Each week, Colleen Dulle goes behind the headlines of the biggest Vatican news stories with Americaās Rome correspondent Gerard OāConnell. They'll break down complicated news stories that have a whole lot of history behind them in an understandable, engaging way. Colleen and Gerard will give you the inside scoop on what people inside the Vatican are thinking, sayingāand planning.
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In this weekās episode of āInside the Vatican,ā Colleen and Gerry explain what we know and what still remains unclear regarding Pope Leo XIVās shocking lung cancer diagnosis. In the second part of the show, they recap the meeting of bishops on Amoris Laetitia and the election of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new dean of the College of Cardinals.
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Links:
First photos of Pope Leo since surgery released by the Vatican (Friday, Oct. 16)
Pope Leo has āresumed workā three days after lung cancer surgery (Thursday, Oct. 15)
Pope Leo concelebrated Mass in hospital chapel as recovery from lung surgery proceeds āas expectedā (Wednesday, Oct. 14)
What to know about Pope Leoās cancer diagnosis (Wednesday, Oct. 14)
Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican announces (Tuesday, Oct. 13)
Pope Leoās lung surgery concludes āpositively,ā Vatican says (Tuesday, Oct. 13)
āAmorisā meeting discusses divorce and remarriage among human āfragilitiesā
āAmorisā participants agree that one major issue is affecting families: Migration.
Pope Leo confirms Cardinal Tagle as Dean of the College of Cardinals
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āAmoris Laetitiaā at 10: The history, tensions and legacy
Monday, October 5, 2026 ā¢ Duration 58:43
In this weekās episode of āInside the Vatican,ā Pope Francis biographer Austen Ivereigh and America executive producer Sebastian Gomes join Colleen Dulle to discuss this weekās Vatican meeting on āAmoris Laetitia,ā ten years after Pope Francis published his controversial exhortation on marriage and the family. Austen and Sebastian recap the tense 2014 and 2015 synods on the family, what Pope Francis decided in Amoris Laetitia and what is to be discussed at a Vatican meeting on the document to be held Oct. 7-14 for the heads of the worldās conferences of bishops.
Chapters:
00:00 10 years after Amoris Laetitia
2:09 Pope Francis calls the Synod on the family
11:30 What was at stake?
14:50 Two temptations in the Synod
19:26 Overcoming tensions and polarization
21:50 Divorced and remarried Catholics
27:56 Challenges facing families
30:30 What does Amoris Laetitia say?
37:54 Access to the Sacraments?
40:39 A controversial document
42:44 Implementing Amoris Laetitia
44:22 Pope Leo wants to discuss it
Links:
Bishops are meeting at the Vatican next week to discuss āAmoris Laetitia.ā Hereās what you need to know.
Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh
Communion for the divorced and remarried, papal critics and family life: Pope Francisā āAmoris Laetitiaā at 5 years
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Inside The Vatican, a podcast by America Media - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
French Catholicism Reborn? What happened on Pope Leoās visit to France (and why it matters for all of us)
Thursday, October 1, 2026 ā¢ Duration 45:19
This week on Jesuitical, Colleen Dulle joins hosts Zac Davis and Sebasian Gomes to discuss Pope Leoās 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 Colleenās 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 Leoās trip to France wonāt be a victory lapāand thatās a good thing.
Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo navigates tensions between secularism and Catholic history on France visit
āMore than a monumentā: Pope Leoās 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 Leoās blessing of special-needs daughter recognizes āsegment of humanity often set asideā
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 āin panic modeā about an A.I. catastrophe, but āwe canāt just sit backā 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
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What to expect from Pope Leoās trip to France
Friday, September 25, 2026 ā¢ Duration 37:40
In this weekās episode of āInside the Vatican,ā Gerry and Colleen preview Pope Leo XIVās visit to France, set for Sept. 25-28. The two unpack Pope Leoās 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.
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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 āCatholic momentā become a lasting revival?
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āBaby Bishops Schoolā: How the Vatican trains new bishops
Friday, September 18, 2026 ā¢ Duration 38:16
In this weekās episode of āInside the Vatican,ā Gerry and Colleen discuss the ābirthday giftsā 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 āBaby Bishopsā School,ā 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 Vaticanās financial recovery since 2024
10:39 Vatican finances under Pope Leo
15:06 Vatican Library and archive expansion
18:33 Baby Bishopsā School explained
21:03 Bishops get international perspective
24:49 Pope Leoās address to new bishops
29:43 The Pope Leo āstyleā of being bishop
33:40 What could change for bishops under Leo
35:30 Outro and credits
Links:Pope Leo celebrates his 71st birthdayāby giving gifts to the Vatican
Is Pope Leo āAmericanizingā Vatican fundraising?
