Christopher White

A recent daylong gathering at Georgetown University sought to help U.S. church leaders understand that synodality "doesn't start at the Vatican but grows from the ground up."

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.  

Pope Francis on March 15 appointed new leadership to his papal commission on clergy sexual abuse, months after reports about the outgoing secretary's previous financial dealings raised questions about his suitability to lead the group.

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.

An unidentified Catholic cardinal has authored a scathing memo, saying Pope Francis has sown "confusion" in the church and arguing that the next conclave should elect a very different kind of pontiff.

Eighty bishops, theologians and other Catholic leaders gathered Feb. 22-23 to reckon with what was described as the failure of the U.S. church to implement the pope's environmental teachings. 

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.

An Anglican woman bishop who addressed Pope Francis and his council of cardinal advisers told NCR she believes the pontiff took a "risk" in extending her an invitation to speak to the group.

When Francis Xavier reached India or Mother Cabrini arrived in the U.S., neither believed they would make converts overnight. They had to learn the language and culture. So, too, with internet evangelization.

After nearly 20 years, Fr. John Jenkins is stepping down as president of the University of Notre Dame. In an interview with NCR, he points to achievements and admits some mistakes — like a certain Trump White House event in 2020.

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.

Not since Pope Francis welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Vatican has a papal meeting with a head of state been so hotly anticipated as the coming encounter with Argentina's President Javier Milei. 

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.

A flurry of events is taking place in Rome for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. And at Ponte Sant'Angelo Methodist Church on Jan. 21, the preacher was a Catholic woman: Xavière Sr. Nathalie Becquart.

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.

Australian Cardinal George Pell died unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2023, shortly after the death of retired Pope Benedict XVI. A year later, the longing for a return to a more traditional brand of Catholicism continues. 

Pope Francis decried two divergent issues in an annual "State of the World" address on Jan. 8: the status of civilians as "collateral damage" in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, and the practice of surrogate motherhood.

During his annual Christmas Day message, Pope Francis decried the "appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims" in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, while reiterating his calls for an immediate ceasefire.

The message of Christmas is that Jesus changed the world through his love, rather than through worldly power, said Pope Francis as he marked the start of Christmas at the Vatican. 

Pope Francis on Dec. 21 cautioned top Vatican officials against becoming rigid and obsessing over ideology, saying that such habits can prevent the Catholic Church from growing.