Vatican Access with Robert Duncan

Catholic News Service
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

From Rome, Vatican Access takes viewers inside the conversations, ideas, and decisions shaping today's Catholic Church.

  1. 1d ago

    Was Pope Leo Elected Because of Donald Trump?

    Michael Driessen is Professor of Political Science and Director of the MA in International Affairs at John Cabot University in Rome. A leading scholar of religion and international politics, he has spent more than a decade studying interreligious dialogue, peacebuilding, and the global role of the Catholic Church. Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as a consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.In this conversation, Driessen examines why the cardinals elected the first American pope at a moment of profound geopolitical instability, how the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have tested the limits of interreligious dialogue, and why Pope Leo XIV believes an "unarmed and disarming peace" requires something deeper than diplomacy or political negotiation. He explores the changing global order, the Vatican's relationship with the United States, the future of international cooperation in an increasingly polarized world, and whether religion still has a unique role to play in preventing conflict and building lasting peace.Guest bio:Michael Driessen is Professor of Political Science and Director of the MA in International Affairs at John Cabot University in Rome. He teaches and writes on religion and politics, international relations, and the global diplomacy of the Catholic Church. He is the author of The Global Politics of Interreligious Dialogue: Religious Change, Citizenship and Solidarity in the Middle East (Oxford University Press, 2023). In 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as a consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, where he advises the Holy See on questions relating to dialogue between religions and its contribution to peace in international affairs.

  2. Jul 10

    Can a Catholic Governor Sign a Death Warrant?

    Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy is Executive Director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, the leading Catholic organization in the United States working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice. For nearly a decade she has been at the forefront of the Catholic movement against capital punishment, engaging with bishops, lawmakers, victims' families, and people on death row. Earlier this year, she briefed Pope Leo XIV on the state of capital punishment in the United States, including the realities of Ohio's death row. In this conversation, Murphy examines the Catholic Church's development of teaching on the death penalty, why Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed that every human person retains their dignity even after committing the gravest crimes, and how the resurgence of execution methods such as nitrogen gas and firing squads has renewed the urgency of the debate. She responds to the argument that execution can bring about repentance and salvation, explains why the Church's opposition to capital punishment naturally raises questions about life without parole, and argues that justice must always preserve a genuine possibility of redemption and hope. Guest bio: Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy is Executive Director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization that educates, organizes, and advocates to end the death penalty, advance restorative justice, and promote healing for all impacted by crime and violence. She has led the organization since 2016, working closely with Catholic dioceses, religious communities, policymakers, and the Vatican to advance the Church's teaching on the dignity of every human person. She recently met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the state of capital punishment in the United States and the Church's ongoing witness against the death penalty.

  3. Jul 3

    How Pope Leo Changed the Future of the SSPX

    Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religion and one of the world's leading scholars of new religious movements. He has written extensively on Catholic traditionalism, religious liberty, and the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), and has spent decades studying the movement, including interviewing Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, its founder. Following the SSPX's recent episcopal consecrations and the Vatican's declaration that they constituted a schismatic act, Introvigne offers a sociological perspective on what the future may hold for the movement. In this conversation, Introvigne argues that the SSPX's deepest disagreement with the Catholic Church is not the Latin Mass but its rejection of the Church's teaching on religious liberty and relations with other religions. He explains why he believes the Society has likely passed its period of strongest growth, how Pope Leo XIV has changed the religious landscape that once benefited the movement, and why the SSPX faces increasing competition from groups even further to its right. The discussion also explores the Society's claims about its membership, the sociology of religious movements, why stricter religious groups often grow, Pope Benedict XVI's liberalization of the traditional Mass, Pope Francis' restrictions, and what Pope Leo might do to strengthen traditional Catholic communities while preserving communion with the Church. Guest bio: Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religion, attorney, and internationally recognized expert on new religious movements. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) and has authored dozens of books and hundreds of scholarly articles on religion, religious freedom, and contemporary religious movements. His work has included extensive research on Catholic traditionalism and the Society of St. Pius X, as well as collaboration with the late sociologist Rodney Stark on the sociology of religion.

  4. Jun 29

    The Kind of Archbishop Pope Leo Wants

    CREDIT: Additional video footage courtesy Danny Anderson & Relic Films / Archdiocese of Denver. Archbishop James Golka is the Archbishop of Denver, having been appointed by Pope Leo XIV in 2026 after serving as Bishop of Colorado Springs. Before becoming a bishop, he was a parish priest in Nebraska, where he became known for his pastoral approach, commitment to evangelization, and work with Hispanic communities. He received the pallium from Pope Leo in Rome on June 29, 2026 as a symbol of his ministry as an archbishop and his communion with the Holy See. In this conversation, Archbishop Golka reflects on what it means to lead one of America's most dynamic Catholic archdioceses in an increasingly secular culture. He discusses why Denver has become an unexpected center of Catholic renewal, the challenges of evangelization in a politically progressive state, and why he believes many young people are searching for meaning beyond what contemporary culture offers. The conversation also explores abortion, immigration, priestly leadership, the Church's response to the abuse crisis, Catholic life online, Pope Leo's vision for bishops, the spiritual meaning of the pallium, and the personal burdens and joys of serving as an archbishop. Guest bio: Archbishop James Golka was appointed Archbishop of Denver by Pope Leo XIV in 2026 after serving as Bishop of Colorado Springs from 2021.Known for his emphasis on evangelization, discipleship, and pastoral leadership, Archbishop Golka has spoken extensively about the Church's mission in an increasingly secular society, the importance of fostering priestly vocations, and helping Catholics encounter Jesus Christ through the life of the Church. In June 2026, he received the pallium from Pope Leo as metropolitan archbishop of Denver.

