Inside The Vatican

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Update: Pope accepts Cardinal Sarah’s resignation Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

On Sunday, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Guinean prelate with whom he has publicly clashed on a few occasions. Pope Francis was widely expected to accept Cardinal Sarah’s resignation soon after his 75th birthday in June, but the pope surprised Vatican watchers this week by declining to fill Cardinal Sarah’s now-vacant post as head of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle gives a brief update on this news, along with the Vatican’s $60.3 million budget shortfall and its newly-announced penalties for employees who decline the Covid-19 vaccine.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Cardinal Sarah as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Vatican expects multi-million dollar budget deficit for 2021

Vatican tells its employees to get a Covid vaccine, or risk getting fired

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Covid spike, rocket attack cast doubt on papal trip Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq, scheduled for March 5-8, has been thrown into further question in recent days. Following the discovery of the new UK-based strain of the novel coronavirus, Iraqi authorities closed businesses and places of worship, including those where the pope was expected to hold events during his visit.

A rocket attack near the Erbil airport on Feb. 15 has also heightened security concerns, as the pope was expected to meet leaders from Iraqi Kurdistan at the airport and depart from there for Rome. Despite the concerns, the Vatican insists that the trip is going forward.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell look at the challenges of planning this papal trip. “When I asked some people in the Vatican, ‘Well, how is this going to be possible with the lockdown?’ They said, well, you know, there's always an exception to a rule,” Gerry said.

Gerry and Colleen also give updates on the church’s involvement in protests in Myanmar, Pope Francis’ praise for a new Colombian law granting protections to Venezuelan refugees, and the plans for Ash Wednesday services in the Vatican.

Links from the show:

Iraq announces Covid-19 restrictions ahead of papal trip

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo on Twitter

America Magazine’s documentary on Venezuelan refugees

America Magazine’s Lent 2021 Reflections, podcasts and more

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Finally, a woman can vote in a synod Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

For the first time, a woman will have the right to vote in the Synod of Bishops.

Sister Nathalie Becquart, a Xaviere sister, became the first woman to be named undersecretary of the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops, a position previously reserved to bishops. As is customary for the undersecretary, Sister Becquart is expected to be a voting member of the 2022 synod. Until now, women have been barred from voting in synods.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell explain the significance of Sister Becquart’s appointment and what it could mean for future synods. As for whether other women could be able to vote in upcoming synods, Gerry said, “I think we may even see that in the synod on synodality. It is under consideration.”

Colleen and Gerry also discuss Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq, which was confirmed this week, and his address to the world’s ambassadors to the Vatican. The pope described seven global crises that have been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and said the “crisis of politics” underlies them all.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | For the first time, Pope Francis appoints a woman with the right to vote as undersecretary of the synod of bishops

Colleen Dulle | Why can’t women vote at the Synod on Young People?

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis offers a roadmap for overcoming the pandemic—and the 7 other crises it exposed

Pope Francis: In 2021, vaccines, fraternity and hope are the medicine we need.

Full text of Pope Francis’ address to the diplomatic corps

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Pope Francis on U.S. church divisions Feb 03, 2021

Show notes

Pope Francis made clear this week that he was keeping a close eye on the divisions in the U.S. church, which showed up most recently in the controversy over Archbishop Jose H. Gomez’s statement on the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden. The statement was seen as being inappropriately confrontational by the Vatican, and stateside sparked responses both of support and opposition among other bishops.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, who said on Twitter that the statement had not followed the bishops’ conference’s protocol, met with Pope Francis on Saturday. Though it is unclear what the two men talked about, it is evident that the Vatican went out of its way to publicize the fact that the meeting happened. America’s Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell also reported on Saturday that the pope had been briefed on the back and forth over the statement.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and host Colleen Dulle discuss Pope Francis’ strategy for bringing the bishops together in spite of their differences. “You know its defects better than I do,” the pope said to a group of American journalists this week, but “I look at the U.S. church with hope.”

In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry look at Cardinal Bo’s efforts to advocate nonviolence in Myanmar following that country’s military coup this week. Colleen and Gerry also give an update on the plans for Pope Francis’ scheduled trip to Iraq next month and what his scheduled meeting with Shiite Ayatollah Al-Sistani could mean for intra-Muslim relations.

Links from the show:

Inside the Vatican | Inside the U.S. bishops’ clash with the Vatican over Joe Biden’s Inauguration

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Cupich, who criticized fellow U.S. bishops for confrontational approach to Biden

Catholic News Service | Pope Francis talks Iraq trip, Catholic journalism and the church in U.S.

Gerard O’Connell | The military again seize power in Myanmar despite pleas from Cardinal Bo

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US Bishops and Vatican clash over inauguration statement Jan 27, 2021

Show notes

Last week, the United States’ second Catholic president was sworn in. The day was tinged with controversy for some U.S. Catholics, though, when the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, Archbishop José H. Gomez, issued a statement that was seen by the Vatican as being too confrontational towards the new president.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell look at explain the questions that have arisen around the controversial document: Is there a precedent for this type of statement on inauguration day? Did the Vatican really intervene to stop the bishops from publishing the statement, as one outlet reported? And were the proper protocols followed to gather the bishops’ input?

Most importantly, what does the contrast between Pope Francis’ letter to President Biden and Archbishop Gomez’s statement reveal about divisions among the U.S. bishops and with the Vatican?

Colleen and Gerry also give an update on Pope Francis’ recent sciatica flare-up, which caused him to miss three events this week.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis sends greeting to President Biden, contrasting with sharper message from head of U.S. bishops

In rare rebuke, Cardinal Cupich criticizes USCCB president’s letter to President Biden

How Joe Biden’s Catholic faith will shape his relationship with Pope Francis—and the U.S. bishops

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis will miss three events this week due to painful sciatica

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Can defendants get a fair trial in the Vatican? Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

The Vatican’s judicial system is entering a busy season: Soon, it will deliver a verdict in the trial of the former head of the Vatican Bank who was accused of embezzlement; it will hear the abuse trial of a former St. Peter’s Basilica altar server; and it’s expected to bring charges against a woman accused of embezzling more than 500,000 Euros from the Vatican while employed under Cardinal Angelo Becciu.

This week, the Vatican dropped its effort to extradite the woman from Italy to Vatican City, which has raised questions about whether the extradition could stand: Some argue that her lawyers could have made the case against extradition because the woman was not guaranteed a fair trial in the Vatican.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell unpack this question: What makes the Vatican’s judicial system different from a modern democratic one, like Italy’s, and what are its pros and cons?

The hosts also discuss Australia’s recent admission that it overestimated the amount of money transferred from the Vatican to Australia by $1.5 billion. Colleen and Gerry discuss how such a big blunder could have been made and what questions remain about the transfers.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Australia admits $1.5 billion error in investigation into suspected Vatican money laundering

Can defendants get a fair trial at the Vatican? The Vatican decides it doesn’t want to hear Italy’s answer

Inside the Vatican | The Vatican’s $200 million London real estate scandal, explained

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Pope Francis denounces U.S. Capitol insurrection Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

The eyes of the world were on the United States last week, when a group of insurrectionists supporting President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building as Congress was certifying the results of last year’s presidential election. Pope Francis said he was “astounded” and denounced the violence and the movement that caused it.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss Pope Francis’ challenge to the U.S. to overcome its divisions and how the U.S. bishops will need to step up in order to achieve that. “The church can't be missing in action in such a big crisis,” Gerry said.

Colleen and Gerry also explain this week’s update to canon law which opens the permanent lay liturgical ministries of lector (reader) and acolyte (server) to women for the first time. For a more in-depth look at the change, check out Colleen’s explainer article here.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis condemns the violence at the U.S. Capitol

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis calls on Americans to promote reconciliation and protect democracy after the Capitol attack

The Editors | Impeach. Convict. Now.

Fr. Bryan Massingale | The Racist Attack on Our Nation’s Capitol

Fr. Bryan Massingale and Fr. Matt Malone, S.J. | Video: How to make spiritual sense of the attack on the Capitol

Archbishop Mark Coleridge | Catholic bishops can’t risk falling back on old tactics of political engagement

Colleen Dulle | Explainer: The history of women lectors and altar servers—and what Pope Francis has changed

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Pope Francis takes away top office’s financial power Jan 06, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to Inside the Vatican’s 100th episode!

This week, host Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell celebrate their 100th episode, reminiscing on their favorite memories of the last two years of “Inside the Vatican.” They also give updates on Vatican City’s soon-to-arrive coronavirus vaccines and Pope Francis’ recent sciatica flare-up. (Don’t worry, he’s OK.)

Colleen and Gerry also dive into a recent legally binding order from Pope Francis instructing the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, which was once its most powerful office, to transfer all of its assets to the Vatican’s financial oversight office and removing their office’s investing power. The decision comes as financial misconduct in the Secretariat of State is being investigated.

With the investigation ongoing, Colleen asks, is Pope Francis jumping the gun with this punitive measure?

Support “Inside the Vatican” by subscribing to America: americamagazine.org/subscribe

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell: Pope Francis cancels his New Year’s plans due to ‘a painful sciatica’

Gerard O’Connell: Pope Francis tests negative for Covid-19 after two close advisors were infected

Pope formally strips Vatican secretariat of state of assets

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How 2020 changed the Vatican Dec 30, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus pandemic upended everyone’s plans for 2020—including the Vatican’s. From the first weeks of the pandemic when Pope Francis prayed in the rain in St. Peter’s Square to the London finance scandal to the new standards of transparency ushered in by the McCarrick report, it’s been an unprecedented year in every way.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell recap the biggest Vatican moments of 2020. The hosts focus on three areas of change in the Vatican: transparency, missionary work, and solidarity with the poor.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell: The Top 7 Pope Francis Stories of 2020

Deep Dive: The Vatican’s $200 million London real estate scandal, explained

Deep Dive: How will historians judge Pope Pius XII’s decisions during World War II?

Deep Dive: The Rise and Fall of Theodore McCarrick

Deep Dive: The Vatican-China deal, explained

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Pope Francis’ 2020 Christmas Messages Dec 26, 2020

Show notes

Pope Francis held two pared-down and socially-distanced Christmas celebrations this week: First, Mass on Christmas Eve in St. Peter’s basilica, and then his “urbi et orbi” address and blessing “to the church and the world.”

In both, we heard a common theme from Pope Francis in 2020: a strong call for greater fraternity among people.

In this episode, host Colleen Dulle gives a quick update on what the pope said.

Read Pope Francis’ Christmas Eve homily

Read Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi address

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