What Pope Leo has said about an āA.I. pauseā
Pope Leo calls for āculture of negotiationā 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 ābear wounds of that tragic dayā
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Whatās on Pope Leoās desk this fall
Friday, September 11, 2026 ā¢ Duration 47:47
In this weekās episode of āInside the Vatican,ā Gerry and Colleen take the opportunity of Pope Leoās 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 āAmericanizingā Vatican fundraising?
Pope Leo: Catholics cannot be āunengaged spectatorsā amid āinjustice, discrimination and violenceā
Pope Leoās visit to France likely to attract a million people
Peruvian city to unveil worldās tallest statue of Pope Leo for trip to South America
A long-awaited reckoning: A timeline of the Father Marko Rupnik case
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Pope Leo's message for the United States' 250th anniversary
Friday, July 3, 2026 ā¢ Duration 02:27
Pope Leo today received the National Constitution Centerās liberty medal and gave an acceptance speech via livestream from the Vatican. Colleen Dulle recaps his message.
Links from the show:
Read: Pope Leoās message to the United States on its 250th anniversary
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Vatican excommunicates SSPX bishops, priests and others
Friday, July 3, 2026 ā¢ Duration 02:23
Today, July 2, in response to the SSPXās illicit ordinations of bishops, the Vatican announced that not only were the bishops involved in the ordination automatically excommunicated and in schism, but that any clergy of SSPX or lay members who āadhereā to the schism are also to be considered excommunicated.
Links from the show:
The Vatican and SSPX controversy, explained
Vatican declares excommunicated SSPX bishops, warns priests and lay faithful of schism
Analysis: SSPX excommunications show what Pope Leo means by church āunityā
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āI doubt he will be diplomaticā: What Leo may say to the U.S. July 3
Friday, June 26, 2026 ā¢ Duration 42:56
On this season finale of āInside the Vatican,ā Colleen and Gerry discuss the hectic weeks before Pope Leoās summer vacation. First they recap the popeās trip to Pavia to visit the remains of St. Augustine and the home of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, his speech to the World Food Program and the Vaticanās denial of the German bishopsā request to allow lay people to preach homilies. They also look ahead to this weekās consistory of cardinals, the illicit ordinations planned by SSPX, the popeās address to Americans on July 3 and his trip to Lampedusa July 4, along with how Leo plans to spend his summer vacation.
In this episode, Gerry also breaks the news of how many days Pope Leo will spend in Argentina, Peru and Uruguay this fall.
0:00 Intro
1:17 Pope Leoās visit to Pavia and Cabriniās hometown
4:52 Breaking News - Pope Leoās agenda for Latin America
5:44 Pope Leoās visit to the World Food Program
10:50 Vatican says no to lay homilies during Mass
11:35 Meeting of continental synod leaders at Vatican
16:38 Consistory of cardinals on war, AI and the synod
23:49 Cardinals could discuss SSPX at consistory
28:44 Pope Leoās address to Americans July 3
34:06 Pope Leoās July 4 visit to Lampedusa
34:53 What we know about Pope Leoās summer plans
39:22 Please fill out our listener survey!
Links:
Pope Leo XIV exalts first American saint Cabrini as a model for Christians for her care of migrants
Pope Leo: War is āfed more easilyā than the hungry
Vatican to German bishops: No lay people preaching homilies at Mass
SSPX stands firm against Vatican II in open letter to Pope Leo
Extraordinary consistory signals Pope Leoās push to work with cardinals on global challenges
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āLike Iāve rarely seen himā: Pope Leoās visit to Spain
Friday, June 19, 2026 ā¢ Duration 45:52
Pope Leo visited Spain from June 6-12, a visit that drew record-breaking crowds. This week on āInside the Vatican,ā Gerard OāConnell recaps for Colleen Dulle the highlights from the popeās three stops: Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. On the last day, Gerry reports, Leo spoke out against those who take advantage of migrants ālike Iāve rarely seen him,ā shouting, āStop! Repent!ā
After this episode was recorded, Pope Leo spoke to journalists outside Castel Gandolfo, saying āThank Godā for the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and commenting on the upcoming illicit ordinations of bishops for the Society of St. Pius X. Regarding the latter, he said, āāIf they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward.ā
Interview: Madridās Cardinal Cobo says Pope Leoās visit to Spain āis bringing out the best in peopleā
In Spain, Pope Leo denounces polarization and hails commitment to multilateralism
More than one million attend Pope Leoās Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid
Pope Leo defends the unborn and migrants in historic speech to Spanish parliament
Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain
Pope Leo blesses 21 ambulances that an Argentine nun is taking to Ukraine
Pope Leo tackles depression, domestic violence and the ācult of self-imageā in dialogue with young people
Pope Leo visits famed Spanish monastery, entrusting his ministry to the Virgin of Montserrat
Pope Leo XIV honors Antoni GaudĆ and blesses the Sagrada Familiaās final tower
āHuman dignity has no passportā: Pope Leo visits Gran Canaria
Pope Leo ends visit to Spain with a call to repent
Pope Leo speaks out on SSPX ordinations and U.S.-Iran deal
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