Inside The Vatican – Details, episodes & analysis

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 conversion that took place among the members and the long-term impact of this gathering on the global church Jesuitical’s synod coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University. Links from the show: The Jesuit roots of the synod’s ‘conversations in the spirit’ ‘Palpable outrage’: Synod delegates react to women deacons study group meeting Synod Diary: The Vatican Curia is still learning synodality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, they were met by staffers from his office. This unexpected turn not only frustrated delegates but raises serious questions about the real commitment to synodality in the church’s highest ranks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 share the latest plans for the next session of the Synod on Synodality next month. Do you have a question for our mailbag episode? We’d love to hear from you! You can submit your questions in writing or send a voice memo to insidethevatican@americamedia.org. Please include your first name in any voice message. Questions are due Sept. 27. Find links for further reading from the episode here. Please support this podcast by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died at 9:34 a.m. Rome time, today, Saturday, December 31st, 2022. On this special update episode of “Inside the Vatican,” veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell joins host Colleen Dulle for a conversation on the emeritus pope’s funeral arrangements, his legacy, and Gerry’s memories of him. Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope and took the name Benedict XVI in 2005 after the long papacy of John Paul II. In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign voluntarily from his office, which made it possible for future popes to resign if they should find their mental or physical health failing or the weighty burden of office too much for them to bear. Benedict lived as an emeritus pope for almost 10 years, a period longer than he was pope.  This evening at the Vatican, Pope Francis said of his predecessor, “With emotion we remember his person so noble, so kind. And we feel in our hearts so much gratitude: gratitude to God for having given him to the Church and to the world; gratitude to him, for all the good he accomplished, and especially for his witness of faith and prayer, especially in these last years of his retired life. Only God knows the value and strength of his intercession, of his sacrifices offered for the good of the Church.” Read more on the life and legacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at americamagazine.org. Links from the show: Pope Benedict XVI, defender of orthodoxy defined by historic resignation, dies at 95 Pope Benedict’s theological legacy: An Augustinian at heart who influenced the course of Vatican II and beyond Pope Benedict XVI’s devotion to the Eucharist: A key to understanding his life and theology Pope Francis will preside at Benedict’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a surprise statement at the end of his public audience on Dec. 28, Pope Francis appealed for “a special prayer” for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI because, he said, “he is very sick.” Just after the audience, Francis went to visit Benedict at his residence in the Vatican. On “Inside the Vatican” this week, veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle give an update on the former pope’s health. According to a Vatican spokesman, by the time of the podcast’s release, his condition had stabilized somewhat overnight but remained serious. The rest of the podcast looks at three of Pope Francis’ Christmas messages: His homily for Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, his Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message, and his pre-Christmas address to the Roman Curia. Gerry first gives an inside look at Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Square where, he said, the crowds had nearly returned to their pre-Covid size. Colleen and Gerry unpack the pope’s homily, which focused on the image of Jesus’ manger and urged those present, including foreign dignitaries, to do “something good” this Christmas. On Christmas Day, the pope used his Urbi et Orbi address to draw attention to places of suffering in the world through the eyes of children. “May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering,” he said. “Tragically, we prefer to heed other counsels, dictated by worldly ways of thinking. Yet who is listening to the voice of the Child?” Finally, in his annual address to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis continued the theme of his addresses in past years, using insights from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola to call those who work in the Vatican’s central offices to conversion. Links from the show: Pope Francis asks for special prayer for ‘very ill’ Benedict XVI Vatican update: Benedict XVI is ‘lucid and alert,’ but condition remains serious Pope Francis: Rediscover the meaning of Christmas in the manger Listen to the cries of the newborn Prince of Peace, pope says on Christmas Pope Francis compares Roman Curia to the Prodigal Son’s ‘elder brother’ in annual address Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last few days, much more information has come out detailing the timeline of the abuse allegations and restrictions against Marko Rupnik, S.J., the Jesuit priest-artist who was, we now know, excommunicated for absolving a woman with whom he had a sexual relationship. On this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., who is filling in for Gerard O’Connell, walk listeners through the timeline of what we now know, along with the important questions and takeaways about this case. “I think the important thing to know here is that we are coming to a place where it is very difficult, near impossible, to hide anything happening inside the church among very powerful people. And so this has shown that we will get at answers,” Ricardo explains. “The great takeaway for me is, is really more one as a member of a religious order, and it's an appeal that I make to religious orders out there including my own: It is really important for us to set the story straight immediately and to reveal all the known facts in a case, and not to hide behind legalese, not to hide behind legal prescriptions, but to say what happened when it happened as quickly as we can.” In the first half of the show, Ricardo and Colleen recap several other recent Vatican news stories, including Pope Francis’ revelation that he has already signed his letter of resignation and the removal of outspoken anti-abortion activist Frank Pavone from the priesthood. Links from the show: Vatican investigator says abuse allegations against Jesuit Marko Rupnik are true Jesuits ask victims to come forward in abuse case of Jesuit artist Marko Rupnik Pope Francis reveals he signed resignation letter in case of medical impairment Vatican defrocks Father Frank Pavone for blasphemous posts, disobedience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell give an update on the new facts that have emerged in the case of the Jesuit artist Marko Rupnik, who was suspended from parts of his ministry in response to allegations of abuse against him. The facts are difficult to confirm, so this week on the podcast Colleen and Gerry also explain the process they use to determine whether information is credible. The day after this episode was recorded, Father Arturo Sosa, superior general of the Society of Jesus, confirmed to the Associated Press that in 2019, two years prior to the most recent allegations of abuse, Father Rupnik had been “convicted and sanctioned” by the Vatican for granting absolution in the confessional to a woman with whom he had “engaged in sexual activity.” A priest absolving someone of a sin he committed with that person is a serious crime according to church law, and it results in automatic excommunication. The excommunication can only be lifted if the priest admits to the crime, which Father Sosa said Father Rupnik did. You can read more on this story here. In the second part of the show, Gerry and Colleen turn their focus to Ukraine. Pope Francis grew overwhelmed with emotion last week while praying for what he calls the “martyred” nation, pausing in the middle of his prayer to choke back tears. The hosts recount how Russian and Ukrainian have responded to this display of emotion, and Gerry provides some historical context for past times popes have cried publicly. Links from the show: ‘We have not hidden anything’: Jesuit superior general interviewed on abuse allegations against Marko Rupnik Jesuit abuse expert calls for more Vatican transparency in how it dealt with a prominent Jesuit artist Jesuits reveal artist had been excommunicated for absolving woman for engaging in sexual activity with him Pope Francis breaks down in tears while praying to Mary for peace in Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Slovenian Jesuit artist Marko Rupnik has been barred from hearing confessions or offering spiritual direction after allegations that he spiritually and sexually abused adult members of a religious order of women in Slovenia. On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell explain what is known about the case. Up next, the Vatican’s website showed a 404 error message (page not available) on and off for a few days last week, following the publication of America’s interview with Pope Francis in which the pope heavily criticized Russia, naming Putin several times, calling Russia the aggressor in the war against Ukraine, and naming two Russian minority groups – the largely Buddhist Buryati and the largely Muslim Chechens – as being particularly cruel in the war in Ukraine. The Vatican Press Office issued a statement last week attributing the crash to “anomalous” attempts to access the site that it said did not all come from one country. On the podcast, Gerry explains what more he has learned about the hack. “What I do know from informed sources is that this was a highly sophisticated operation, not the effort of amateurs,” Gerry says.  Colleen and Gerry also give an update on papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski’s new campaign to bring donated thermal shirts to Ukraine. Donations can be sent to: Elemosineria Apostolica, Cortile Sant’Egidio, 00120 Città del Vaticano. Finally, Pope Francis’ visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan is back on. The pope will visit the two countries in late January and early February. For more background on peacemaking efforts in South Sudan, listen to “Inside the Vatican”’s interview with Elizabeth Boyle of Sant’Egidio here. Links from the show: Prominent Jesuit artist restricted from ministry after allegations of sexually abusing women religious After postponing, Pope Francis has rescheduled his trip to Congo and ecumenical visit to South Sudan Pope Francis postponed his trip to South Sudan. What does this mean for people living there? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, several members of the America Media team had an exclusive two-hour sit-down interview with Pope Francis; it was published Monday the 28th. The interview was wide-ranging and included questions on political polarization, lack of trust in the U.S. bishops conference, the war in Ukraine, transparency on sexual abuse cases, women’s ordination, encouragement to Black Catholics, and discussion of the Vatican-China deal. Since its release, international media coverage has focused on the pope’s decision to single out two Russian minority groups as being “perhaps the cruelest” in the war against Ukraine. On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and host Colleen Dulle analyze the pope’s comments on Ukraine, as well as those on political polarization, the U.S. bishops, and women’s ordination. In the first part of the show, Gerry gives an inside look into what it was like to interview the pope, and Colleen shares some exciting news. Links from the show: Exclusive: Pope Francis discusses Ukraine, U.S. bishops and more Russia protests Pope Francis’ comments on Ukraine made in America magazine interview Gerard O’Connell: Ukraine, abortion, racism, women’s ordination: Highlights from America’s interview with Pope Francis Kerry Weber: Behind the scenes: What it’s like to interview Pope Francis The Gloria Purvis Podcast: Gloria Purvis and Father Matt Malone on what their interview with Pope Francis means for the U.S. church Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exclusive: Pope Francis denounces polarization, talks women’s ordination, the U.S. bishops and more in a new interview with America Media! It’s an exciting time for America Media! We've transformed the organization under the leadership of Matt Malone, S.J. into a modern media entity that leads the conversation on faith and culture. There is no doubt that this transformation will continue at America under the leadership of Traug Keller, president and Father Sam Sawyer, SJ, 15th editor in chief.  We're especially grateful to our digital subscribers, who can access all of our award-winning content. But subscriptions alone do not cover the cost to produce our magazine, videos and podcasts, so we are really dependent on fundraising to bridge that gap. With Giving Tuesday upon us, we hope you will consider a tax-deductible gift of any size to support America Media. Visit our website and click the “Donate Now” button to join our media ministry, which enables us to continue producing Inside the Vatican. We truly could not continue to bring you these episodes without your support, so thank you, so much, for your consideration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices