John L. Allen Jr.

Crux Now

John L. Allen Jr. was the editor of Crux, specializing in coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, and the Rome correspondent for Angelus from 2016 to 2025.

Latest by John L. Allen Jr.

Vatican

New cardinals make conclave handicapping easier … and much harder

John L. Allen Jr.|May 30, 2022|6 Min Read

Pope Francis greets journalists aboard a flight from Rome to Santiago, Chile, in 2018. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

A new saint highlights tensions over the role of Catholic journalism

John L. Allen Jr.|May 23, 2022|4 Min Read

People pray as Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

Pope’s new man on Arabian peninsula faces high-wire act on Ukraine

John L. Allen Jr.|May 10, 2022|4 Min Read

Pope Francis gives the homily as he celebrates a Mass to open the process that will lead up to the assembly of the world Synod of Bishops in 2023, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 10, 2021. (CNS/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

Voices

Both in the US and the Church, fall 2022 to provide hints of future directions

John L. Allen Jr.|May 2, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis arrives for an audience to exchange Christmas greetings with members of the Roman Curia in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 23, 2021. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Voices

Top five takeaways from Pope Francis’ overhaul of the Roman Curia

John L. Allen Jr.|Mar 29, 2022|6 Min Read

Pope Francis prays in front of the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima during a Marian vigil in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this Oct. 12, 2013, file photo. The pope has invited the bishops of the world to join him in "consecrating and entrusting" Russia and Ukraine to Mary March 25. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

With Fátima consecration, Pope Francis pokes the Russian bear

John L. Allen Jr.|Mar 18, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a private audience at the Vatican July 4, 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

Explaining the Vatican’s discretion on Putin’s war

John L. Allen Jr.|Feb 28, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Benedict XVI presides at Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney in this July 19, 2008, file photo. (CNS/courtesy of World Youth Day 2008)

Voices

Assessing Benedict’s record on abuse more complicated than it seems

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 31, 2022|5 Min Read

A group of pilgrims who presented a "Faith Manifesto" to Pope Francis are pictured during the pope's General Audience at the Vatican on Jan. 5. (CNS/courtesy Neuer Anfang initiative)

Voices

In Germany, it’s not just ‘Left vs. Right’ but ‘Catholic vs. Something Else’

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 14, 2022|4 Min Read

Pope Francis leaves at the conclusion of an evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31, 2021. (CNS/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

Voices

Under a hurry-up pope, are we seeing a slow-down papacy?

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 7, 2022|5 Min Read

A crucifix and a statue of St. Joseph are seen in the Apostolic Library with Pope Francis in the background. The pope declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

The Top 5 Vatican news stories of 2021

John L. Allen Jr.|Dec 27, 2021|7 Min Read

Father Richard Munkelt celebrates a traditional Latin Mass July 1 at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Voices

Just like Thanksgiving, Vatican drops hints to keep unwanted relatives away

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 22, 2021|5 Min Read