requirements for public liturgies, and Gerry explains why Italian churchgoers may not be keen to go back to Mass quickly.  Colleen and Gerry also look at Pope Francis’ surprise appointment of a Franciscan as the new archbishop of Genoa. While previous archbishops of Genoa could count on being named cardinals, Gerry believes Pope Francis is unlikely to give the new archbishop a red hat while Italians are over-represented in the College of Cardinals.   Links from the show: Inquiry: Pell knew of abuse by Australian pedophile priest Italy will soon allow public Masses—with conditions Pope Francis, in surprise appointment, chooses a Franciscan as archbishop of Genoa, Italy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices