The Vatican Briefing

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White speaks with Australia's Ambassador to the Vatican, Chiara Porro, to discuss the recent 50th anniversary of Australia and the Holy See formally establishing diplomatic ties. In the interview, the Australian diplomat assesses how the Catholic Church is progressing on issues of women's leadership and child protection and looks ahead to Pope Francis' upcoming September visit to four countries in Asia Pacific and Oceania. 

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Christopher White's report on Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says

Christopher White's report from Australia on its plenary council and the global synod: To understand Rome's Synod of Bishops, look to Australia

Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick's account of her recent correspondence with Pope Francis: After Vatican text, pope tells Jeannine Gramick: Trans people 'must be accepted'

Christopher White's reports on an exchange between Francis and parents of LGBTQ children in Malta: Pope responds with 'open heart' to Vatican document criticism from parents of LGBTQ children

Christopher White's interview with Fr. Tomas Halik: Catholicism must reject 'heresy of triumphalism,' says noted Czech priest

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," a leading Catholic bishop on the U.S.-Mexico border expresses "grave concern" that the 2024 presidential race could lead to further demonization of migrants seeking to enter the country.

"I'm concerned about the election period very much," El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz tells expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White. "It seems that politicians have latched on to immigration as a way to mobilize their bases."

Seitz, who has served in El Paso since 2013 and is currently the chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee, also says that some Christians "are more formed, it seems, in their thoughts, in their behaviors, by the political sort of thinking than by church teaching."

"They want to make their Christianity fit their political outlook rather than the other way around, and that concerns me," says the bishop.

Also in this episode, McElwee and White have a conversation about the Vatican's ongoing process for the Synod of Bishops and the recent announcement of Pope Francis' plans to travel in September to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Rhina Guidos' coverage of Seitz's comments during an April conference on Catholic responses to migration: Both Republicans and Democrats spread anti-immigrant views, says Bishop Seitz

Brian Fraga's reporting on Seitz's concerns about "militarization" at the U.S.-Mexico border: Texas is escalating efforts to criminalize migrants, says Bishop Seitz

Christopher White's coverage of theologian Anna Rowlands lecture at Cambridge University: Synod adviser: Pope Francis more interested in big discussions than specific issues

Christopher White's reporting on the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' travel plans: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says

Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White discuss a major new Vatican document that has attracted controversy over its condemnation of gender-affirming surgery for trans individuals and the growing practice of surrogate motherhood.

They also speak with a Spanish-language Vatican journalist, Javier Martínez-Brocal, who is the author of a new book-length interview with Pope Francis. Martínez-Brocal, who spoke with the pope about behind the scenes of workings of the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, says Francis was motivated to reveal the information, in part, "to show the unity of the church."

Martínez-Brocal also takes listeners inside the Vatican's guest house where Francis lives and chronicles what it's like to interview the pope, explains why Francis was willing to finally open up about the decade of having "two popes" live inside the Vatican and makes some predictions about the rest of the Francis papacy. 

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Catholic News Service coverage of Brochal's book: Pope says he was 'used' in 2005 conclave: Ratzinger 'was my candidate'

Joshua McElwee's obituary of Pope Benedict XVI: Benedict, a pope who shaped his times but didn't tower over them, dies at 95

Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis comments that Benedict XVI's death has been 'instrumentalized' by agenda-driven church leaders

Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note

Joshua McElwee and Peter Feuerherd's obituary of the late Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Bishop Gumbleton, longtime soul of the US Catholic peace movement, dies

A prominent U.S. Ukrainian Catholic leader has sharply criticized Pope Francis' recent suggestion that Ukraine might enter negotiations to end its brutal, two-year war with Russia, calling the pontiff's remarks "very problematic." 

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White interview Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who represents Ukrainian Catholics across much of the eastern U.S. Gudziak says he and people across Ukraine "were really knocked off balance" by the pope's suggestion.

"Negotiating with Russia and [President] Putin today is a no-go," said Gudziak, who heads the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. "Ukrainians have tried. They see that he is a relentless killer."

"I think the Holy Father really cares for the people of Ukraine, and he cares for the suffering people of the world," said the archbishop. "The expression … was very unfortunate."

Given the seriousness of the subject matter, The Vatican Briefing is devoting the entirety of this episode to its interview with Archbishop Gudziak.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Associated Press reporting on the pope's interview: Pope Francis: Ukraine should have courage of the 'white flag,' negotiate end of war with Russia

Associated Press coverage of how Vatican officials addressed the interview: Vatican diplomats seek to defuse outrage over Pope Francis' Ukraine 'white flag' comments

Catholic News Service coverage of a December 2023 phone call between Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Pope Francis, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy speak by phone

Christopher White's reporting from a December 2022 visit to Ukraine: 'Ukraine Crucifixion': At Christmas, war-torn Ukraine confident in its resurrection

San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy, a key ally of Pope Francis, says U.S. Catholic bishops are not giving enough attention to the pope's call for the world to address global climate change. 

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White interviews McElroy about how the U.S. bishops' conference has (and has not) implemented the teachings of pope's 2015 environmental encyclical Laudato Si', which called for dramatic action to confront global warming.

The need to address the issue, says McElroy, "has not gotten the attention of the conference that it should get, and that the pope is calling us to get."

Also in this episode, White and co-host Joshua J. McElwee discuss Pope Francis' continued health issues and the pope's most recent call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Later, they are joined by NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe to discuss McElroy's comments, and to talk about some positive initiatives by U.S. bishops to encourage environmental efforts.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Associated Press reporting on the pope's continuing health issues: Pope again asks aide to read remarks, as respiratory problems persist

Christopher White's column about the anonymous cardinal's letter about Pope Francis: Anonymous Catholic cardinal argues for a next pope very unlike Francis

Catholic News Service coverage of the pope's latest call for a ceasefire in Gaza: Pope calls for cease-fire in Gaza; calls disarmament 'moral duty'

Christopher White's coverage on the San Diego conference on the church and climate change: US church failing on pope's climate goals, bishops say at private conference

Brian Roewe's reporting on McElroy's decision for his diocese to divest: In first for US church, San Diego Diocese divests from fossil fuels 

Brian Roewe's reporting on the Chicago Archdiocese's green energy plan: Chicago Archdiocese to power parishes, schools with 100% renewable energy

Joshua McElwee's initial 2015 report on the release of the encyclical letter Laudato Si': Francis' encyclical an urgent call to prevent world of 'debris, desolation and filth'

This February marked the fifth anniversary of one of Pope Francis' seminal efforts to confront clergy sexual abuse: a first-of-its-kind 2019 Vatican summit with global Catholic bishops about abuse prevention.

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White interviews one of the leading U.S. advocates for clergy abuse survivors about the impact of that summit, and about Francis' wider legacy in confronting clergy sexual abuse. Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the abuse tracking website BishopAccountability.org, said the summit's effect was "minimal." She especially criticized Francis' signature clergy abuse reform law, issue after the gathering. "Its impact has been insignificant, as far as we can tell," she said.

Also in this episode, White and co-host Joshua J. McElwee have a wider discussion about Francis' legacy on clergy abuse, including his appointment of several controversial bishops and his treatment of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

The Boston Archdiocese's full statement to The Vatican Briefing about Cardinal Seán O'Malley's record confronting clergy sexual abuse: Boston archdiocese statement

The Vatican Briefing episode featuring Archbishop Charles Scicluna: Vatican's abuse expert says ending priestly celibacy could prevent a 'double life'

Christopher White's coverage of the latest update to Vos Estis Lux Mundi, one of Pope Francis' major efforts to address clergy sexual abuse: Pope Francis makes 'Vos Estis' clergy abuse law permanent

