Christopher White

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, tells NCR the U.S. is working "nonstop" to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza, but stops short of backing Pope Francis' calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Australian Cardinal George Pell died unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2023, shortly after the death of retired Pope Benedict XVI. A year later, the longing for a return to a more traditional brand of Catholicism continues. 

Pope Francis decried two divergent issues in an annual "State of the World" address on Jan. 8: the status of civilians as "collateral damage" in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, and the practice of surrogate motherhood.

During his annual Christmas Day message, Pope Francis decried the "appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims" in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, while reiterating his calls for an immediate ceasefire.

The message of Christmas is that Jesus changed the world through his love, rather than through worldly power, said Pope Francis as he marked the start of Christmas at the Vatican. 

Pope Francis on Dec. 21 cautioned top Vatican officials against becoming rigid and obsessing over ideology, saying that such habits can prevent the Catholic Church from growing.

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Catholic Charities USA president and CEO Kerry Robinson praises Pope Francis' efforts to expand opportunities for women's leadership in the Catholic Church.

A new Vatican document officially declares it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and divorced and remarried couples. The pastoral shift may be among the most significant in the church's history. 

Pope Francis, who turns 87 on Dec. 17, is already one of the oldest popes in the church's 2,000-year history. But behind Vatican walls, talk of possible papal transition still remains largely taboo.

One of the chief organizers of the Vatican's high stakes summit on the future of the Catholic Church believes that synodality must be distinguished from the work of diplomacy.

"Artificial intelligence ought to serve our best human potential and our highest aspirations, not compete with them," Pope Francis writes in his message for the upcoming World Day of Peace. 

The Australian Catholic Church played an outsized role in shaping the global consultation process for Pope Francis' Synod of Bishops. "Australia punched well above its weight," said Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long.

Listen: In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Bishop Daniel Flores says the prelates at the recent major Vatican summit wanted to express "a certain amount of sorrow" over how women have been treated by the church.

If Christians want to be successful peacemakers in the world, it will require overcoming divisions among the various Christian denominations, the Vatican's foreign minister said on Nov. 27. 

Pope Francis has canceled plans to travel to Dubai this weekend for a U.N. climate conference at the advice of his doctors following ongoing health issues, the Vatican announced on Nov. 28. 

The pope has canceled several appointments due to an inflammation of the lungs, but he plans to travel to Dubai Dec. 1-3 to address the annual U.N. climate summit, the Vatican says.

Australian Bishop Vincent Long tells NCR in an interview: "I try to follow Pope Francis' lead by focusing on pastoral priorities such as a church that is more inclusive, participatory, open to the gifts of all members."

Pope Francis said he will attend the United Nations' COP28 climate change conference in Dubai next month, becoming the first pontiff to ever address such a high-level summit.

Listen: In this episode of The Vatican Briefing, Jesuit Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator discusses the synod and how its final text made sure that "the space is there to continue to have this conversation."

In an exclusive joint interview just hours after the closing of Pope Francis' Synod of Bishops, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich and San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy told NCR it would be "impossible to go back" to an era where synods did not involve lay persons as full, voting members.