The Vatican Briefing

Ep. 16 - Is the Vatican listening to women?

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White speaks with Australia's Ambassador to the Vatican, Chiara Porro, to discuss the recent 50th anniversary of Australia and the Holy See formally establishing diplomatic ties. In the interview, the Australian diplomat assesses how the Catholic Church is progressing on issues of women's leadership and child protection and looks ahead to Pope Francis' upcoming September visit to four countries in Asia Pacific and Oceania.  This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward [https://secure.ncronline.org/page/47160/donate/1], National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Christopher White's report on Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-francis-make-ambitious-september-trip-asia-pacific-vatican-says] Christopher White's report from Australia on its plenary council and the global synod: To understand Rome's Synod of Bishops, look to Australia [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/view-vatican/understand-romes-synod-bishops-look-australia] Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick's account of her recent correspondence with Pope Francis: After Vatican text, pope tells Jeannine Gramick: Trans people 'must be accepted' [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/after-vatican-text-pope-tells-jeannine-gramick-trans-people-must-be-accepted] Christopher White's reports on an exchange between Francis and parents of LGBTQ children in Malta: Pope responds with 'open heart' to Vatican document criticism from parents of LGBTQ children [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-responds-open-heart-lgbtq-parents-criticizing-controversial-vatican] Christopher White's interview with Fr. Tomas Halik: Catholicism must reject 'heresy of triumphalism,' says noted Czech priest [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/catholicism-must-reject-heresy-triumphalism-says-noted-czech-priest]

Ep. 15 - A border bishop's 'grave concern'

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," a leading Catholic bishop on the U.S.-Mexico border expresses "grave concern" that the 2024 presidential race could lead to further demonization of migrants seeking to enter the country. "I'm concerned about the election period very much," El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz tells expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White. "It seems that politicians have latched on to immigration as a way to mobilize their bases." Seitz, who has served in El Paso since 2013 and is currently the chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee, also says that some Christians "are more formed, it seems, in their thoughts, in their behaviors, by the political sort of thinking than by church teaching." "They want to make their Christianity fit their political outlook rather than the other way around, and that concerns me," says the bishop. Also in this episode, McElwee and White have a conversation about the Vatican's ongoing process for the Synod of Bishops and the recent announcement of Pope Francis' plans to travel in September to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward [https://secure.ncronline.org/page/47160/donate/1], National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Rhina Guidos' coverage of Seitz's comments during an April conference on Catholic responses to migration: Both Republicans and Democrats spread anti-immigrant views, says Bishop Seitz [https://www.ncronline.org/news/both-republicans-and-democrats-spread-anti-immigrant-views-says-bishop-seitz] Brian Fraga's reporting on Seitz's concerns about "militarization" at the U.S.-Mexico border: Texas is escalating efforts to criminalize migrants, says Bishop Seitz [https://www.ncronline.org/news/texas-escalating-efforts-criminalize-migrants-says-bishop-seitz] Christopher White's coverage of theologian Anna Rowlands lecture at Cambridge University: Synod adviser: Pope Francis more interested in big discussions than specific issues [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/synod-adviser-pope-francis-more-interested-big-discussions-specific-issues] Christopher White's reporting on the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' travel plans: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-francis-make-ambitious-september-trip-asia-pacific-vatican-says] Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/vatican-human-dignity-document-condemns-sex-change-gender-theory-and-surrogacy]

Ep. 14 - Vatican controversies, and the two popes

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White discuss a major new Vatican document that has attracted controversy over its condemnation of gender-affirming surgery for trans individuals and the growing practice of surrogate motherhood. They also speak with a Spanish-language Vatican journalist, Javier Martínez-Brocal, who is the author of a new book-length interview with Pope Francis. Martínez-Brocal, who spoke with the pope about behind the scenes of workings of the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, says Francis was motivated to reveal the information, in part, "to show the unity of the church." Martínez-Brocal also takes listeners inside the Vatican's guest house where Francis lives and chronicles what it's like to interview the pope, explains why Francis was willing to finally open up about the decade of having "two popes" live inside the Vatican and makes some predictions about the rest of the Francis papacy.  This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward [https://secure.ncronline.org/page/47160/donate/1], National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Catholic News Service coverage of Brochal's book: Pope says he was 'used' in 2005 conclave: Ratzinger 'was my candidate' [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-says-he-was-used-2005-conclave-ratzinger-was-my-candidate] Joshua McElwee's obituary of Pope Benedict XVI: Benedict, a pope who shaped his times but didn't tower over them, dies at 95 [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/benedict-pope-who-shaped-his-times-didnt-tower-over-them-dies-95] Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis comments that Benedict XVI's death has been 'instrumentalized' by agenda-driven church leaders [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/benedict-xvis-death-has-been-instrumentalized-agenda-driven-church-leaders] Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note [https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/vatican-human-dignity-document-condemns-sex-change-gender-theory-and-surrogacy] Joshua McElwee and Peter Feuerherd's obituary of the late Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Bishop Gumbleton, longtime soul of the US Catholic peace movement, dies [https://www.ncronline.org/news/bishop-gumbleton-longtime-soul-us-catholic-peace-movement-dies]