Joshua McElwee's coverage of Pope Francis' final message to the February 2019 Vatican summit on clergy sexual abuse: Francis ends Vatican summit with promise church will 'decisively confront' abuse 

Associated Press reporting on Cardinal Victor Fernández's handling of abuse cases: New Vatican doctrinal chief admits mistakes in handling abuse allegations against priest

Catholic News Service reporting on Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta's conviction in Argentina for abusing seminarians: Retired Argentine bishop sentenced in sex abuse case

Christopher White's coverage in 2023 of complaints about the leadership of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors: Abuse survivors, their advocates cast doubt on leadership of Vatican commission

Joshua McElwee's coverage in 2018 of former members of the commission calling for a reevaluation of its structure and purpose: Former papal abuse commissioners want re-evaluation of group

Joshua McElwee and Christopher White's reporting on the end of the 2023 Synod of Bishops: Pope's major Vatican summit ends without action on women deacons, mention of LGBTQ Catholics

Xavière Sr. Nathalie Becquart is one of the main organizers of Pope Francis' Synod of Bishops, a two-part summit about the very future of the Catholic Church. She says the pope is creating "a new style of leadership" for the global faith. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua McElwee and Christopher White interview Becquart inside the Vatican's office for the Synod of Bishops. Becquart discussed in particular the synod's consideration of women's leadership in the church. She said the pope and the synod are looking for "ways to move, to go forward, to have more and more women in leadership."

Also in this episode, McElwee and White discuss the continuing impact of Pope Francis' landmark decision to allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, and the pontiff's meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, who has been a vocal – and sometimes profane – critic of Francis.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Catholic News Service coverage on the note from the Vatican's doctrinal office about the validity of Catholic sacraments: Changing words in sacraments can make them invalid, Vatican's doctrinal office warns

Catholic News Service coverage of Pope Francis' latest defense of his same-sex blessings decree: Pope blasts 'hypocrisy' of those who bless businesses, but not gay couples

Christopher White's column about Pope Francis' encounter with Argentine President Javier Milei: From 'imbecile' to 'Your Holiness': Pope, Argentine president to meet 

Joshua McElwee and Christopher White's reporting on the end of the 2023 Synod of Bishops: Pope's major Vatican summit ends without action on women deacons, mention of LGBTQ Catholics

A Religion News Service profile of Becquart: Meet Sr. Nathalie Becquart, the woman who is helping reshape the Catholic Church

Aleja Hertzler-McCain's reporting on the consultations before the 2024 synod assembly: US bishops asked to hold listening sessions ahead of 2024 synod assembly

The December 2023 guidance from the Vatican's synod office: Towards October 2024

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, one of the Catholic Church's leading investigators of clergy sexual abuse, says the church should reconsider its millennia-long practice of mandating priestly celibacy. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua McElwee and Christopher White interview Scicluna from inside the Vatican's powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Scicluna, who is also one of the global church's leading doctrinal officials, says that ​​allowing priestly marriage could be a means of preventing clerics from living dangerous double lives. "One of my worries is that people are put in a situation where they are comfortable with a double life," Scicluna says. "This is not to diminish the beauty of celibacy or the heroic commitment of people who have accepted celibacy as a gift and live it," the archbishop adds. "But I think it is good that we discuss it."

Also in this episode, McElwee and White discuss Pope Francis' first-of-its-kind meeting with 150 Vatican journalists on Jan. 22, and the pontiff's special efforts to strengthen ties with other Christian denominations during Rome's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Joshua McElwee's coverage of Pope Francis' Jan. 22 meeting with 150 Vatican journalists: Pope Francis thanks Vatican journalists for uncovering Catholic scandals 'with sensitivity'

Christopher White's column about the events in Rome for the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity: Rome celebrates Christian unity week with joint prayers, and a woman preaching

Joshua and Christopher's earlier January 2023 interview with Archbishop Charles Scicluna: Exclusive: Vatican must treat abuse victims better, pope's lead investigator says

