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

In Africa, Pope Francis has to walk a tightrope on anti-Christian violence

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 18, 2023|5 Min Read

Vatican

Despite shockwaves around deaths of Benedict and Pell, this too shall pass

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 12, 2023|6 Min Read

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, private secretary to Pope Benedict XVI, kisses the casket of the late pope during his funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Jan. 5, 2023. Also pictured is Msgr. Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Pope Francis' master of papal liturgical ceremonies. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

Why Benedict XVI actually is the pope future Catholics will remember

John L. Allen Jr.|Jan 6, 2023|5 Min Read

Pope Francis greets Franciscan Father Dionisio Mintoff, founder of the John XXIII Peace Lab's Center for Migrants, during a meeting with migrants at the center in Hal Far, Malta, April 3. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

Five doses of good news for Catholicism amid an otherwise bleak year

John L. Allen Jr.|Dec 29, 2022|9 Min Read

Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2020. (CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic)

Voices

Handling of three ‘problem priests’ exposes gap in Church policy

John L. Allen Jr.|Dec 23, 2022|5 Min Read

Vatican

Under pressure, pope moves to rein in unregulated Vatican foundations

John L. Allen Jr.|Dec 11, 2022|5 Min Read

Voices

Here’s a ‘Caritas Rule’ for Catholic charities after latest crackdown

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 30, 2022|5 Min Read

Eritrean Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim. (Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need via Crux)

World

Will the Catholic world rally to defend imperiled bishop in Eritrea?

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 27, 2022|5 Min Read

Former Vatican Auditor General Libero Milone in an interview with The National Catholic Register Nov. 9. (EWTN News)

Voices

Ousted Vatican auditor may be an enigma, but he’s hardly alone

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 21, 2022|5 Min Read

An Alitalia plane chartered by the Pope. (Plinio Lepri/AP via Crux)

Voices

Coming to praise Italian predominance in the Vatican, not to bury it

John L. Allen Jr.|Nov 16, 2022|5 Min Read

Msgr. Luigi Giussani, founder and spiritual guide of the lay movement Communion and Liberation, is pictured in this undated file photo. (CNS photo courtesy of Communion and Liberation)

Voices

At milestone, Communion & Liberation full of promise but covering rocky ground

John L. Allen Jr.|Oct 14, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, Sri Lanka, during an audience with pilgrims from Sri Lanka after a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 2014. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Vatican

While an African pope is possible, an Asian may be a better bet

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