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Inside The Vatican

Inside The Vatican

America Media 412 Episodes Jul 3, 2026

Each week, Colleen Dulle goes behind the headlines of the biggest Vatican news stories with America’s Rome correspondent Gerard O’Connell. They break down complicated news stories that have a whole lot of history behind them in an understandable, engaging way. Colleen and Gerard give you the inside scoop on what people inside the Vatican are thinking, saying—and planning.

Episodes

Pope Leo's message for the United States' 250th anniversary
Pope Leo's message for the United States' 250th anniversary Jul 3, 2026 147 Pope Leo today received the National Constitution Center’s liberty medal and gave an acceptance speech via livestream from the Vatican. Colleen Dulle recaps his message. Links from the show: Read: Pope Leo’s message to the United States on its 250th anniversary Subscribe to America Magazine (use promo code VATICAN for $10 off an annual digital subscription) Fill out our listener survey! Lear
Vatican excommunicates SSPX bishops, priests and others
Vatican excommunicates SSPX bishops, priests and others Jul 3, 2026 143 Today, July 2, in response to the SSPX’s illicit ordinations of bishops, the Vatican announced that not only were the bishops involved in the ordination automatically excommunicated and in schism, but that any clergy of SSPX or lay members who “adhere” to the schism are also to be considered excommunicated. Links from the show: The Vatican and SSPX controversy, explained Vatican declar
‘I doubt he will be diplomatic’: What Leo may say to the U.S. July 3
‘I doubt he will be diplomatic’: What Leo may say to the U.S. July 3 Jun 26, 2026 2576 On this season finale of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry discuss the hectic weeks before Pope Leo’s summer vacation. First they recap the pope’s trip to Pavia to visit the remains of St. Augustine and the home of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, his speech to the World Food Program and the Vatican’s denial of the German bishops’ request to allow lay people to preach homilies. They also look ahe
‘Like I’ve rarely seen him’: Pope Leo’s visit to Spain
‘Like I’ve rarely seen him’: Pope Leo’s visit to Spain Jun 19, 2026 2752 Pope Leo visited Spain from June 6-12, a visit that drew record-breaking crowds. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerard O’Connell recaps for Colleen Dulle the highlights from the pope’s three stops: Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. On the last day, Gerry reports, Leo spoke out against those who take advantage of migrants “like I’ve rarely seen him,” shouting, “Stop! Repent!” After thi
Anna Rowlands on the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ debates
Anna Rowlands on the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ debates Jun 11, 2026 2452 Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ published May 25, has sparked debates in the worlds of technology and theology while galvanizing online creators opposed to artificial intelligence. Anna Rowlands, a theologian and co-presenter of the text with Pope Leo, joins Colleen Dulle to parse the encyclical’s reception, its contributions to Catholic teaching, and whether workers can use the encyc
EWTN president named head of Vatican communications
EWTN president named head of Vatican communications Jun 5, 2026 2048 This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss EWTN News President and COO Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican’s dicastery for communications. They unpack some of the challenges currently facing the dicastery and analyze the appointment in light of the Vatican’s previously strained relationship with EWTN. In the second half of the show, Gerry gives
Pope Leo's A.I. encyclical: Top takeaways from “Magnifica Humanitas”
Pope Leo's A.I. encyclical: Top takeaways from “Magnifica Humanitas” May 28, 2026 2457 This week on a special “Inside the Vatican” roundtable, a discussion of “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo’s groundbreaking first encyclical on protecting the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. Host Colleen Dulle sits down with her co-host and senior Vatican correspondent, Gerard O’Connell, as well as America’s president and editor in chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J. They discuss the documen
Pope Leo's Encyclical: "Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed."
Pope Leo's Encyclical: "Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed." May 25, 2026 318 Pope Leo released his encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence” today, May 25. (Read the encyclical here. And find America Magazine's extensive coverage of the encyclical here.) Pope Leo presented the encyclical at the Vatican along with the panel of experts, including Christopher Olah, a co-founder of one of the world’s leading AI
What we know about Pope Leo’s A.I. encyclical
What we know about Pope Leo’s A.I. encyclical May 22, 2026 2277 This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell look ahead to Pope Leo’s forthcoming encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” which is rumored to be a long document dealing with themes of artificial intelligence and humanity. Ahead of the document’s expected release on May 25, Gerry and Colleen recap what is already known about the document, the Vatican’s previous work on A.I. and
Marco Rubio’s Vatican visit, explained | Inside the Vatican podcast
Marco Rubio’s Vatican visit, explained | Inside the Vatican podcast May 15, 2026 2179 This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Pope Leo XIV, along with recent developments between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X, which has committed to illicitly ordain bishops without the Vatican’s approval. In the second part of the show, Colleen and Gerry look at the pope’s visits to Pompeii and Naples,
Deep Dive: An American Pope–How it happened and what it means
Deep Dive: An American Pope–How it happened and what it means May 8, 2026 2720 One year ago today, Leo XIV was elected the first pope from the United States of America. A year into his papacy, we examine how the U.S. evolved from a nation with a long history of anti-Catholicism to one welcoming an American-born pope, and why the cardinals defied a longstanding taboo against a pope from a global superpower. Interviews include: - Kathleen Sprows Cummings, the John A. O’Brien
‘Speaking fearlessly’: Pope Leo’s Africa Trip
‘Speaking fearlessly’: Pope Leo’s Africa Trip May 1, 2026 3033 This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry O’Connell gives Colleen Dulle an inside look at Pope Leo XIV’s visit to four African countries. Between speaking out against corruption in Cameroon, denouncing inequality in Angola and visiting a prison in Equatorial Guinea, Gerry notes that Pope Leo never strayed from his central message of peace and justice—even when a Truth Social post from U.S. Presiden

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