Archbishop Scicluna's original call for the Catholic Church to reconsider its celibacy requirement for priests: Vatican doctrine official says celibacy should be optional for Catholic priests

Joshua McElwee's coverage of Pope Francis' final message to the February 2019 Vatican summit on clergy sexual abuse: Francis ends Vatican summit with promise church will 'decisively confront' abuse

Joshua McElwee's coverage of the original 2019 release of the church's new abuse reporting law Vos estis lux mundi: Francis mandates clergy abuse reporting worldwide, empowers archbishops to do investigations

Christopher White's coverage of the 2023 expansion of Vos estis to include lay Catholic leaders: Pope Francis makes 'Vos Estis' clergy abuse law permanent

In his annual "State of the World" address on Jan. 8, Pope Francis made a firm call for a total ceasefire in the Middle East, amid the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican expert Christopher White interviews the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, who said the United States is working "nonstop" to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza but stopped short of backing the pope's call for a ceasefire. "Israel has a complete right to defend itself," said Donnelly, "But in that process, they also have an obligation to protect the citizens of Gaza." Also in this episode, White and co-host Joshua McElwee discuss Pope Francis' plans for 2024 and the divergent global reactions to the Vatican's Dec. 18 decree making it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. 

Relevant links:

Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis' Jan. 8 "State of the World" address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See: Pope Francis calls for global ban on surrogate motherhood: Kids not 'commercial contract'

Ambassador Joe Donnelly's exclusive interview with NCR after arriving in Rome in 2022: US Vatican ambassador: World is looking to Pope Francis to help end Ukraine war

Ambassador Joe Donelly's NCR op-ed marking the 10th anniversary of the pope's election: Pope Francis and U.S. share a strong connection

Catholic News Service's coverage of President Joe Biden's July 2023 meeting with Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: Repatriating Ukrainian children topped papal envoy's agenda with Biden

Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's Dec. 18 declaration allowing for Catholic blessings for gay couples: In major doctrinal shift, Vatican officially OKs Catholic blessings for gay couples

Catholic News Service's coverage of the response of Catholic bishops in Africa to the Vatican's gay blessings declaration: Catholic bishops across Africa say same-sex blessings 'cannot be carried out' on continent

NCR's coverage of the response of Catholic bishops in Eastern Europe to the Vatican's gay blessings document: Across Eastern Europe, bishops reject Vatican's opening to same-sex blessings

In a monumental shift, the Vatican's powerful doctrinal office on Dec. 18 declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White discuss the unexpected decree and its possible long-term implications. They also have a conversation with Kerry Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. Robinson, the first laywoman to lead her organization, expresses praise for Pope Francis' efforts to expand opportunities for women's leadership in the Catholic Church, calling it "a matter of managerial and moral urgency." Robinson said she was grateful that the discussions at the pope's October Synod of Bishops included a call to allow women to better participate in the global faith's decision-making processes. "Particularly, when it comes to the church and church leadership and church decision-making, we are impoverished without the contribution of so many well-educated, theologically astute, [and] pastorally sensitive women," she said.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program.

Relevant links:

Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's Dec. 18 declaration allowing for Catholic blessings for gay couples: In major doctrinal shift, Vatican officially OKs Catholic blessings for gay couples

Catholic News Service reporting on how Vatican officials framed the Dec. 18 declaration: Vatican note on blessings opens door to those seeking God, official says

Catholic News Service reporting on Pope Francis' Dec. 17 condemnation of the Israeli military's alleged killing of two Christian women: Pope condemns targeting of unarmed civilians in Gaza

Associated Press reporting on the Vatican tribunal's Dec. 16 conviction of Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu on charges of embezzlement: Cardinal Becciu convicted of embezzlement in Vatican financial trial, sentenced to prison

OSV News' coverage in July of Kerry Robinson's appointment as president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA: Kerry Alys Robinson named as next Catholic Charities USA president and CEO