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.

Judges Giuseppe Pignatone and Carlo Bonzano preside at the third session of the trial of six defendants accused of financial crimes, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, at the Vatican City State criminal court Nov. 17, 2021. Lawyers representing the defendants argued that Vatican prosecutors omitted evidence and testimony they said are crucial in preparing their defense. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Vatican

Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ could end in a whimper, not a bang

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 19, 2021|5 Min Read

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican Oct. 29. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

In fighting climate ‘war,’ can the Vatican and US play good cop/bad cop with China?

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 8, 2021|5 Min Read

Blessing Okoedion. (Screen capture via Crux)

Vatican

Today’s Biden/Pope summit seen through the eyes of a trafficking victim

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 29, 2021|5 Min Read

Displaced people are seen in a file photo along a road near Goma, Congo. (Thomas Mukoya/Reuters via CNS)

Voices

If Francis goes to Congo, that trip might be more equal than others

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 24, 2021|5 Min Read

A confessional on which is written: "M. the Priest" is pictured in a Catholic church near Nantes, France, Oct. 5, 2021. Church and government leaders in France are at odds over whether priests should be required to report the abuse of minors if they learn about it in the sacrament of confession. (CNS photo/Stephane Mahe, Reuters)

Voices

Seal of the confessional simply not a roadblock to fight against abuse

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 16, 2021|5 Min Read

The judges of the Vatican City State criminal court face dozens of lawyers in a makeshift Vatican courtroom July 27, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

Mistakes to avoid in assessing the Vatican’s ‘Trial of the Century’

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 11, 2021|5 Min Read

People raise signs against a chain-link fence to show drivers on Ohio State Route 8 during a protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates at Summa Health Hospital in Akron, Ohio, Aug. 16, 2021. (CNS/Stephen Zenner, Reuters)

Voices

Church’s contrasting reactions to vaccine mandates likely here to stay

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 27, 2021|5 Min Read

Pope Francis speaks at a pre-synod gathering of youth delegates in Rome in this 2018 file photo. Also pictured is U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

In top-down fashion, Pope Francis seeks a bottom-up Church

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 14, 2021|5 Min Read

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 2015. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

A Jesuit pope defies do-nothing expectations on the liturgy

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 3, 2021|5 Min Read

St. Pope John Paul II gestures during a concert performance in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sept. 24, 2001, two weeks after the 9/11 attacks. (CNS)

Voices

From the beginning, popes have issued warnings about America’s longest war

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 30, 2021|5 Min Read

Father Stanley Klores celebrates a Tridentine high Mass Sept. 14, 2007, at St. Patrick Church in New Orleans. The Latin Mass has been celebrated at St. Patrick with special permission from New Orleans' archbishop since 1984. (Peter Finney Jr. / Clarion Herald via CNS)

Voices

Pope strikes boldly on both Latin Mass and corruption, but will it work?

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 29, 2021|5 Min Read

Pope Francis gives a rosary to Sister Carla, a member of the medical staff at Gemelli hospital in Rome July 11, 2021, as he recovers following scheduled colon surgery. Earlier the pope led the Angelus from a balcony at the hospital. (CNS photo/Vatican Media via Reuters)

Voices

Francis certainly can be pope from a hospital bed ... but will he want to?

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 14, 2021|5 Min Read