Inside The Vatican

The Vatican published Pope Francis’ long awaited follow-up document to the Amazon Synod, “Querida Amazonia,” or “Beloved Amazon,” this morning. This document was highly anticipated because it was expected to include Pope Francis’ final decision on whether or not to allow the ordination of mature, Indigenous, married men as priests or of women as deacons in the Amazon region. Although the synod bishops recommended that Pope Francis approve the ordination of married men, the pope avoided the topic in his document, opting instead to encourage more vocations to the priesthood in the region. Some analysts have taken this, combined with Francis’ emphasis on the bishops’ recommendations document, to mean that the question of married priests is still open.  On the question of female deacons, Francis says no, but encourages the church to find other, creative ways to increase women’s roles in ministry. In this brief update episode of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast, I explain how these decisions, along with Francis’ comments on creating an Amazonian liturgical rite, fit into his pattern of entrusting important decisions to local churches—and what challenges churches face when trying to make these decisions. “Querida Amazonia” is about much more than these two issues. You can find more coverage of the document at americamagazine.org, along with a full analysis next week on “Inside the Vatican.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and producer Colleen Dulle explain why Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s personal secretary and prefect of Pope Francis’ household, has been missing from public events in recent weeks. The Vatican said it was due to an “ordinary redistribution of his responsibilities,” but the timing seems to suggest it has to do with Archbishop Gänswein facilitating Benedict’s involvement in a recent controversial book on priestly celibacy. The hosts explain what’s known and unknown about Archbishop Gänswein’s situation. The hosts also take a look at the Legionaries of Christ, who elected a new superior general last week. The new leader, the Rev. John Connor, will be tasked with the continuing reform of the order amid new allegations of past sexual abuse by Legionary priests, as well as the lingering financial questions about the order’s offshore holdings. On the show, the hosts explain the basics of the Legionaries’ abuse and financial scandals and the challenges Father Connor will face. Finally, we give brief updates on Pope Francis’ forthcoming document “Querida Amazonia” as well as the Vatican’s report on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and the pope’s upcoming trip to Malta.   Links from the show: Inside the Vatican: America’s Vatican correspondent explains Benedict’s book controversy Vatican seeks to explain absence of Archbishop Georg Gänswein after book scandal Graduate of Loyola University Chicago elected as Superior-General of the Legionaries of Christ 10 years after Vatican reform, Legionaries of Christ in new abuse crisis Legionaries of Christ report ‘chain of abuse’ as victims went on to abuse others Who knew what about former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Pope Francis met with Argentinian President Alberto Fernández, whose country is currently weathering an economic crisis that has led to widespread hunger and a crippling national debt. In their meeting, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with his home country and offered to help however possible. On this week’s “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I explain what form that help might take. This past week also brought “news” on Pope Francis’ forthcoming document on the Amazon: an Italian historian reported that he had obtained advance sections of the document proving that Pope Francis would endorse ordaining mature, married men to the priesthood. Gerry explains on the show why he was skeptical about this report. Finally, the Vatican has sent more than 600,000 masks to Wuhan Province in China to help fight the spread of coronavirus. This aid comes even as the Chinese government continues to crack down on religious communities, even banning Catholic priests from leading graveside prayers in cemeteries.   Links from the show: Pope Francis, a son of Argentina, welcomes its new president to the Vatican Inside the Vatican: Who is the papal almoner and what does he do? Vatican delivers 600,000 masks to help combat coronavirus in China Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a recent episode of “Inside the Vatican,” in the midst of Cardinal Robert Sarah’s book controversy, Gerry and I discussed how Archbishop Georg Ganswein’s role as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s personal secretary—and often, by default, his gatekeeper and spokesman—has been called into question. Since the start of his papacy, Pope Francis has expressed a desire to keep his personal secretaries out of the spotlight. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” we look at how Francis has changed the role and discuss Father Gonzalo Aemilius, the pope’s new personal secretary, who is known for his work with street children and drug addicts in his native Uruguay. This week, we also give updates on the pope’s recent meetings with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Iraqi President Barham Salih. Since the Holy See has good relations with the U.S., Iran, and Iraq, could it be stepping in as a mediator? We also explain the election of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as vice dean. The election followed the traditional line, electing the former vice-dean as dean and the former chief of staff as vice-dean. We discuss what it means for both roles to go to Vatican insiders, for better and for worse.   Links from the show: Pope Francis names new secretary: a priest who worked with street children and drug addicts Mike Pence and Pope Francis meet in a surprisingly long first visit Pope Francis meets with Iraqi president amid growing tensions after Soleimani assassination Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re is the new Dean of the College of Cardinals “Inside the Vatican” explains the role of dean of the College of Cardinals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Pope Francis appointed a woman to a top role in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State for the first time, while also upgrading that role from the department head level to the undersecretary level. On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Gerry and I take a look at these two decisions and what they reveal about Francis’ international priorities as well as his desire to include more women at leadership levels in the Vatican.  Then, we look forward to the upcoming election of a new dean of the College of Cardinals. When Cardinal Angelo Sodano’s resignation was accepted in December, Pope Francis announced that he hoped to make a few changes to the role, including imposing term limits and making the job a full-time position. Gerry and I examine the reasons behind these changes. We also give updates on several stories including last week’s controversy surrounding “From the Depths of Our Hearts,” Cardinal Robert Sarah’s book on priestly celibacy; U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s upcoming meeting with Pope Francis; and when to expect Pope Francis’ follow-up document to the Amazon synod. Links from the show: Pope Francis appoints a woman for the first time to senior role in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State Pope Francis: “I will never grow tired of condemning every form of anti-Semitism” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I dedicate the entire episode to the questions surrounding the new book From the Depths of Our Hearts, written by Cardinal Robert Sarah with a contribution from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The book argues against the ordination of married men as priests, a subject that Pope Francis is currently considering as he prepares his final document following up on the Vatican’s Synod on the Amazon. In October, the synod bishops recommended ordaining mature, married permanent deacons as priests to serve in their remote indigenous communities. Gerry and I explain why the book’s subject matter prompted questions. Then, we unpack the debate about the book’s authorship that swept social media on Monday and Tuesday. After the book was announced as being co-authored by Pope Emeritus Benedict and Cardinal Sarah, a source or sources close to Benedict told members of the press that the pope emeritus had not agreed to co-author the book. This led to a back-and-forth between Cardinal Sarah, Archbishop Georg Gänswein—Benedict’s personal secretary—and the book’s publishers over how the pope emeritus should be credited and whether or not his photo should appear on the front of the book. Gerry and I explain what each party has said and how this controversy exposes a lingering theological question—namely, what is the role of the pope emeritus? Links from the show: Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah coauthor book on celibacy, opposing the ordination of married men Benedict XVI has asked Cardinal Sarah to have his name removed from the book on priestly celibacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, a viral video circulated on social media showing Pope Francis slapping the hand of a woman who yanked his arm as he walked through a crowd in St. Peter’s Square. On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Gerry and I explain what happened and discuss the pope’s apology for losing his patience. Then, we turn to the growing tensions between the United States and Iran following the assassination of Iranian General Quasem Suleimani. Without mentioning the two nations directly, Pope Francis called for “all parties to fan the flame of dialogue and self-control.” How much of a difference can the Vatican make in this situation? Gerry takes us back to 2003 and explains what happened when Pope John Paul II asked President George H.W. Bush not to invade Iraq. Finally, “The Two Popes” has made a splash on Netflix and at the Vatican, but what’s fact and what’s fiction in the new movie? Gerry and I break down which parts of the movie are true, and which are simply “inspired by true events.”   