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 leads a meeting with the presidents and coordinators of the regional assemblies of the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican Nov. 28, 2022. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Voices

Even absent hot-button issues, synod still has room for surprises

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 15, 2024|6 Min Read

Members of the clergy arrive for Mass in late 2013 at Notre Dame Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Bangui, Central African Republic. (CNS photo/Luc Gnago, Reuters)

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If Catholicism were a corporation, we wouldn’t distribute priests like this

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 2, 2024|5 Min Read

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Archbishop charged with schism, ironically enough, may be pope’s best friend

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 25, 2024|5 Min Read

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Watch out, Vatican’s papal primacy doc could be a milestone

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 18, 2024|5 Min Read

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Pope may find a silver lining in otherwise frustrating European elections

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 10, 2024|4 Min Read

Pope Francis listens to a question during a meeting with young priests ministering in the Diocese of Rome May 29. The pope is seated between Rome Auxiliary Bishops Baldo Reina, left, and Michele Di Tolve, right. (CNS/Vatican Media)

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Is the Francis pontificate entering its ‘Third Age’?

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 5, 2024|5 Min Read

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Papal contender’s starring role in the States a chance to reframe impressions

John L. Allen Jr.|May 24, 2024|6 Min Read

Pope Francis speaks at a meeting on Italy's declining birthrate at an auditorium in Rome May 10, 2024. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

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Pope’s pro-fertility campaign captures the fine art of fully pleasing no one

John L. Allen Jr.|May 16, 2024|6 Min Read

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Despite the tensions, Africa and Pope Francis still need each other

John L. Allen Jr.|May 9, 2024|5 Min Read

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Pope’s CBS interview ‘normalizes’ his relations with American media

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

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Vatican’s latest isn’t about Catholic teaching, but Catholic sociology

John L. Allen Jr.|Apr 12, 2024|5 Min Read

Workers remove the chair that had been set up for Pope Francis atop a hillside overlooking the Colosseum in Rome, after the Vatican announced at the start of the ceremony March 29 that the pope would follow the event from home. (CNS/Lola Gomez)

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Francis and the ‘empty chair’ phase of his pontificate

John L. Allen Jr.|Apr 4, 2024|6 Min Read