Has Pope Leo’s honeymoon ended? U.S. Catholics push back
Pope Leo is drawing criticism from some U.S. Catholics over his consistent pro-life ethic, particularly after responding to questions about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, despite Durbin’s support for abortion rights.
While he said he was not familiar with all the details, Pope Leo expressed confidence in Cardinal Cupich’s judgment and emphasized that being truly “pro-life” means opposing not only abortion but also the death penalty and the “inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell notes on “Inside the Vatican” that the pope’s “honeymoon period” appears to have ended as he speaks his mind on church teaching.
Also on the show: Pope Leo calls the Israel–Hamas ceasefire "a spark of hope," Cardinal Cupich's new Vatican appointment, upcoming synod gatherings and speculation about the pope using Duolingo to learn German at 3 a.m.
Links from the show:
Pope Leo pleads for a just peace as cease-fire in Gaza holds Pope Leo tells border bishop: The American church needs ‘to be united’ on migration
Pope Leo is finding his voice on migrationPope Leo ice blessing sets off social media meltdown
Credits:
Producer: Ricardo da Silva, SJ
Audio engineering and video editing: Kevin Christopher Robles
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.
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Pope Leo’s ‘Dilexi Te’ in continuity with Pope Francis
Pope Leo XIV has released his first major teaching document, “Dilexi Te” (”I Have Loved You”). The apostolic exhortation, addressed “to all Christians on love for the poor,” was begun by Pope Francis and completed by Pope Leo. It emphasizes that the poor reveal a fundamental way of encountering Christ.
Gerard O’Connell, senior Vatican correspondent, and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., associate editor, join Colleen Dulle, host and Vatican correspondent, for a roundtable discussion on the document’s themes, its continuity with Pope Francis and the challenges and encouragement that it offers Christians.
Credits
Producers: Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J.
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Audio and video engineering: Kevin Christopher Robles
Production assistance: Will Gualtiere
Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.
Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!
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Deep Dive: The Swiss Guard, between tradition and reform
The Swiss Guard is the oldest army in the world. Steeped in tradition, bearing the weight of history, the Pontifical Swiss Guard—like the whole of the Catholic Church—is in a constant balancing act between safeguarding heritage and responding to modern-day needs.
In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” the team reports from the Swiss Guard’s barracks on how the historic corps is navigating the tension between past, present and future.
Interviews include:
David Alvarez, military historian and author of The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican
Corporal Nicola Cavelli, vice-instructor of the Swiss Guard
Corporal Eliah Cinotti, spokesman of the Swiss Guard
Halbardier Sven Rechsteiner, a new guard
Rev. Kolumban Reichlin, O.S.B., chaplain of the Swiss Guard
Links from the show:
The Swiss Guards have a new uniform. Don’t worry, the iconic one remains
Female Swiss Guards? New expansions open the door for change at the Vatican
Credits:
Producers: Maggi Van Dorn, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Colleen Dulle
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Audio engineer: Frank Tuson
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Pope Leo’s surprise appointment to lead the Vatican bishops’ office
Pope Leo made a surprise appointment to fill the position he left behind as Prefect for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, the office that vets and recommends candidates to lead dioceses around the world. The man he chose, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, age 67, is an Italian bishop and member of the Carmelite Order. He was not, per Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell, among the names circulated before the appointment was made.
In this short episode of “Inside the Vatican”—abbreviated because of a forthcoming deep dive episode—Colleen and Gerry discuss Archbishop Iannone’s background and what he may bring to this influential Vatican role.
Links from the show:
Pope Leo makes a surprise pick for his first major Vatican appointment
Deep Dive: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop
King Charles III to make delayed state visit to Vatican 6 months after death of Pope Francis
NYC choir performs at the Vatican for Pope Leo—in his own words
Credits:
Producer: Ricardo da Silva, SJ
Audio engineering and video editing: Kevin Christopher Robles
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.
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The Vatican's 'trial of the century' dramatically re-opens
As protests for Gaza shut down ports, schools and transit services in Italy this week, Pope Leo spoke again about the Holy Land, on Sunday greeting representatives from various Catholic groups that are “engaged in works of solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip.” This week on Inside the Vatican, co-hosts and Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss Pope Leo’s comments on Gaza both on Sunday and in his first major interview with Crux’s Elise Allen. They analyze Leo’s hesitance to name the conflict a genocide and discuss a Vatican News editorial that laid out the Holy See’s position on peace in the region.
In the second part of the show, the hosts give an update on the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” a sprawling financial trial that opened dramatically this week in the Vatican’s appeals court.
Links from the show:
How Pope Leo plans to govern the church: From Rome to China to Gaza
Why you should pay attention to the Vatican News editorial on Palestine
Defense in Vatican ‘trial of the century’ asks prosecutor to recuse himself for questionable conduct
Pope Leo asks Catholics to pray the rosary for peace every day in October
Credits:
Production, engineering and video editing: Kevin Christopher Robles
Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes
Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.
Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Each week, Colleen Dulle goes behind the headlines of the biggest Vatican news stories with America’s Rome correspondent Gerard O’Connell. 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, saying—and planning.
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