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.

Voices

Why the pope might need an ‘American solution’ to Germany

John L. Allen Jr.|Dec 4, 2023|5 Min Read

Voices

Does Pope Francis have a Jewish problem?

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 27, 2023|6 Min Read

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández comments on changes in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he serves as prefect. (CNS/Lola Gomez)

Voices

After seven years of silence, now Francis can’t wait to answer dubia

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 16, 2023|5 Min Read

Vatican

On conclave reform, we’ve been down this road before

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 9, 2023|5 Min Read

Participants in the assembly of the Synod of Bishops meeting in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Oct. 25, 2023. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Voices

Here's what we learned (and didn't) from the just-concluded synod

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 6, 2023|6 Min Read

An Israeli soldier patrols near a police station in Sderot, Israel, Oct. 8, which was destroyed following a mass infiltration by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip. (OSV News/Ronen Zvulun, Reuters)

Voices

Explaining the Vatican’s delicate balancing act on Israel-Palestine

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 24, 2023|5 Min Read

Vatican

How the Israel-Hamas war may reconfigure the Synod of Bishops

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 15, 2023|5 Min Read

Servers lead a procession into the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall at the start of prayer during the first working session of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality Oct. 4. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Voices

Assessing the lay of the land after a whirlwind of a week in Rome

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 8, 2023|5 Min Read

Bishops attend a session of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment at the Vatican in October 2018. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

Storylines for a synod drama we may not get to watch live

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 3, 2023|7 Min Read

Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, India, in a July 22, 2012, photo. (CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic)

World

India liturgy standoff an experiment in achieving peace without sacrificing passion

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 15, 2023|5 Min Read

Pope Francis' recent remarks have led to some opposition from American Catholics as well as the Ukraine. (CNS/Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network)

Vatican

Pope’s criticism of (some) Americans amounts to an indirect tribute

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 1, 2023|5 Min Read

Pope Francis greets the crowd before celebrating Mass at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, South Sudan, Feb. 5. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

In South Sudan’s nightmare, pope gives them a flicker of hope

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 29, 2023|5 Min Read