Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated a Mass to wind up an unprecedented, and wildly tumultuous, series of two summits of Catholic bishops. They were convened to debate matters related to the family, including the front lines in today’s wars of culture, such as homosexuality, divorce, and the meaning of marriage. On Saturday, the Vatican released…
John L. Allen Jr.
Breaking down the Church decentralisation debate
The issue of divorced and vivilly remarried Catholics returning to Communion is a vexed one for bishops at the synod, writes John Allen
Will Muslims and Christians let Boko Haram set the agenda?
John Allen reports from Nigeria on inter-faith relations
A dose of caution about China’s ‘opening’ to the Pope
It’s premature to judge China’s ‘warm’ attitude towards the Vatican, writes John L. Allen
Beatification is a turning point for Catholicism
Archbishop Romero is a model for the Pope’s poor Church for the poor says John Allen
Why the Vatican’s crackdown on nuns ended well
Everyone walks away from the confrontation unscathed writes John L. Allen
The Francis narrative is déjà vu in reverse
The narrative of Pope Francis as a progressive reformer is becoming so set in stone as to be beyond rethinking or nuance, writes John L. Allen Jr.
Pope backs truth commissions in Sri Lanka trip
Francis received a colourful welcome, writes John L. Allen
Women in the firing line
A long-awaited Vatican report on women’s religious life in the United States is set for release on December 16 by the Vatican, writes John Allen
How different are Francis and Benedict?
Similarities and differences in the Pontifical politics