  5. Jun 24

    Pope Leo Is A Rock Star... And She Knows Why

    Katie McGrady is a Catholic speaker, author, radio host, and one of the most recognizable Catholic media personalities in the United States. A former youth minister and theology teacher, she is the host of The Katie McGrady Show on SiriusXM's Catholic Channel and the author of several books on Catholic faith and family life. Her work focuses on evangelization, Catholic identity, discipleship, and the practical integration of faith into everyday life. In this conversation, she reflects on the changing landscape of Catholic media, the rise of religious influencers, and the opportunities and challenges of public evangelization in the digital age. She discusses how Catholicism can be both deeply countercultural and profoundly ordinary, the tensions of living one's faith publicly, and the responsibilities that come with becoming a recognizable voice within the Church. You can visit Katie's website here: https://www.katieprejeanmcgrady.com Guest bio: Katie McGrady is the host of The Katie McGrady Show on SiriusXM's Catholic Channel, a frequent speaker at Catholic conferences and events, and the author of several books on faith and family life. She studied theology at the University of Dallas, worked as a teacher and youth minister, and later became one of the leading voices in Catholic media. McGrady regularly provides commentary on Catholic affairs for major media outlets and is known for her work in evangelization, catechesis, and Catholic family ministry.

  6. Jun 17

    Can You Still Trust the Catholic Church?

    Father Thomas Joseph White, OP, is a Dominican priest, theologian, and rector of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome. One of the leading Catholic theologians of his generation, his work focuses on metaphysics, Christology, ecclesiology, Thomism, and the relationship between faith and reason. He is the author of numerous books, including The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism. In this conversation, he explores the theological meaning of the Vatican, the papacy, and the Catholic Church's claim to teach with authority in matters of faith and morals. He discusses the role of the Pope, the nature of Catholic doctrine, the relationship between conscience and truth, and how Catholics understand the development and transmission of Christian teaching through history. Father White also reflects on his own conversion to Catholicism, the intellectual foundations of religious belief, and why he believes Christianity continues to attract young people in an increasingly secular age. The discussion addresses skepticism, scientific materialism, the clergy abuse crisis, the relationship between reason and revelation, and the enduring appeal of Catholicism as a comprehensive vision of reality. Father White's book: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Christ-Introduction-Catholicism/dp/0813229715 Guest bio: Father Thomas Joseph White, OP, studied at Brown University before entering the Dominican Order in 2003 and was ordained a priest in 2008. He is the author of The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism. In 2021, he was appointed rector of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome and was created a member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.

  7. Jun 10

    Why Pope Leo Chose Sagrada Família

    Father Tony Lusvardi is a Jesuit priest, sacramental theologian, and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His work focuses on liturgy, the sacraments, Christian salvation, as well as the relationship between faith, culture and the modern world. He has served in Native American ministry, taught theology internationally and written extensively on Catholic sacramental theology. In this conversation with Catholic News Service, he discusses Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and why it remains one of the most powerful expressions of Christian faith in the modern era. He explores how the basilica communicates the Christian story through architecture, nature, light, and symbolism, and why its vision of beauty continues to attract millions of visitors from around the world. Father Lusvardi also reflects on Gaudí’s response to secularization, industrialization, and anti-Catholicism, his conviction that technology should serve human flourishing, and the surprising relevance of his work in the age of artificial intelligence. The discussion examines Gaudí’s life, spirituality, possible sainthood, and the enduring message of hope embodied in the century-long construction of the Sagrada Família. Guest bio: Father Tony Lusvardi, SJ, studied English and philosophy at the University of Notre Dame before serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan. He entered the Society of Jesus in 2006 and was ordained a priest in 2017. After earning a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Atheneum of Saint Anselm in Rome, he published Baptism of Desire and Christian Salvation in 2024. He currently teaches sacramental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and continues pastoral ministry in South Dakota.

  8. Jun 3

    One Visit to a Jamaican Orphanage Changed Everything

    Michele Sagarino is President of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the largest Catholic relief and development organizations in the United States. For more than two decades, she has traveled extensively through some of the world’s poorest communities, working alongside bishops, priests, religious sisters, and local Catholic leaders to address poverty through faith-based development, disaster relief, education, housing, clean water initiatives, and spiritual formation. In this conversation, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her understanding of charity, beginning with a transformative mission trip to Jamaica that exposed the gap between money given in the name of helping the poor and the reality faced by vulnerable communities. She explains why some charitable efforts fail while others succeed and how Catholic principles such as subsidiarity and solidarity guide Cross Catholic Outreach’s work. Sagarino also discusses her visits to the Vatican, her meetings with Pope Leo XIV and senior Church officials, and Cross Catholic Outreach’s unique relationship with the Holy See. The conversation explores the theological relationship between trust and charity, the role of personal generosity in an age of institutional skepticism, and whether supporting international aid organizations is compatible with Christ’s command to love one’s neighbor. Guest bio: Michele Sagarino is President of Cross Catholic Outreach, a Catholic relief and development organization serving vulnerable communities in more than 30 countries. She has spent over twenty years working with Catholic missionaries, dioceses, and local Church leaders to support programs focused on clean water, housing, education, healthcare, disaster relief, and integral human development.

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From Rome, Vatican Access takes viewers inside the conversations, ideas, and decisions shaping today's Catholic Church.

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