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In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry explain what we know and what still remains unclear regarding Pope Leo XIV’s 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. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Links: First photos of Pope Leo since surgery released by the Vatican (Friday, Oct. 16) Pope Leo has ‘resumed work’ three days after lung cancer surgery (Thursday, Oct. 15) Pope Leo concelebrated Mass in hospital chapel as recovery from lung surgery proceeds ‘as expected’ (Wednesday, Oct. 14) What to know about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis (Wednesday, Oct. 14) Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican announces (Tuesday, Oct. 13) Pope Leo’s lung surgery concludes ‘positively,’ Vatican says (Tuesday, Oct. 13) ‘Amoris’ meeting discusses divorce and remarriage among human ‘fragilities’ ‘Amoris’ participants agree that one major issue is affecting families: Migration. Pope Leo confirms Cardinal Tagle as Dean of the College of Cardinals Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Pope Francis biographer Austen Ivereigh and America executive producer Sebastian Gomes join Colleen Dulle to discuss this week’s Vatican meeting on “Amoris Laetitia,” 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 world’s 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 ‘Amoris Laetitia.’ Here’s 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 Francis’ ‘Amoris Laetitia’ at 5 years Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook⁠! https://www.americamagazine.org/sign-up-for-vatican-notebook-email-newsletter Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Jesuitical, Colleen Dulle joins hosts Zac Davis and Sebasian Gomes to discuss Pope Leo’s 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 Colleen’s 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 Leo’s trip to France won’t be a victory lap—and that’s a good thing. Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo navigates tensions between secularism and Catholic history on France visit ‘More than a monument’: Pope Leo’s 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 Leo’s blessing of special-needs daughter recognizes ‘segment of humanity often set aside’ 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 ‘in panic mode’ about an A.I. catastrophe, but ‘we can’t just sit back’ 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 Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support the show by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen preview Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, set for Sept. 25-28. The two unpack Pope Leo’s 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. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! 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 ‘Catholic moment’ become a lasting revival? Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen discuss the “birthday gifts” 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 “Baby Bishops’ School,” 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 Vatican’s financial recovery since 2024 10:39 Vatican finances under Pope Leo 15:06 Vatican Library and archive expansion 18:33 Baby Bishops’ School explained 21:03 Bishops get international perspective 24:49 Pope Leo’s address to new bishops 29:43 The Pope Leo ‘style’ of being bishop 33:40 What could change for bishops under Leo 35:30 Outro and credits Links:Pope Leo celebrates his 71st birthday—by giving gifts to the Vatican Is Pope Leo ‘Americanizing’ Vatican fundraising? What Pope Leo has said about an ‘A.I. pause’ Pope Leo calls for ‘culture of negotiation’ 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 ‘bear wounds of that tragic day’ Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and Colleen take the opportunity of Pope Leo’s 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 ‘Americanizing’ Vatican fundraising? Pope Leo: Catholics cannot be ‘unengaged spectators’ amid ‘injustice, discrimination and violence’ Pope Leo’s visit to France likely to attract a million people Peruvian city to unveil world’s tallest statue of Pope Leo for trip to South America A long-awaited reckoning: A timeline of the Father Marko Rupnik case Subscribe to Vatican Notebook Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo today received the National Constitution Center’s liberty medal and gave an acceptance speech via livestream from the Vatican. Colleen Dulle recaps his message. Links from the show: Read: Pope Leo’s message to the United States on its 250th anniversary Subscribe to America Magazine (use promo code VATICAN for $10 off an annual digital subscription) Fill out our listener survey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, July 2, in response to the SSPX’s 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 “adhere” 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 ‘unity’ Subscribe to America Magazine Fill out our listener survey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this season finale of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry discuss the hectic weeks before Pope Leo’s summer vacation. First they recap the pope’s 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 Vatican’s denial of the German bishops’ request to allow lay people to preach homilies. They also look ahead to this week’s consistory of cardinals, the illicit ordinations planned by SSPX, the pope’s 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 Leo’s visit to Pavia and Cabrini’s hometown 4:52 Breaking News - Pope Leo’s agenda for Latin America 5:44 Pope Leo’s 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 Leo’s address to Americans July 3 34:06 Pope Leo’s July 4 visit to Lampedusa 34:53 What we know about Pope Leo’s 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 ‘fed more easily’ 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 Leo’s push to work with cardinals on global challenges Fill out our Listener Survey! Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo visited Spain from June 6-12, a visit that drew record-breaking crowds. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerard O’Connell recaps for Colleen Dulle the highlights from the pope’s three stops: Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. On the last day, Gerry reports, Leo spoke out against those who take advantage of migrants “like I’ve rarely seen him,” shouting, “Stop! Repent!” After this episode was recorded, Pope Leo spoke to journalists outside Castel Gandolfo, saying “Thank God” 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, ““If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward.” Interview: Madrid’s Cardinal Cobo says Pope Leo’s visit to Spain ‘is bringing out the best in people’ In Spain, Pope Leo denounces polarization and hails commitment to multilateralism More than one million attend Pope Leo’s 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 ‘cult of self-image’ in dialogue with young people Pope Leo visits famed Spanish monastery, entrusting his ministry to the Virgin of Montserrat Pope Leo XIV honors Antoni Gaudí and blesses the Sagrada Familia’s final tower ‘Human dignity has no passport’: 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 Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ published May 25, has sparked debates in the worlds of technology and theology while galvanizing online creators opposed to artificial intelligence. Anna Rowlands, a theologian and co-presenter of the text with Pope Leo, joins Colleen Dulle to parse the encyclical’s reception, its contributions to Catholic teaching, and whether workers can use the encyclical to justify religious exemptions to using A.I. Links: Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain Pope Leo meets Bad Bunny in Madrid A.I. is the headline for ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ but Catholic social teaching is its spine Why ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ is Pope Leo’s most important action on synodality yet Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss EWTN News President and COO Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican’s dicastery for communications. They unpack some of the challenges currently facing the dicastery and analyze the appointment in light of the Vatican’s previously strained relationship with EWTN. In the second half of the show, Gerry gives a preview of Pope Leo’s trip to Spain next week. 0:00 Intro 0:48 The dicastery for communications’ challenges 3:32 Montse Alvarado’s appointment and experience 6:38 First lay woman to head a Vatican dicastery 11:08 Significance of an American as head of communications 13:49 Alvarado steered EWTN away from conflict with Francis 17:19 Pope Leo’s vision for communications 21:38 Pope Leo to address Spanish parliament in Madrid 24:29 Pope Leo’s visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona 26:20 Pope Leo to highlight migration in Canary Islands 28:04 Other possible events for pope’s Spain trip 31:34 Outro and credits Links: Pope Leo appoints president of EWTN News as head of Vatican communications Pope Francis responds to attacks from EWTN, other church critics: ‘They are the work of the devil.’ Explainer: The story behind Pope Francis’ beef with EWTN Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape Bad Bunny wants to meet Pope Leo XIV. In Madrid, a crossover event is in the works. Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on a special “Inside the Vatican” roundtable, a discussion of “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo’s groundbreaking first encyclical on protecting the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. Host Colleen Dulle sits down with her co-host and senior Vatican correspondent, Gerard O’Connell, as well as America’s president and editor in chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J. They discuss the document’s key takeaways, how it is being received in Silicon Valley, Pope Leo’s challenge for every Catholic in the A.I. age and much more.  Links: Read “Magnifica Humanitas” Pope Leo’s first encyclical tackles A.I., power and human dignity Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for the Catholic Church’s role in legitimizing slavery Why Pope Leo’s new encyclical quotes Gandalf: Literary images of hope and faith in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ A capitalist (priest) reads ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo released his encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence” today, May 25. (Read the encyclical here. And find America Magazine's extensive coverage of the encyclical here.) Pope Leo presented the encyclical at the Vatican along with the panel of experts, including Christopher Olah, a co-founder of one of the world’s leading AI developers, Anthropic. In a speech at the presentation, Leo stressed that the encyclical had been born out of a process of listening–to scientists and engineers developing AI; political leaders, parents, and teachers; and people concerned about autonomous weapons systems and various forms of exclusion happening on the basis of mass data gathering. Leo recaps the evolution of Catholic Social Teaching through its major documents and by explaining its key principles, in many places anticipating and rebutting criticisms that the church should either stay out of politics or completely rule it. He then moves on to the explicit examination of AI, its development and its effects on humanity in the spheres of education, labor, technology addiction, democracy and many other areas, giving concrete recommendations on how AI development could be better supervised by various configurations of local and international civil, religious and educational authorities. He denounces repeatedly the ways in which A.I. will exacerbate global inequalities, and how it is already concentrating power and decision-making in the hands of a minority of powerful individuals. Leo stresses that, for all of us, the ethics of AI cannot be simplified into “good use of A.I. is good, evil use of A.I. is evil”—AI is not, he says, a morally neutral tool, but “embodies choices and priorities through what it measures, ignores and optimizes, and how it classifies people and situations.” In other words, the moral discernment of AI cannot merely look at the uses to which it is put, but also how it is designed and what vision of the human person and society” is embedded into it . As expected, Leo turns to the use of A.I. in war. In a particularly interesting paragraph, he dismisses just war theory as “outdated,” saying it has “all too often been used to justify any kind of war” and that “Humanity possesses far more effective and capable tools for promoting human life and resolving conflicts, such as dialogue, diplomacy and forgiveness.” The document ends with a long meditation on peace, in which Leo outlines “five paths toward daily and public responsibility.” Magnifica Humanitas includes challenges and fruitful insights for everyone no matter their position in society, and we highly recommend giving it a read. You can find our full coverage, with many forthcoming analysis pieces, at AmericaMagazine.org, and tune in for an episode later this week in which we’ll dig deeper into this major encyclical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell look ahead to Pope Leo’s forthcoming encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” which is rumored to be a long document dealing with themes of artificial intelligence and humanity. Ahead of the document’s expected release on May 25, Gerry and Colleen recap what is already known about the document, the Vatican’s previous work on A.I. and how encyclicals are written. Links: Pope Leo will publish first encyclical, ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ on preserving humanity in the A.I. age on May 25 Bishop Flores: Pope Leo’s AI encyclical is coming. Don’t let ChatGPT read it for you. Explainer: Papal documents and their (different) levels of authority Interview: Bishop Paul Tighe on the Vatican’s response to AI What does the Vatican know about A.I.? A lot, actually. Pope Leo’s encyclical comes just in time: AI is raising questions only religion can answer. Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices