Inside The Vatican

4.7 (394)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

12/23/2025

Pope Leo’s first Christmas address to the Vatican Curia

The pope’s annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia was once a run-of-the-mill affair, but in 2005, the year he was elected pope, Benedict XVI used the speech to lay out his decisive vision for the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. Francis famously used the speech to decry the “diseases” of the Roman Curia. This week, Pope Leo XIV delivered his own first Christmas address to the Curia. On a special roundtable episode of “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and producers Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes examine how Leo’s speech continued his predecessors’ priorities, and where it differed. “Inside the Vatican” will take a break for Christmas and return on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, barring any breaking news. Links from the show: Pope Leo in Christmas address to Vatican officials asks: ‘Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia?’ Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast Hark! The stories of our favorite Christmas carols For Megaphone only: Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 min
12/18/2025

Vatican hosts prisoners for final Jubilee Year event

The Jubilee Year is drawing to a close and Christmas is drawing near. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell cover several important arts events the Vatican has hosted in the lead-up to Christmas, including the “Concert for the Poor” featuring Michael Bublé, the Ratzinger Prize concert with conductor Riccardo Muti and a live performance about St. Peter by filmmaker Roberto Benigni. In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry cover the final major event of the Jubilee of Hope: the jubilee for prisoners and those who work in prisons. The hosts highlight some of the key points from Pope Leo’s powerful jubilee homily. Finally, Gerry and Colleen review some of the week’s Vatican headlines, including Pope Leo’s comments on his visit to the Blue Mosque, his message of condolence to the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting and the appointment of Bishop Ronald Hicks, as the new archbishop of New York. Links from the show: Pope Leo asks Michael Bublé to give his best for the poor at Vatican Christmas concert Pope Leo attends Vatican Christmas concert for the poor featuring Catholic singer Michael Bublé Full text: Pope Leo’s homily on the Sunday of the Jubilee of Prisoners Executions nearly doubled in 2025. But the Jubilee Year saw other good news for death penalty abolition. Pope Leo explains why he appeared not to pray at the Blue Mosque in Turkey Pope Leo condemns ‘antisemitic violence,’ ‘terrorist massacre’ in Sydney Pope Leo picks Chicago-born Ronald Hicks to follow Dolan in New York Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

35 min
12/11/2025

The women deacons commission report, explained

On Dec. 4, the final report from the Vatican’s second study commission on women deacons was published, saying that women can’t be ordained to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders,” but it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while its “assessment is strong…it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time.” This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Vatican correspondents Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell unpack the commission’s report: how it came about, why the commission seems to have left the door open to women deacons despite its “no,” and where the push for women’s ministries in the church is likely to go next. In the second part of the show, Gerry and Colleen examine the dissolution of a Holy See fundraising commission that Pope Francis approved while he was in the hospital. Gerry argues that Pope Francis would likely have dissolved the commission, too, and Colleen raises concern that Vatican officials had asked the pope to sign off on things when he was not in a state to do so. After our recording, Pope Leo commented on why he appeared not to pray in the Blue Mosque—a topic Colleen and Gerry discussed last week. You can read Colleen’s story here. A correction to our production credits: Inside the Vatican was engineered by Adam Buchmueller this week. Links from the show: Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now Video: Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer Pope Leo cancels Vatican fundraising commission announced under questionable circumstances UPDATED: Pope Leo meets Ukraine’s Zelensky as European leaders discuss controversial U.S. peace plan Pope Leo explains why he appeared not to pray at the Blue Mosque in Turkey Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
12/04/2025 · BONUS

Study commission says ‘no’ to women deacons—for now

Today, the Vatican published the results of its second study commission on women deacons. It said that women cannot be admitted to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders.” However, it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while the commission’s “assessment is strong… it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time, as in the case of priestly ordination.” Stay tuned to Inside the Vatican for a more in-depth look at this story, and read Gerard O’Connell’s report here: Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 min
12/04/2025

Inside Pope Leo's first foreign trip

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52 min
11/26/2025

Why is Pope Leo visiting Nicaea?

Later this week, Pope Leo XIV begins his first international apostolic visit: a six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2. At the center of that journey is his stop in Nicaea—today the town of İznik—where the first ecumenical council (325 A.D.) set down the Nicene Creed, the profession of faith that has united Christians for seventeen centuries. Pope Francis had hoped to make this pilgrimage in May; now, Pope Leo is taking up the mantle. We’re re-running our deep dive episode on Nicaea today—originally published before Pope Francis’ death. It explores the history of Nicaea and its ongoing importance for Christians, particularly in working toward a common Easter date. In the show’s introduction, producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., updates listeners on Pope Leo’s new document on Christian unity, released to commemorate the council’s anniversary, and on a recently issued doctrinal note on monogamy from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. In the deep dive, you’ll hear from: Aristotle (Telly) Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology and the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University John Chryssavgis, deacon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Donald Bolen, Archbishop of Regina in Canada and a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Married professors Ben Hohman, a Roman Catholic, and Claire Koen, an Eastern Orthodox Christian Sandra Beardsall, Professor Emerita of Church History and Ecumenics at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Canada, an ordained United Church minister and a member of the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Links from the show: Why the Council of Nicaea still matters—1,700 years later Pope Leo in Lebanon—and Catholics in the Middle East (Jesuitical podcast) Pope Leo in Turkey and Lebanon: What to expect from his first international trip The Council of Nicaea, Christian unity and a common date for Easter Pope Francis: The Catholic Church is willing to accept a common date for Easter in the East and West “In Unitate Fidei”, Apostolic Letter by Pope Leo XIV on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea “Una caro” (“One Flesh: In Praise of Monogamy”), doctrinal note from Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

58 min
11/20/2025

Synod study groups publish reports

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and executive producer Sebastian Gomes unpack the news from the reports and analyze in-depth the work of the groups studying women’s ministries, seminary formation and the appointment of bishops. Links from the show: Synod study groups on ‘controversial’ issues release interim reports To submit contributions to the liturgy working group: synodus@synod.va (Further info) The debate on women deacons in the Catholic Church: A short documentary Podcast: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop The changing face of seminary formation: Group therapy, digital detoxing and more listening Pope Leo to Hollywood: Don’t give up on movies (or movie theaters) Pope Leo fulfills Francis’ promise: 62 Indigenous artifacts returned to Canada On World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo calls on government leaders ‘to listen to the cry of the poorest’ More information on Pope Leo’s Q-and-A with American youthSupport Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36 min
11/13/2025

Pope Leo to call world’s cardinals to Rome for meeting

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Senior Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell explains what we know about the meeting, what cardinals are expecting, and what it means that this will be Pope Leo’s first big agenda item that was not already planned for Pope Francis. Links from the show: Buy Gerry’s new book (Spanish edition) El último Cónclave! Pope Leo to call College of Cardinals to Rome for a two-day January meeting Vatican News: Augustinian Fr Daleng new vice regent of Pontifical Household Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

41 min

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TRAILER

Inside the Vatican - Trailer

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10/16/2018

•

1 min

Colleen Dulle

Host
Gerard O'Connell

Host

4.7

out of 5

394 Ratings

Excellent insight and engaging

11/13/2025

Cocogiggl35

This podcast is really educating me - I only ever heard the headlines about the Vatican and read articles from major news sources. This is giving a much needed perspective - a view from inside- hence the title... They aren't trying to present all viewpoints but are thoughtfully reflecting on the perspectives from Gerry’s experiences and Colleen’s wise questions. Love it and look forward to every episode. Thanks for the great work! I wish for more!
Women deacons

12/11/2025

kenhagen

Basically they keep asking the question until they get the answer they want.
Elise Allen interview

10/24/2025

Paul and Suzi D.

Excellent interview! My wife and I were very impressed with this segment. The questions asked and the responses of the author brought fresh insight to the personality of our new pope. What a blessings it is to have a podcast like this. Bravo and keep up the good work Colleen and Gerry!!!
What a great podcast

07/15/2025

kbeck14

I started following during the conclave. I have been a fan of American media for years and this podcast brought so much insight and renewed joy to my Catholic faith, and Catholic social teaching as well. I cannot wait to continue to listen in the fall. Thank you for all your stories and insightfulness to being a Catholic and what goes on in the Vatican

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.