Ep. 13 - A Ukrainian bishop's plea for Pope Francis

A prominent U.S. Ukrainian Catholic leader has sharply criticized Pope Francis' recent suggestion that Ukraine might enter negotiations to end its brutal, two-year war with Russia, calling the pontiff's remarks "very problematic."  In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White interview Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who represents Ukrainian Catholics across much of the eastern U.S. Gudziak says he and people across Ukraine "were really knocked off balance" by the pope's suggestion. "Negotiating with Russia and [President] Putin today is a no-go," said Gudziak, who heads the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. "Ukrainians have tried. They see that he is a relentless killer." "I think the Holy Father really cares for the people of Ukraine, and he cares for the suffering people of the world," said the archbishop. "The expression … was very unfortunate." Given the seriousness of the subject matter, The Vatican Briefing is devoting the entirety of this episode to its interview with Archbishop Gudziak. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward [https://secure.ncronline.org/page/47160/donate/1], National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Associated Press reporting on the pope's interview: Pope Francis: Ukraine should have courage of the 'white flag,' negotiate end of war with Russia [https://www.ncronline.org/node/266396] Associated Press coverage of how Vatican officials addressed the interview: Vatican diplomats seek to defuse outrage over Pope Francis' Ukraine 'white flag' comments [https://www.ncronline.org/node/266496] Catholic News Service coverage of a December 2023 phone call between Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Pope Francis, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy speak by phone [https://www.ncronline.org/node/261096] Christopher White's reporting from a December 2022 visit to Ukraine: 'Ukraine Crucifixion': At Christmas, war-torn Ukraine confident in its resurrection [https://www.ncronline.org/node/226951/]

Ep. 12 - Cardinal McElroy on US bishops and climate change

San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy, a key ally of Pope Francis, says U.S. Catholic bishops are not giving enough attention to the pope's call for the world to address global climate change.  In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White interviews McElroy about how the U.S. bishops' conference has (and has not) implemented the teachings of pope's 2015 environmental encyclical Laudato Si', which called for dramatic action to confront global warming. The need to address the issue, says McElroy, "has not gotten the attention of the conference that it should get, and that the pope is calling us to get." Also in this episode, White and co-host Joshua J. McElwee discuss Pope Francis' continued health issues and the pope's most recent call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Later, they are joined by NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe to discuss McElroy's comments, and to talk about some positive initiatives by U.S. bishops to encourage environmental efforts. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward [https://secure.ncronline.org/page/47160/donate/1], National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Associated Press reporting on the pope's continuing health issues: Pope again asks aide to read remarks, as respiratory problems persist [https://www.ncronline.org/node/266001] Christopher White's column about the anonymous cardinal's letter about Pope Francis: Anonymous Catholic cardinal argues for a next pope very unlike Francis [https://www.ncronline.org/node/266026] Catholic News Service coverage of the pope's latest call for a ceasefire in Gaza: Pope calls for cease-fire in Gaza; calls disarmament 'moral duty' [https://www.ncronline.org/node/265856] Christopher White's coverage on the San Diego conference on the church and climate change: US church failing on pope's climate goals, bishops say at private conference [https://www.ncronline.org/node/265391] Brian Roewe's reporting on McElroy's decision for his diocese to divest: In first for US church, San Diego Diocese divests from fossil fuels [https://www.ncronline.org/node/262021]  Brian Roewe's reporting on the Chicago Archdiocese's green energy plan: Chicago Archdiocese to power parishes, schools with 100% renewable energy [https://www.ncronline.org/node/260571] Joshua McElwee's initial 2015 report on the release of the encyclical letter Laudato Si': Francis' encyclical an urgent call to prevent world of 'debris, desolation and filth' [https://www.ncronline.org/node/104496]