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.

Pope Francis speaks to members of the Synod of Bishops on synodality after they approved their final document Oct. 26, 2024, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Vatican

In the end, Pope Francis steered his synod toward a soft landing

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 28, 2024|5 Min Read

Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez.(University of Notre Dame via Crux)

World

Gustavo Gutiérrez, father of liberation theology, dead at 96

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 23, 2024|5 Min Read

Three of the archbishops Pope Francis has named to the College of Cardinals participate in a press briefing at the Vatican Oct. 8, 2024. From the left are Cardinals-designate Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, Jaime Spengler of Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Voices

Message of Synod 2024: Time for the West to get in the back of the line

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 21, 2024|5 Min Read

Pope Francis stands with Raphael Schutz, the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, Issa Kassissieh, Palestinian ambassador to the Holy See, and representatives of Rome's Jewish and Muslim communities by an olive tree in the Vatican Gardens in this June 7, 2024 file photo. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Voices

Pope’s use of fraught verse on Gaza anniversary raises troubling questions

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 13, 2024|6 Min Read

Vatican

Pope’s ‘casino consistory’ reinforces next conclave as a crapshoot

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 11, 2024|5 Min Read

Pope Francis is welcomed to KU Leuven, a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium, Sept. 27, 2024, by Luc Sels, rector and vice chancellor. Founded in 1425 with a decree by Pope Martin V, KU Leuven is the oldest Catholic university in the world. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Voices

Pope’s tough time in Belgium may stir creativity vis-à-vis secularism

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 3, 2024|6 Min Read

Voices

Catholic pacesetter for the last 30 years integrates Benedict/Francis divide

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 16, 2024|5 Min Read

A woman prays during Christmas Mass at the cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia. (CNS/Darren Whiteside, Reuters)

Voices

Pope’s grueling Asia, Oceania odyssey shows his ‘Biden moment’ isn’t yet here

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 27, 2024|5 Min Read

Voices

Why the Vatican is well-positioned to broker peace with Iran

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 15, 2024|5 Min Read

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, is pictured during a seminar on safeguarding children at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome March 23, 2017 (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

Four thousand miles away, the O’Malley effect on fighting abuse is felt

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 12, 2024|6 Min Read

(CNS illustration/Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier)

Voices

Biden, Trump, Harris, and seeking a ‘Catholic moment’ in 2024

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 30, 2024|5 Min Read

St. John Paul II is assisted by aides after being shot in St. Peter's Square May 13, 1981. The Polish pope, who was shot at the start of his weekly general audience by Mehmet Ali Agca, was convinced that he owed his life to Our Lady of Fatima. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Voices

Like Trump, popes have had their share of near misses

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 19, 2024|6 Min Read