Joshua J. McElwee

Joshua J. McElwee is NCR's news editor. He is a journalist who has been widely recognized for his in-depth reporting and penetrating analysis on the leadership of the global Catholic Church.

Previously NCR's Vatican correspondent from 2014-21, McElwee's dispatches from Rome and during papal trips abroad were frequently cited by his peers, and broadly seen as a touchstone for nuanced Vatican and papal coverage. 

Among McElwee's most noted work has been his years-long, tenacious coverage of Pope Francis' clergy abuse commission, which through a series of exclusive interviews with ex-members of the group revealed serious shortcomings to its work.

McElwee was also the first journalist to break the news of Pope Francis' promise during a meeting with an international group of sisters and nuns in 2016 to create a commission to study the history of the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church.

McElwee's reporting on the scene from the closed-door encounter, which sparked a global media frenzy, is sometimes credited with ensuring that Francis went forward with the creation of the Vatican's eventual Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate.

McElwee is the co-editor, alongside Cindy Wooden, of A Pope Francis Lexicon, a collection of 54 essays exploring the unique words Pope Francis has used in his ministry. 

A graduate of The Catholic University of America, McElwee has reported for NCR from 39 countries and traveled in the press pool abroad with Pope Francis 24 times. He often appears as an expert on television and radio programs such as National Public Radio's Morning Edition, BBC's World Service, and PRI's The World.

 

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Vatican announces deal with China over appointment of Catholic bishops

The Vatican has announced the signing of a "provisional agreement" with Chinese authorities to address a seven-decade dispute over the appointment of Catholic bishops in the world's most populous country.

Morning Briefing

Pope Francis meets Bono, Global Sisters Report covers migration across Asia and a sister's abuse, the U.S. bishops plan to write a code of conduct for prelates. 

Francis and U2's Bono discuss 'wild beast' of capitalism, clergy abuse

Irish rock star Bono came to where the streets have saints' names for a surprise meeting with Pope Francis Sept. 19.

Pope's upcoming trip signals support for nations on Russia's periphery

Church leaders are hopeful that Francis' visit will offer encouragement to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — and send a message to Russian leadership.

US bishops say meeting with Francis on clergy abuse was 'lengthy, fruitful'

The meeting between Pope Francis and the leaders of the U.S. bishops' conference on the continuing clergy sexual abuse scandal resulted in a "lengthy, fruitful, and good exchange," the prelates said in a statement.

Francis summons world's bishop presidents to Rome for meeting on clergy abuse

Pope Francis has called all of the presidents of the world's various conferences of Catholic bishops to Rome for a February meeting on clergy sexual abuse, in the first such global summons by a pontiff.

Francis announces intention to visit Japan in 2019

Pope Francis has announced his intention to become only the second Catholic pontiff to visit Japan, telling a group of pilgrims during a Vatican meeting that he hopes to make a trip to the country in 2019.

Francis to meet US bishops about McCarrick, abuse scandals Sept. 13

Rome -- Pope Francis will meet Sept. 13 with the president and vice-president of the U.S. bishops' conference, who last month requested an in-person encounter to discuss the continuing clergy sexual abuse scandal and revelation of shocking allegations against now ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

Morning Briefing

Former Vatican Ambassador Vigano's role in Minnesota investigation scrutinized, Washington priests talk about keeping the faith, and Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister reflects on John McCain's funeral.

Morning Briefing

NCR looks at the man behind the 11-page letter accusing Pope Francis of covering up for ex-cardinal McCarrick, other publications detail the process of writing the letter, a look behind the scenes of the Vatican's 2016 conference re-evaluating just war theory.

South Sudanese sing traditional songs June 25 in Khartoum during a South Sudan peace meeting as part of talks to negotiate an end to a civil war that broke out in 2013. (CNS/Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

'Choosing Peace' details discussions of Vatican's just war conference

Choosing Peace: The Catholic Church Returns to Gospel Nonviolence collects contributions from participants at the gathering, focusing particularly on reflections of those from conflict zones.

Benedict's secretary: Reports ex-pope confirmed Vigano's letter 'fake news'

Retired Pope Benedict XVI's personal secretary says that reports the ex-pontiff confirmed some of the claims in a former Vatican ambassador's statement alleging a widespread cover-up of ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick's abuse of seminarians are "fake news."

Pope Francis responds to a question from a reporter aboard his flight from Dublin to Rome Aug. 26. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Pope Francis dismisses Vigano's accusations of McCarrick cover-up

Speaking aboard the Aug. 26 flight back to Rome from Ireland, Francis said the former Vatican ambassador's 11-page document of unsubstantiated claims "speaks for itself."

Former ambassador Vigano accuses Vatican of covering up McCarrick scandal for years

A former Vatican ambassador to Washington has published an 11-page letter filled with accusations against dozens of former and current high-level officials in the Catholic Church, claiming there was a systemic cover-up of allegations that now former cardinal Theodore McCarrick was sexually abusing seminarians.

Marie Collins: With Irish survivors, Francis said he's not considering new accountability tribunal

One of the eight Irish abuse survivors who met with Pope Francis Aug. 25 says that during the meeting the pontiff told the group he is not planning to implement new procedures to hold bishops who cover-up clergy abuse to account, citing measures the Catholic Church already has in place to do so.

Francis meets eight Irish survivors, reportedly calls abuse cover-up 'caca'

Pope Francis met eight survivors of clergy and institutional abuse on the first of his two-day visit to Ireland, in a 90-minute encounter several in the meeting called "cordial and polite."

Francis admits church failed to protect children in Ireland, caused 'grave scandal'

Dublin -- Pope Francis began his two-day trip to Ireland by acknowledging that Catholic leaders in the country failed over decades to protect children from sexual abuse by priests and clergy, saying bishops and superiors had caused what he termed "grave scandal."

Morning Briefing

Former Newark priest details seminary life under ex-cardinal McCarrick, Fr. Rosica calls for naming the 'evil' of clericalism, secular outlets look ahead to Pope Francis' visit to Ireland.

Marie Collins: History will judge Francis 'on his actions, not his intentions'

In an NCR interview Aug. 21, the abuse survivor and former member of Francis' papal commission on sex abuse said that she is looking for specific papal actions to back up good intentions.

Francis says Catholic Church 'abandoned' children, letting them be abused

In response to the Pennsylvania grand jury report, Pope Francis says the Catholic Church "did not act in a timely matter" to protect children and "abandoned" minors to those who would abuse them.

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