Inside The Vatican

America Media

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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.

Recent Episodes

OCT 30, 2026
What does unity mean for Pope Leo? Feat. Massimo Faggioli
In the midst of contentious elections around the world, Pope Leo XIV is preaching unity, both in the Catholic Church and in the world. But what does unity—or “unity in diversity,” as Leo often advocates—look like in practice? Church historian Massimo Faggioli joins host Colleen Dulle to talk about Pope Leo’s effort and tactics for promoting unity and peace. Find Dr. Faggioli’s new book, Leo XIV and the Global Church: Unity and Peace in English from Liturgical Press here. Sign up for our new newsletter, Vatican Notebook! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:40 Significance of a U.S.-born pope 5:42 Social vs. liberal vs. democratic Catholicism 11:55 Pope Leo XIV’s social Catholicism and its roots 15:41 Leo’s ability to speak to the United States 20:03 ‘Unity in diversity’ as a ‘spiritual posture’ 25:22 Liturgy as a case study in Leo’s unity 28:09 Leo’s techniques for calm and unification 31:15 Synodality vs. collegiality under Pope Leo 36:33 Tensions between Catholicism and democracy 40:04 Catholics’ changing participation in U.S. politics Links: Pope Leo will travel to Latin America just weeks after cancer surgery The bishops who prayed over Trump and apologized—and gave us a lesson in moral responsibility Archbishop of Detroit calls out voter suppression ahead of midterms: ‘It’s an affront to God’ Prevost’s Parish Ministry: The Chicagoland church that helped form Pope Leo XIV Montse Alvarado prepares to step into Vatican communications prefect role Nov. 1 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
46 MIN
OCT 5, 2026
‘Amoris Laetitia’ at 10: The history, tensions and legacy
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
58 MIN