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 talks with Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Vatican archivist and librarian, during a ceremony in the Vatican Library Nov. 5, 2021. Pope Francis has named Cardinal de Mendonça to be prefect of the new Dicastery for Culture and Education. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

For Vatican’s new culture czar, beware of popes bearing gifts

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

Pope Francis holds a letter presented by Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, during a general audience at the Vatican in 2018. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Voices

Explaining the pope’s discretion on a cardinal under fire in China

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

People buy food at a local market in downtown San Francisco July 13, 2022. (CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters)

Voices

Inflation challenges the Church’s concern for both wallets and souls

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

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, in 2015. (Shutterstock)

Voices

Both Elizabeth II and modern popes illustrate the punch of ‘soft power’

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 12, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis meets with cardinals at the Vatican Aug. 29, 2022. The meeting was to reflect on the apostolic constitution "Praedicate evangelium" (Preach the Gospel) on the reform of the Roman Curia. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

Pope’s unusual consistory raised eyebrows, mostly for what didn’t happen

John L. Allen Jr.|Sep 2, 2022|5 Min Read

Humanae Vitae encyclical published in the Aug. 8, 1968 edition of L'Osservatore Romano newspaper. (Vatican Media)

Voices

Academy’s foray into ‘Humanae Vitae’ row a new act in an old story

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 12, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis meets Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, left, the prelate of Opus Dei, and Msgr. Mariano Fazio, the auxiliary vicar of the prelature, during an audience at the Vatican Nov. 29, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Voices

Francis isn’t against ‘new movements,’ he just favors some over others

John L. Allen Jr.|Aug 4, 2022|5 Min Read

Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the former archbishop of São Paolo and former prefect of the Dicastery for Clergy, died July 4 at the age of 87. He is pictured with Pope Francis during the pope's election night appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13, 2013. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

Legacy lives on of cardinal who helped name the pope

John L. Allen Jr.|Jul 12, 2022|5 Min Read

People walk in the ninth national March for Life in Rome May 18, 2019. Abortion has been legal in Italy since 1978. (CNS photo/courtesy Marcia per la Vita)

Voices

After abortion ruling, American church may be poised to walk Europe’s path

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

A painting of Pope Pius XII is displayed at The Catholic University of America in Washington in this May 25, 2021, file photo. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Voices

Is Vatican’s defense of Pope Pius XII also, in some sense, about Pope Francis?

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

Pope Francis waves as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 8, 2022. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Voices

Amid resignation frenzy, don’t forget real reasons for Pope’s trip to L’Aquila

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 9, 2022|5 Min Read

Pope Francis leads an "ordinary public consistory" for the approval of the canonizations of 10 new saints at the Vatican on March 4. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Voices

August consistory may be among most fateful moments of Francis papacy

John L. Allen Jr.|Jun 6, 2022|5 Min Read