The Vatican Briefing

Listen: In The Vatican Briefing, Joshua McElwee and Christopher White discuss the Vatican's document Dignitas Infinita. And they speak with a Vatican journalist about his book-length interview with Pope Francis. 

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," a prominent U.S. Ukrainian Catholic leader sharply criticizes Pope Francis' recent suggestion that Ukraine might enter negotiations to end the war with Russia.  

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy says the U.S. bishops are not giving enough attention to Pope Francis' call for the world to address global climate change.

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," BishopAccountability.org co-director Anne Barrett Doyle offers a blunt assessment of Pope Francis' efforts to confront clergy sexual abuse.

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Xavière Sr. Nathalie Becquart brings listeners inside the Vatican's synod office to discuss how the synodal process is creating "a new style of leadership" for the Catholic Church.

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Archbishop Charles Scicluna reiterates his call for the global Catholic Church to consider ending its requirement that priests remain celibate.

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, tells NCR the U.S. is working "nonstop" to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza, but stops short of backing Pope Francis' calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Catholic Charities USA president and CEO Kerry Robinson praises Pope Francis' efforts to expand opportunities for women's leadership in the Catholic Church.

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Bishop Daniel Flores says the prelates at the recent major Vatican summit wanted to express "a certain amount of sorrow" over how women have been treated by the church.

Listen: In this episode of The Vatican Briefing, Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator discusses the synod and how its final text made sure that "the space is there to continue to have this conversation."

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White have an exclusive conversation with Cardinal Michael Czerny about the ongoing Synod of Bishops.

Listen: In a special episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Joshua McElwee and Christopher White have an exclusive conversation with Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick about her Oct. 17 meeting with Pope Francis. Gramick says the pope "is trying to get us to move forward."

Listen: Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White interview one of the 13 members of the committee expected to draft the final document from Pope Francis' ongoing summit on the future of the Catholic Church.

In an exclusive NCR interview, Australian Bishop Shane Mackinlay, one of the 13 members of the committee drafting the final document from the ongoing synod, expressed an openness to ordaining women as deacons.

Listen: In the podcast's second episode, Joshua McElwee and Christopher White discuss the incredible events of the first week of the 2023 synod, and interview one of the seven organizers of the extraordinary assembly.

As part of NCR's new podcast, The Vatican Briefing, one of the voting members of the Synod of Bishops has indicated an openness to restoring the early Catholic Church's tradition of ordaining women as deacons.

Listen: "The Vatican Briefing" is a new podcast featuring Vatican experts Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White. In the first episode, they discuss the issues before the synod, and interview one of the first-ever lay synod members.