Links from the show: The papal hand slap divides Catholics and the media Pope Francis begins New Year with apology for hand slap, prayers for peace Pope Francis prays for dialogue as tensions mount between the U.S. and Iran Catholic leaders speak out as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran ‘The Two Popes’: What’s fact and what’s fiction? Jesuitical | What’s it like to play Pope Francis? An interview with Jonathan Pryce on ‘The Two Popes’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year from Inside the Vatican! For our New Year’s Day episode, Gerry and I are taking a look back at some of the biggest Vatican stories of 2019. We start with February’s Vatican summit on the protection of minors, which Gerry and I covered together in Rome. We talk about the steps Pope Francis has taken to follow up on that meeting, including the elimination of the “pontifical secret” in December which paved the way for the long-awaited Vatican handbook that will establish universal norms for handling cases of clerical sexual abuse. Gerry also gives us a timeline on when to expect that document. Next, we take a look at Gerry’s pick for the year’s most important papal trip: Pope Francis’ trip to Abu Dhabi, also in February. On this trip, the pope celebrated the first papal Mass on the Arabian Peninsula and signed a document on human fraternity with Muslim leaders. Gerry walks us through why these gestures were so significant and what lasting effects they have already had. Skipping ahead to the fall, we discuss the Amazon synod, when all of the bishops from the Amazon region along with indigenous people, leaders and experts from around the world came to Rome to lay out how the church would respond to its many challenges in the region. We talk about when the pope is likely to issue a final document from that synod, and when its suggestions would be put into effect. We wrap up this episode with a lightning round of the most important Vatican stories in categories like the most significant papal appointment, the top interreligious dialogue story, and what Vatican story we should keep our eyes on in 2020. (Check out the title of this episode for the answer!)   Links from the show: Inside the Vatican: The Vatican sex abuse summit already includes some surprises Inside the Vatican: Unpacking Pope Francis’ historic trip to Abu Dhabi Inside the Vatican: Are the Amazon bishops ready to become new martyrs? The Catholic Church in China | A Short Documentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, Pope Francis gave his annual Christmas speech to the Roman curia, which in past years has been the time that the pope speaks very clearly about where he thinks the curia needs improvement. In 2014, Pope Francis used his Christmas address to lead the curia through an examination of conscience, pointing out what he called the “curial diseases” of careerism, gossip, rivalries, and so on. In years since, he has spoken on the need for ongoing reforms and updated his collaborators on his restructuring of the Vatican bureaucracy. This year, the pope’s talk focused on the need to fight rigidity and be open to change. He quoted St. John Henry Newman, canonized this year, who famously wrote about the way that doctrine develops and how change is natural and important both in human life and for the church. Francis also warned against rigidity which comes from a fear of change. On this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I talk about why the pope chose this theme for his speech, who he spoke to, and how these Christmas addresses fit into the pope’s larger effort to reform the Roman curia.   Links from the show: Pope Francis tells Roman Curia: Do not fear change, it is in the nature of the missionary church Full text of Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday morning, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had abolished the pontifical secret, a confidentiality measure, in cases of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable person by clergy. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I explain what information will now be available about these cases. Next up, we dive into the Wall Street Journal’s report on the pope’s Peter’s Pence collection. The report alleged that the Vatican had misled donors by telling them that the Peter’s Pence fund was used exclusively for charity, when more than half of the money raised each year goes to plug the Vatican’s deficit. Gerry and I examine the report’s claim and discuss what actions the Vatican is taking to clean up its finances. Finally, Pope Francis celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Friday, December 13 and spent that evening shining a light on his spiritual mentor, Jesuit Father Miguel Fiorito. Gerry explains why Father Fiorito was so dear to Francis, and we take a look at how Francis’ spiritual mentor inspired his leadership style.   Links from the show: Pope Francis abolishes the pontifical secret for sexual misconduct cases involving clerics Is the Vatican misleading donors? Peter’s Pence, explained. Pope Francis celebrates 50 years as a priest  Pope Francis wants the world to know about his Jesuit spiritual director Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices