Vatican Insider

Welcome to my first post-vacation edition of Vatican Insider as we start the busy news month of October with the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican and a number of interesting appointments for the Pope, including a canonization ceremony. But now, as I do every Friday, let me tell you about my guest in this week’s interview segment, Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. He is an expert in the Belgium-based Societe des Bollandistes (Society of Bollandists) whose scholars, Jesuits and lay people, since the early 17th century, specialize in the study and research of hagiography, the writing of lives of saints and blessed.

As you know, because of the COVID-19 crisis and restrictions imposed on and by people for in person interviews – at least up to now – in recent weeks I have filled what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider with Specials. So far, I’ve explored 6 of the 7 Roman basilicas known as the Pilgrim Basilicas – St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul’s outside the Walls, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and St. Lawrence al Verano. Come with me this weekend as we go to the basilica of St. Sebastian that was built above the catacombs of the same name and is dedicated to the third-century saint who was twice martyred. Also we will actually take a mini pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, a half hour south of Naples, which has a beautiful and even touching story. It is a shrine that has a special place in my heart.

VATICAN INSIDER: ST. JOHN CANTIUS, THE STORY OF A CHICAGO PARISH My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is a longtime friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago’s well-known St. John Cantius Church. After a number of years, we met serendipitously over my vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius. I’ve always been intrigued by the rich history of this parish and you will be too as you hear Fr. Frank talk of his 30 years here, of his love of reverent and beautiful liturgy, of his founding of a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, and so much more. Thanks to Fr. Frank’s dedication, inspiration, as well as decades of both material and spiritual renewal, the current pastor, Fr. Josh Caswell and his staff offer many liturgies during the week, including morning, afternoon and evening prayers, vespers and high and low Masses in both Latin and English. Astonishingly enough, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius today work in 3 parishes in 2 dioceses in Illinois, offering 57 public Masses weekly and hearing more than 700 confessions each week! Yes, you read that right! First called the Society of St. John Cantius by Cardinal George, the name was later changed to the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The reference is to St. John of Kenty, Poland! Here are some of the dozens of photos I took at the Holy Sepulchre liturgy on September 24. Some kind of technical glitch prevented me today from uploading all the pictures I took but when I finally make that happen, there are many photos and many stories to tell What you see is only a small representation of the main body of the church, the reliquary room and what I call the Polish chapel, a room in which Fr. Phillips had recreated to one-third original size the main altar of St. Mary Church on Market Square in Krakow. You’ll love the story of this Polish parish! (originally

This week on Vatican Insider, the interview segment is a repeat but it features a compelling storyteller and fascinating guest, Fr. Bill Petrie. At the time of our conversation, Fr. Bill, a priest of the Order of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC), was pastor of St. Damien parish on the Hawaiian island of Molokai’i. We’ve been friends for a number of years and usually met at Kalaupapa on Molokai’i to talk about Sts. Damien, SSCC, and Marianne Cope and their work there with victims of leprosy. We met at the home of some mutual friends in Honolulu on the island of Oahu to talk about his 25 years of work with St. Mother Teresa! 25 years! Tons of insight and remarkable stories about this holy woman, whose feast day we celebrated recently. I cannot find my photo of our Honolulu encounter but there was a rainbow over Fr. Bill’s head as we finished our talk! Fr. Bill now lives on Oahu. I have been focussing on St. Teresa recently, as you know from my recent interview segment when my guests were the producer and stars of the film, “Mother Teresa and Me.” The film was released by Fathom Events in select U.S. theaters for one night only on Oct. 5 2023. (Originally aired on 9/30/23)

My guest this weekend and next in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is Samuel Gregg, research director at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We spoke when he was in Rome to talk about his latest book, Reason, Faith and the Struggle for Western Civilization. (Originally aired on 11/15/19)

In the interview segment this week and next, I feature a conversation I had with Tony Clark, a scholar of all things Chinese, an historian, and writer who has authored dozens of books, articles, and other publications. He is a professor of Chinese history at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Tony has lived and travelled extensively in China and tells many wonderful, riveting stories. We have a mutual passion for all things Chinese, especially the Catholic Church in mainland China (the “underground” Church and the government approved one) and the Church in Taiwan. Much of what Tony says will surprise and delight you. We also look at the 2018 accord signed – and renewed twice – between the Vatican and the Chinese communist government. And we talk at length about Taiwan. Both of us have visited mainland China and Taiwan. I also share with Tony an amazing job offer I received in Taiwan! We had met days earlier over dinner with a mutual friend, Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher, and probably could have talked until breakfast given our mutual love of and interest in all things Chinese. IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

In the interview segment this week and next, I feature a conversation I had with Tony Clark, a scholar of all things Chinese, an historian, and writer who has authored dozens of books, articles, and other publications. He is a professor of Chinese history at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Tony has lived and travelled extensively in China and tells many wonderful, riveting stories. We have a mutual passion for all things Chinese, especially the Catholic Church in mainland China (the “underground” Church and the government approved one) and the Church in Taiwan. Much of what Tony says will surprise and delight you. We also look at the 2018 accord signed – and renewed twice – between the Vatican and the Chinese communist government. And we talk at length about Taiwan. Both of us have visited mainland China and Taiwan. I also share with Tony an amazing job offer I received in Taiwan! We had met days earlier over dinner with a mutual friend, Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher, and probably could have talked until breakfast given our mutual love of and interest in all things Chinese. IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on the weekend after ferragosto, the Italian name once associated with pagan games in the month of August but now referring to the solemnity of the Assumption! It also refers to the usually quite long August period of holidays. In fact, the lazy, hazy days of ferragosto is the title of the Special that will appear in what is normally the interview segment of VI. This is August like you’ve never experienced or even imagined! I did this Special a couple of years ago and when speaking of the Assumption mention it was on a Monday. This week the feast fell on Thursday. In any case, I think you’ll be fascinated by August in Italy! Italians all seem to take their vacation in August as you will see by all the places that are closed (chiuso) for short or long periods: stores, offices, pharmacies, gas stations, even some restaurants and coffee bars!

My guest this week in the interview segment is Anthony di Mauro. We talk briefly about his time this summer as an intern in the Rome EWTN office and then focus on something amazing he has started called The Relic Project. That is the main focus of our conversation. What is a relic? Have you ever seen on? Does your family have one? What about your parish? Perhaps it even has a few relics. Are they on display? If not, why not? Listen closely to learn the difference between first class, second class and third class relics! Stay tuned for that conversation after the news highlights. Relics come in many forms. Relics that are old, even ancient, and/or very rare are usually preserved in some precious metal container, be it small, medium or very large.

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy” says George Gershwin’s famous song “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.” “The livin’ is easy” unless, of course, you are a tourist in Italy in July and August, desirious of seeing everything this culturally super rich country has to offer but you have to do so under scorching temperatures. There are days when the sidewalks seem to melt right under your feet and your shoes seem to become one with the pavement! Well, there are two abundant, faith-filled ways to get a bit of relief. Churches – and there are hundreds in Rome! – offer a coolness that truly uplifts the spirit as you slowly walk around, enjoying the work of silversmiths and goldsmiths, the sculptures, the many chapels, the main altar, the stunning cosmatesque floors and much more. Hopefully you will visit a few churches as Mass is about to begin. Another way to cool off is to spend some time in one or more of Rome’s celebrated catacombs. They are all well underground, of course and you will cool off the second you start to descend into these historic burial chambers. And that is what I will tell you about this weekend in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider. If you intend to come to Rome in the near future or during the Jubilee Year 2025, the catacombs are a must.

As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, I decided to reprise a conversation I previously had with Catherine Wiley, grandmother and founder of Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) and Marilyn Henry who coordinates CGA in the United States. (Catherine L, Marilyn R) Both women are grandmothers and both have exceptional lives and stories. As you will hear, Catherine had an idea, a dream that eventually came true with the First World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly! Such a great story of love and determination! And teamwork with Marilyn at her side. Enjoy! Heartfelt congratulations to all grandparents this weekend! Congrats also to the many senior citizens of the world who act as grandparents for the younger generations. By the way, the Apostolic Penitentiary is granting a Plenary Indulgence for the faithful who take part in the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 28 under the usual conditions of sacramental Confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on yet another scorching weekend in so many parts of the world. I hope you are staying cool as you listen to the program this week, especially the interview segment with my two special guests. As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, this weekend and next, in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I reprise a conversation I had with Catherine Wiley, grandmother and founder of Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) and Marilyn Henry who coordinates CGA in the United States Both women are grandmothers and both have exceptional lives and stories. As you will hear, Catherine was truly the catalyst for this now annual World Day. For years, Catherine had an idea, a dream and, after many meetings with Vatican officials and a couple with Pope Francis, the Pope instituted The World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly!

Welcome to Vatican Insider on what seems to be a torrid weekend in so much of the world! And so many people in the world do not have access to air conditioning or other methods of cooling off so let’s pray for those brothers and sisters of ours! This weekend in the interview segment! I present Part II of my conversation with Fr. Ramil Fajardo, a dear friend from the archdiocese of Chicago. For several years, he was the rector of the shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago. During his time there, he organized a Jubilee Year dedicated to Mother Cabrini and he is now involved in an interesting way with the Church’s worldwide 2025 Jubilee Year. Fr. Ramil, in fact, announced last week in Part I that a statue of Mother Cabrini is coming to Rome for the 2025 Holy Year and will be placed in a garden area of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls basilica. So, join Fr. Ramil and me for that riveting story! When you think of the impact of Frances Xavier Cabrini’s life dedicated to migrants over a century ago and the extensive worldwide plight of migrants today, we know we must do what she did: bring God’s caring love to those who, like our own ancestors at some point, face unknown challenges in a new land.

I speak with Fr. Ramil Fajardo, a dear friend from the archdiocese of Chicago who, for several years, was the rector of the shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago. During his time there, he organized a Jubilee Year dedicated to Mother Cabrini and he is now involved in an interesting way with the Church’s worldwide 2025 Jubilee Year. Fr. Ramil, in fact, makes a wonderful announcement about Mother Cabrini and Rome and the 2025 Holy Year. You will be delighted! So, join Fr. Ramil and me for that riveting story! When you think of the impact of Frances Xavier Cabrini’s life dedicated to migrants over a century ago and the extensive worldwide plight of migrants today, we know we must do what she did: bring God’s caring love to those who, like our own ancestors at some point, face unknown challenges in a new land.

This week I re-air Part II of an interview I did with Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist, because his work is necessary to understanding an important event that took place in Rome this week. In 2012, Fr. Zollner founded and was president of the Center for Child Protection at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University. In April 2021, that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care that he now directs. Fast forward to 2024. The Gregorian University annually holds what is known as the ISC, International Safeguarding Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Anthropology that Fr. Zollner founded. The 2024 conference, June 18 to 21, focused on Safeguarding and Disability, aiming at an approach that puts people with disabilities at the center of discussions,. In view of that conference, I felt it important to re-air my interview with Fr. Zollner about the work of the Institute of Anthropology.

This week and next in the interview segment, I will re-air an interview I did with Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist as his work is necessary to understanding an important event that took place in Rome this week. In 2012, he founded and was president of the Center for Child Protection at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University. In April 2021, that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care that he now directs. We talk about the Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Fast forward to 2024. The Gregorian University annually holds what is known as the ISC, International Safeguarding Conference, sponsored by the Institute of Anthropology that Fr. Zollner founded. The 2024 conference, June 18 to 21, focused on Safeguarding and Disability, aiming at an approach that puts people with disabilities at the center of discussions, addressing issues related to Safeguarding from their specific perspectives. In view of that conference, I felt it important to re-air my interview with Fr. Zollner about the work of the Institute of Anthropology.

I have a return guest this weekend on Vatican Insider, Fr. Lawrence Carney of the diocese of Wichita, Kansas, known in the U.S. for his devotion to the Holy Face and his recent book, “The Secret of The Holy Face.” As you heard him tell us in Part I last weekend, after serving in the diocese for six years, he accepted the position as chaplain of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Gower, Missouri. There he was confessor to Sister Wilhemina, the African-American nun from Missouri who founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. Her remains were discovered as possibly incorrupt in May 2023. We talk this week in Part II more about devotion to the Holy Face, the interior life, the League of St. Martin and much more! You can listen to that right after the news summary! Fr. Carney and I met through a common friend in South Dakota, who knows Father, and the head of the travel agency that brought Father, his parents and brother and others from around the U.S. to Rome on a pilgrimage. Ellen took these photos at my home during our interview and then at dinner with the group at a nearby hotel.

In the interview segment of Vatican Insider on this first weekend of June 2024, I reprise an earlier conversation with Fr. David Hulshof, director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This weekend is Part II. Part I aired last weekend There are a number of apostolates that are mandatory for all seminarians during their formation years such as working with the poor and homeless, with refugees, visiting patients in hospitals, being a guide in St. Peter’s Basilica and working in an Italian parish. Fr. David explains the apostolates offered at NAC, and you will revel in his passion and joy for the priesthood, the apostolates and especially for the current class of seminarians. And you will feel very positive about the future pastors of the Church in America! As the website of the North American College notes about these apostolates: In each of the five parishes, seminarians are teaching religious education, preparing children for the sacraments of the church, assisting at Mass, and some opportunities for preaching. St. Galla is an Italian speaking parish, St. Maria in Monserrato is the Spanish speaking parish, and St. Patrick’s is the English language parish. Seminarians bring comfort to the elderly, sick and poor at four locations in the Eternal City. They serve in soup kitchens and visit with the poor on the streets. Others minister in a local prison and at a refugee center. Our men also evangelize by leading tours with pilgrims to St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. They assist the USCCB Visitor’s Office in Rome and offer Scavi tours of the excavations beneath St. Peter’s.

In the interview segment of Vatican Insider on this final weekend of May 2024, I reprise an earlier conversation with Fr. David Hulshof, director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

This Week, Vatican Insider visits Our Lady Of The Rosary Of Pompeii. May is the month of Mary and the month of the rosary and thus, a special time for such a wonderful story.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on what was a busy week in the Vatican with the swearing in of new Swiss Guards on May 6 and, on Thursday, May 9, the reading of the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year 2025 during a ceremony in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica. After the new highlights stay right here for a Q&A and then Part II of my conversation with Jacob Stein, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, who is working on his licentiate in dogmatic theology at Rome’s Angelicum University. He has a fascinating story and passion that you heard in Part I last week. We learn more about CRUX STATIONALIS this week and Jacob will tell us about his favorite station churches in Rome and talk about his apostolate as a member of a Roman Archconfraternity that helps the poor and needy and has a special devotion to care for pilgrims.

This week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I welcome Jacob Stein, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, who is working on his licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Angelicum in Rome. He has a fascinating story and passion and apostolate which he shares with us. That passion is called CRUX STATIONALIS and I am guessing many of you have seen his work on his website dedicated to that as well as what he has done for EWTN projects, ChurchPOP, etc. Jacob talks about how he came to Rome, his studies at the Angelicum, his favorite station churches and a special apostolate with a Roman Archconfraternity that helps the poor and needy and has a special devotion to care for pilgrims.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this final weekend of April. I don’t know about you but I find it kind of scary how fast time flies! Tempus fugit, as my Mom used to say, especially at the end of summer vacation! In the interview segment this week, I feature Part II of my conversation with Michael Warsaw, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of EWTN. As you heard in Part I last week, we spoke when he was in Rome recently for the blessing of the new, additional EWTN office space. I reprise a little of that conversation by talking about the history of the EWTN Rome bureau, from a humble office in my home as the first bureau chief to the latest premises. Michael then goes on tell us about the future of EWTN. You will be amazed and delighted at what’s on the horizon!

Welcome to Vatican Insider on a special weekend here in the Eternal City. Sunday is April 21st and that is the Natale di Roma, the birthday of Rome. This year marks the 2,777th anniversary of the city’s legendary foundation by Romulus (of Romulus und Remus) on April 21, 753 BC! Lot of great events planned for Sunday! The interview segment this week on VI features a really special guest, Michael Warsaw, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of EWTN. We spoke when he was in Rome for the blessing of the newest EWTN offices. In Part I we talk about the history of the EWTN Rome bureau, from a humble office in my home as the first bureau chief to the large, beautiful new premises. Next week we will look at the future of EWTN.

This week, in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I bring you on a pilgrimage with the Via Lucis! After the news segment and the Q&A on the Paschal candle, stay tuned for the special story about the Via Lucis, the Way of Light, basically a post-Easter journey through 14 stations of light, the light that fills our life because of the Resurrection. This devotion is also known as Stations of the Resurrection as it encourages the faithful to meditate on the Resurrection of Jesus and on his post-Resurrection appearances to the disciples and others. The 14 traditional stations of the Via Lucis are: Jesus Rises from the Dead-Matthew 28: 5-6 The Women Discover the Empty Tomb-Matthew 28:1-6 The Risen Lord Appears to Mary Magdalen-John 20:11-16 Mary Magdalen Proclaims the Resurrection the Apostles-John 20: 17-18 The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus-Luke 24: 13-16, 25-27 The Risen Lord is Recognized in the Breaking of the Bread- Luke 24: 28-32 The Risen Lord Appears to the Community of Disciples-Luke 24: 36-39 The Risen Lord gives the Disciples Power to Forgive-John 20:21-23 The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas-John 20:24-29 The Risen Lord Forgives Peter and Entrusts Him to Feed His Sheep-John 21:15-17 The Risen Lord Sends the Disciples into the World – Matthew 28: 16-20 The Risen Lord Ascends into Heaven – Acts 1: 9-11 Mary and the Disciples Keep Vigil in the Upper Room – Acts 1: 12-14 The Risen Lord Sends the Holy Spirit – Acts 2: Source: On the road to Emmaus –

Welcome to Vatican Insider as we mark the three holy days of the Triduum and then the glorious news of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior on Easter Sunday. As we approach Easter weekend, I want to give you a heads-up about the Special I have prepared for the interview segment where I try to answer the question, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” For decades, as worshipers gather around the world to commemorate Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion.

I sincerely hope you can join me on “Vatican Insider” this Palm Sunday weekend and start of Holy Week as I share a very special story about a two-millennia old piece of cloth linked to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Known as the the Shroud of Turin, I try to answer the question, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” For decades, as worshipers gather around the world to commemorate Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion. The object of intense religious devotion as well as scientific curiosity is a simple strip of linen known as the Shroud of Turin. It has been venerated by Christians for centuries as the burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ in his tomb after his crucifixion and death.

This weekend, in what is normally the interview segment, I offer a mini-pilgrimage of sorts as we visit some of the Lenten Station churches in Rome, very special churches that tell a beautiful story over the 40 days of Lent, a story found only in Rome. I note at the start that, every year on Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, Popes process from the Benedictine church of Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill to the nearby Dominican basilica of Santa Sabina, thus renewing a centuries-old Roman tradition of celebrating Mass at what are known here as Lenten station or stational churches.

This week in Part II of the interview segment, I again feature two amazing men, two friends, Craig Johring and Danny Leger, who are truly doing the Lord’s work of caring for the least of our brethren through HOPE OF THE POOR, an amazing organization they co-founded in Nebraska with headquarters in Omaha and Mexico City. The motto is “Alleviating the poverty of being unloved.” You will hear Craig and Danny tell absolutely riveting tales of the poorest of the poor whom they try to help in many ways, especially by giving them a sense of their worth and dignity. I spoke to Craig last year on Vatican Insider and Danny joined him on this visit to Rome and in this interview for VI. They speak of their work in Mexico and the U.S. and then share with us why the exciting reasons why they were in Rome. We met midway during their Rome visit after Mass at St. Patrick’s on February 25.

This week in the interview segment I feature two amazing men, two friends, Craig Johring and Danny Leger, who are truly doing the Lord’s work of caring for the least of our brethren through HOPE OF THE POOR, an amazing organization they co-founded in Nebraska with headquarters in Mexico City and Omaha. The motto is “Alleviating the poverty of being unloved” and you will hear them tell absolutely riveting tales of the poorest of the poor whom they try to help in many ways, especially by giving them a sense of their worth and dignity. I spoke to Craig last year on Vatican Insider and Danny joined him on this visit to Rome and in this interview for VI. They speak of their work in Mexico and the U.S. and then share with us why the exciting reasons why they were in Rome.

Join me on “Vatican Insider” as we approach the final stretch of the shortest month of the year, even though 2024 is a leap year and we will have a February 29. This weekend also marks the return of the Pope and Roman Curia officials to work after a retreat that began Sunday afternoon. Papal and curia retreats have their own history and that is what I will look at in a Special I have prepared for what is normally the interview segment. I hope you enjoy that after the news segment and a Q&A on fasting and abstinence rule for Catholics during Lent.

You must tune in this weekend to listen to my two special guests in the interview segment as they talk of their call to the priesthood – what they feel, what they expect but most importantly, the very joy they feel at the mere idea of being a priest! My guests are two remarkable young men, seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Nicholas Monnin and Patrick Ernst, both of the diocese of Fort Wayne -South Bend. We met during the October 2023 synod on synodality when I invited to dinner Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne, Patrick and Nicholas and two Fort Wayne priests studying at NAC, Fathers Zane Langenbrunner and Samuel Anderson. Patrick and Nicholas will enthral you with their vocation stories and you’ll have a very positive feeling about the future of the Church! The logical conclusion to a great conversation was to continue talking over dinner at La Vittoria!|

You must tune in this weekend to listen to my two special guests in the interview segment as they talk of their call to the priesthood – what they feel, what they expect but most importantly, the very joy they feel at the mere idea of being a priest! My guests are two remarkable young men, seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Nicholas Monnin and Patrick Ernst, both of the diocese of Fort Wayne -South Bend. We met during the October 2023 synod on synodality when I invited to dinner Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne, Patrick and Nicholas and two Fort Wayne priests studying at NAC, Fathers Zane Langenbrunner and Samuel Anderson. Patrick and Nicholas will enthral you with their vocation stories and you’ll have a very positive feeling about the future of the Church! The logical conclusion to a great conversation was to continue talking over dinner at La Vittoria!|

Join me this weekend for the interview segment of “Vatican Insider “for Part II of my conversation with Msgr. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. As you heard last weekend in Part I, he is a wonderful story teller! This week we learn even more about the Patrons – the Chapters around the world, various restorations projects – tapestries, wood, mosaic, painting, sculpture, etc. and some little known secrets about restoration.

My special guest in VI’s interview segment this week is Msgr. Terence Hogan, Coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. He is a wonderful story teller and we learn about the Patrons’ history, the Chapters around the world, various restorations projects – tapestries, wood, mosaic, painting, sculpture, etc. and some little known secrets about restoration. You’ll also learn how to become a patron of the arts in the Vatican Museums and the benefits of membership in the Patrons.

Tune in this weekend to Vatican Insider not only for a Vatican news roundup but to listen to a Special I have prepared in lieu of an interview! For many in Italy – institutions, churches, businesses and families – the Christmas season lasts up to and including the February 2 feast of the Presentation. For decades under Popes John Paul and Benedict XVI, the Christmas tree and nativity scene stayed up in St. Peter’s Square until that date, as did many of the presepe in various Vatican offices, in the Paul VI Hall and places like the Vatican post office, bringing the Christmas spirit of joy to countless people. So, in that prolonged Christmas season and spirit of joy, this week I bring you a special on some extraordinary nativity scenes that you can actually see all year round in Italy. Gather the children around, the young and young at heart, as you listen to this special.

As I wrote last week, I was a member of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton who, as you know, worked for 44 years on Molokai with Saints Damien and Marianne caring for the victims of leprosy. When such a commission closes its work, a meeting must be held in the diocese of the cause for canonization with all members present. This is required by the dicastery for the causes of saints to which we our individual reports are sent. Thus, two other members of that commission, Pat Boland of Honolulu and Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame, and I met in Honolulu this past December to present our findings and work with Msgr. Robert Sarno, an advisor on the cause. One copy of the findings remain in the diocese of Honolulu and two are sent to Rome for further work by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Though now retired, when he was on the staff of the dicastery (then the Congregation for Saints) in Rome, Msgr. Sarno also helped with the causes of St. Damien (canonized in 2009) and St. Marianne Cope (canonized in 2012). The diocesan phase of the Joseph Dutton cause will close in Honolulu on January 21st, after which the Roman phase of his causes goes to work. Part I of my conversation with Fr. John Paul aired last weekend. This week, in Part II, he is back with more riveting stories about the life and times of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, a man we both hope and pray will one day join Damien and Marianne at the honors of the altar.

I was a member of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton who, as you know, worked for 44 years on Molokai with Saints Damien and Marianne caring for the victims of leprosy. When such a commission closes its work, a meeting must be held in the diocese of the cause for canonization with all members present. This is required by the dicastery for the causes of saints to which we our individual reports are sent. Thus. two other members of that commission, Pat Boland of Honolulu and Fr.. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame, and I met in Honolulu this past December to present our findings and work with Msgr. Robert Sarno, an advisor on the cause. One copy of the findings remain in the diocese of Honolulu and two are sent to Rome for further work by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Though now retired, when he was on the staff of the dicastery (then the Congregation for Saints) in Rome, Msgr. Sarno also helped with the causes of St. Damien (canonized in 2009) and St. Marianne Cope (canonized in 2012). The diocesan phase of the Joseph Dutton cause will close in Honolulu on January 21st, after which the Roman phase of his causes goes to work. You have heard Fr, Kimes before but he is back this weekend with more riveting stories about the life and times of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, a man we both hope and pray will one day join Damien and Marianne at the honors of the altar.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this Christmas season weekend. Yes, we are still within the twelve days of Christmas! I have a special gift to you this weekend in the interview segment. I will read Pope St. John Paul’s beautiful and compelling 1994 Christmas Letter to Children – still a gift for the young and young at heart all these many years later!

Joan has prepared a Special this weekend for the interview segment of Vatican Insider and offer you a journey to the Vatican and the Eternal City of Rome to experience the traditions celebrated for Christmas and the New Year.

Join me this weekend on Vatican Insider for my off-the-cuff interview with Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame and member of the Historical Commission for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Dutton, a layman was companion, caregiver and friend for 44 years, alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope, to the victims of leprosy on Kalaupapa, a peninsula of the Hawaiian island of Molokai.

Welcome to a new edition of Vatican Insider, the last weekend before I depart for Honolulu. I am on the Historical Commission for the Cause of Canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton who, as you know, worked for 44 years on Molokai with Saints Damien and Marianne caring for the victims of leprosy. When such a commission closes its work, a meeting must be held in the diocese of the cause for canonization with all members present. This is required by the dicastery for the causes of saints to which we will send our report. Thus, for the next two weekends, my colleagues are preparing a ‘BEST of” Vatican Insider. The weekend of December 16, in fact, we will re-air a riveting interview done in Hawaii with another member of that commission, Fr. John Paul Kimes, a professor at Notre Dame university. Not to be missed! This weekend, on the other hand, in the interview segment I feature a talk with Craig Johring, co- founder of Hope of the Poor, an amazing organization founded in America with headquarters in Mexico City and Omaha, Nebraska, whose motto is “Alleviating the Poverty of the Unloved.” Craig founded this with Danny Leger to impact the world by showing how the poor are viewed and treated and how they can be helped. Stay tuned for that after the news segment.

My guest this week in the interview is Paulist Fr. Matt Berrios. The Paulist Fathers have been in Rome 99 years, administering to the Catholic American community and other English-language Catholic residents or visitors. We now have two Paulist priests at St. Patrick’s – Fathers Steve Petroff, the rector and Joe Ciccone, vice rector – but a third Paulist is here, Fr. Matt. Ordained at the Paulist-run church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City on May 20, 2017, Fr. Matt served there as associate pastor until July 2020 when he moved to Rome to pursue advanced studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

My guest this week is the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is Jesuit Fr. Dominik Markl of the Pontifical Biblical Institute at Rome’s Gregorian University, He’s also Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament studies at Innsbruck University, Austria. We met to talk about some astonishing documentation rediscovered in the archives of the Biblical Institute, documentation that basically consists of lists of refugees given shelter from the Nazi persecution by Catholic Institutions in Rome. Our focus was the collaboration over the years between Catholic and Jewish institutions in this research. So stay tuned for that conversation after the News and a Q&A!

Fr. Sirico is a prolific author, sought-after speaker and a good friend, and this week we talk about the late Cardinal George Pell and the synod on synodality as presented in Father’s just-released book “Pell Contra Mundum.” Contra Mundum is an expression that describes a person with a steadfast commitment to one’s values and the courage to go against the prevailing norms or majority consensus. An eye-opening conversation. The book is in 4 languages and eminently readable. In addition to what Fr. Sirico writes and the selected pieces by Cardinal Pell, there are contributions by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, Danny Casey, who worked alongside Cardinal Pell as director of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, and George Weigel.

I’m sure that curious title got you wondering what this week’s interview is about! You will not want to miss my guest in the interview segment of Vatican Insider this weekend – Fr, Robert Sirico, co-founder and president emeritus of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Fr. Sirico is a prolific author, sought-after speaker and a good friend, and this week we talk about the late Cardinal George Pell and the synod on synodality as presented in Father’s just-released book “Pell Contra Mundum.” Contra Mundum is an expression that describes a person with a steadfast commitment to one’s values and the courage to go against the prevailing norms or majority consensus. An eye-opening conversation. The book is in 4 languages and eminently readable. In addition to what Fr. Sirico writes and the selected pieces by Cardinal Pell, there are contributions by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, Danny Casey, who worked alongside Cardinal Pell as director of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, and George Weigel.

Welcome to a new edition of Vatican Insider on this third weekend of October. The Synod on Synodality continues but is, to the relief of probably all participants, nearing its end on October 29. I have been posting daily updates on the synod on Joan’s Rome, and the Vatican news website has been offering some of the speeches given by participants in the synod. Again this week I focus on the synod in the interview segment where my guest is Fr. Gerald Murray, pastor at Holy Family Church in NY, prolific writer and noted Canon lawyer. He was in Rome to give a talk on the synod and to cover it as well. In Part I last weekend and Part II this weekend, Father talks about the serious concerns he has about the synod process, especially from the point of view of Canon law. This week especially, he also focuses on the Instrumentum laboris, the working document that guides both the preparation of a synod and its actual work.

Welcome to a new edition of Vatican Insider as we end the first full week of work at the synod on synodality in the Vatican. I have been posting daily updates on the synod on Joan’s Rome, and the Vatican news website has been offering some of the speeches given by participants in the synod. I focus on the synod in the interview segment where my guest is Fr. Gerald Murray, pastor at Holy Family Church in NY, prolific writer and noted Canon lawyer. He was in Rome to give a talk on the synod and to cover it as well. He tells us of the serious concerns he has about the synod process, especially from the point of view of Canon law, and about the working document that guides both the preparation of a synod and its actual work. We look at what is being described as “the new synodal church”. (photo from LinkedIn) You will find our conversation both riveting and very informative. If you had questions about the synod, they very well may have been answered by Father Murray who, by the way, will be back with more next week!

Join Joan Lewis for Part 2 of her interview with Fr. Bill Petrie on Saint Mother Theresa.

This week on Vatican Insider, the interview segment is a repeat but it features a compelling storyteller and fascinating guest, Fr. Bill Petrie. At the time of our conversation, Fr. Bill, a priest of the Order of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC), was pastor of St. Damien parish on the Hawaiian island of Molokai’i. We have been friends for a number of years and usually met at Kalaupapa on Molokai’i to talk about Sts. Damien, SSCC, and Marianne Cope and their work there with victims of leprosy. For this interview, we met at the home of some mutual friends in Honolulu on the island of Oahu to talk about his 25 years of work with St. Mother Teresa! 25 years! Tons of insight and remarkable stories about this holy woman, whose feast day we celebrated recently.I cannot find my photo of our Honolulu encounter but there was a rainbow over Fr. Bill’s head as we finished our talk! Fr. Bill now lives on Oahu. I have been focusing on St. Teresa recently, as you know from last week’s interview segment when my guests were the producer and stars of the film, “Mother Teresa and Me.” The film will be released by Fathom Events in select U.S. theaters for one night only on Oct. 5. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Mother-Teresa-and-Me.

My guests in the interview segment this weekend are Swiss-Indian filmmaker and producer, Kamal Musale and co-producer and actress Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz who portrays Mother Teresa in the film “Mother Teresa And Me.” This is Part II of our conversation in Rome (Part I aired last weekend). As the film’s website says, “This is a story about love and compassion inspired by the life of Mother Teresa, a story about Teresa and Kavita: two women’s lives – passionate and uncompromising – woven over generations by two intertwined stories. Both women achieve their vocation in spite of serious personal doubts.” It is truly a riveting story about life and death, dignity and deprivation. The film was selected as this year’s winner in the Mirabile Dictu International Catholic Film Festival, founded in 2010 by producer and filmmaker Liana Marabini, to honor producers, filmmakers, documentaries, docu-fiction, TV series, short films and programs “that promote universal moral values and positive models.” MIRABILE DICTU is a Latin phrase meaning “wonderful to relate.”

Our guest is Deacon Andrew – “Andy” – Orosco of the diocese of San Bernardino in California. He is a Native American who works in the Native American Ministry in the diocese. You will be fascinated about his reports on Native Americans as he explains where they live in the United States, what life is like for those who live on a reservation, their education, how they live the faith and the specifics of his ministry in the diocese. I’ll be away for the next two weekends so there will be no news summary on “Vatican Insider” but my radio colleagues and I are preparing the “best of” for those dates. I do, however, want to highlight the fact that my special guest in the interview segment this weekend will also be back next week! And that guest is Deacon Andrew – “Andy” – Orosco of the diocese of San Bernardino in California. He is a Native American who works in the Native American Ministry in the diocese. You will be fascinated about his reports on Native Americans as he explains where they live in the United States, what life is like for those who live on a reservation, their education, how they live the faith and the specifics of his ministry in the diocese. You will love the final story he tells in Part II about attending the weekly papal general audience and the subject of Pope Francis’ attention as he spoke of apostolic zeal! I learned a lot from Deacon Orosco and so will you!

I’ll be away for the next two weekends so there will be no news summary on “Vatican Insider” but my radio colleagues and I are preparing the “best of” for those dates. I do, however, want to highlight the fact that my special guest in the interview segment this weekend will also be back next week! And that guest is Deacon Andrew – “Andy” – Orosco of the diocese of San Bernardino in California. He is a Native American who works in the Native American Ministry in the diocese. You will be fascinated about his reports on Native Americans as he explains where they live in the United States, what life is like for those who live on a reservation, their education, how they live the faith and the specifics of his ministry in the diocese. I’ll be away for the next two weekends so there will be no news summary on “Vatican Insider” but my radio colleagues and I are preparing the “best of” for those dates. I do, however, want to highlight the fact that my special guest in the interview segment this weekend will also be back next week! And that guest is Deacon Andrew – “Andy” – Orosco of the diocese of San Bernardino in California. He is a Native American who works in the Native American Ministry in the diocese. You will be fascinated about his reports on Native Americans as he explains where they live in the United States, what life is like for those who live on a reservation, their education, how they live the faith and the specifics of his ministry in the diocese. You will love the final story he tells in Part II about attending the weekly papal general audience and the subject of Pope Francis’ attention as he spoke of apostolic zeal! I learned a lot from Deacon Orosco and so will you!

As you know, Pope Francis this weekend is in Mongolia, his 43rd apostolic trip abroad. In what is normally the interview segment of VI, I’ve prepared a Special about papal trips – telling the story of the behind the scenes preparations that go into such a massive undertaking! How does the Pope decide when and where he should travel? Who gets involved in the early plans? The later plans? Some of the main issues in preparing a trip: security, liturgical events and sites, the papal residence, preparing tickets for papal events, procuring greater numbers of vestments, chalices, etc, for a Mass (after all, the Eucharistic is the heart of any papal trip).

This week, Joan Lewis tells the story of The Shrine of Divine Love in Rome and how a visit to this shrine has changed lives.

Joan Lewis interviews Sue Ferandin of the Augustine Educational Foundation about making catholic education more affordable in Hawaii.

This week, in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I bring you a fascinating conversation I had with Alvaro Pereira and Fr. Robert White as they tell us more about the amazing program they work for and with, Food for the Poor – how and when it was founded, how FFTP works to help the poor, not just through providing food but through building homes, teaching people how to earn a living and much more! Some astonishing numbers will leave you speechless. The more you hear, the more you’ll want to become involved! Full disclosure for a personal moment: I was living in California from 1986 to 1990 and first met Fr. Bob in the mid-1980s when, as a San Diego priest, he was named pastor of a new parish, St. Thomas More in Vista, California. There was no church but there were a lot of Catholics, including my parents and I, who were anxious for this new church to be a reality. Sunday Mass for years was celebrated in the chapel of neighboring Oceanside’s Eternal Hills mortuary. When the parish hall and multi-purpose rooms were built, Mass was held in the auditorium. Fr. Bob and I recently had a reunion in Rome when he and Alvaro, representing Food for the Poor, were attending a Vatican conference. This was the first time we’d seen each other since 1993!

You are in for a real treat this weekend and next with my very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist. In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) that he now directs. (Facebook: @IADCUniGregoriana) Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!

You are in for a real treat this weekend and next with my very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist. In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) that he now directs. (Facebook: @IADCUniGregoriana) Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!

Welcome to Vatican Insider on yet another torrid weekend in so much of the world! Millions of us are asking when cooler temps might be coming! Actually, some areas in northern Italy had hailstones! As you know, a news summary opens Vatican Insider each week and, when time allows, there is a Q&A and then the interview segment. This week I offer part II of a great story – that of the Make A Wish Foundation. My guest again this weekend is Christina Hallmert from Make-A-Wish Italia, a volunteer with the foundation since 2009 and a member of its board. I am grateful that Christina, born in Sweden, married to an Italian and living in Rome, speaks English and can tell us about the marvelous work of Make a Wish Italia. How does the Foundation learn of a child’s wish? What are some of the wishes they have realized in Italy? Are there some wishes that are almost impossible? To re-cap: Make a Wish, founded in the United States in 1980, helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, it operates through 59 chapters located throughout the United States as well as in nearly 50 other countries around the world through 39 international affiliates. Here is a link to Make a Wish Italia: https://www.makeawish.it/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5MOlBhBTEiwAAJ8e1og0NLMhNW74v9aXhBeuZ8MTTxvuhIC7nS2C23xRF2d719H9QeQqpRoCo-AQAvD_BwE

Welcome to Vatican Insider on another torrid weekend in so much of the world! After the news summary, in the interview segment this week, I have a wonderful story to tell you – the story of the Make A Wish Foundation. My guest this weekend is Christina Hallmert from Make-A-Wish Italia, a volunteer with the foundation since 2009 and a member of its board. I am grateful that Christina, born in Sweden, married to an Italian and living in Rome, speaks English and can tell us about the marvelous work of Make a Wish Italia. How does the Foundation learn of a child’s wish? What are some of the wishes they have realized in Italy? Are there some wishes that are almost impossible? I am sure most of you know that Make a Wish, founded in the United States, helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness. Founded in 1980 it is headquartered in Phoenix. The organization operates through 59 chapters located throughout the United States as well as in nearly 50 other countries around the world through 39 international affiliates. Here is a link to Make a Wish Italia: https://www.makeawish.it/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5MOlBhBTEiwAAJ8e1og0NLMhNW74v9aXhBeuZ8MTTxvuhIC7nS2C23xRF2d719H9QeQqpRoCo-AQAvD_BwE

On “Vatican Insider” this weekend, my guest in the interview segment is Jesuit Fr. Mark Lewis, rector of Rome’s celebrated Gregorian University, known in Rome simply as “The Greg.” A native of Miami, Florida, Fr. Lewis has degrees in Philosophy and Theology, a Doctorate in History and a career marked by long Rome-based assignments before being named rector a year ago. In Part II of our conversation, we look at how the Greg, preparing for the 2025 Holy Year, will offer a new Diploma in the History and Art of Jubilees, a one-year course that will be start from the academic year 2023-2024 at the Faculty of History and Cultural Heritage of the Church. We also talk about the University’s decision “to strengthen the formation of its students on the themes of safeguarding and care for human dignity through the establishment of a course whose attendance will be considered a necessary requirement for the completion of the Baccalaureate, Licentiate and Doctorate academic degrees. The course is offered by the Institute of Anthropology.

As to “Vatican Insider” this weekend, my guest in the interview segment is Jesuit Fr. Mark Lewis, rector of Rome’s celebrated Jesuit-run Gregorian University. The last time we spoke for Vatican Insider, he was the vice Rector for Academics at the University – known in Rome simply as “The Greg.” By the way, same last name but we are not related! He was appointed rector on June 14, 2022. A native of Miami, Florida, Fr. Lewis was ordained a Jesuit on June 8, 1991. He has Licentiates in Philosophy and Theology and a Doctorate in History (and explains what a licentiate degree is at a pontifical university). His Rome experience started in 1996 when he worked at the Historical Institute of the Society of Jesus in Rome and was Director from 1998 to 2004. Back in the U.S. for a few years, he was Provincial Superior of the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus. He returned to the Gregorian University in January 2017 as a member of the faculty of Church History and Cultural Heritage and was appointed Academic Vice Rector in 2019.

My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is Craig Johring, one of the co-founders of “Hope of the Poor,” an amazing organization founded in America with headquarters in Mexico City and Omaha, Nebraska whose motto is “Alleviating the poverty of being unloved.”Craig grew up in Nebraska and now lives and works in Mexico City. He founded Help of the Poor with Danny Leger to impact the world by showing how the poor are viewed and treated and how they can be helped. The website tells us that Craig works with the poor to help them overcome crippling, psychological conditions, combat drug addictions, and make the journey from homeless and helpless to becoming hopeful and productive members of society. A truly wonderful story and ministry!

My special guest in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this week is Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. A native of Milwaukee, Father teaches history at Marquette University. He has a doctorate in history, two Masters in Theology and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. If that’s not enough, he is an expert on the Belgium-based Société des Bollandistes, Society of Bollandists, an association of scholars, and historians who, since the early 17th century, have studied the cult of the saints in Christianity. The society is named after the Flemish Jesuit Jean Bollandus. Father Maher talks about that work, about how to separate fact from legend in a saint’s life, the need for scholars to know ancient languages for this work, and what we can learn about societies from reading the lives of the saints. A riveting conversation about a unique institution!

My special guest in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this week is Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. A native of Milwaukee, Father teaches history at Marquette University. He has a doctorate in history, two Masters in Theology and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. If that’s not enough, he is an expert on the Belgium-based Société des Bollandistes, Society of Bollandists, an association of scholars, and historians who, since the early 17th century, have studied the cult of the saints in Christianity. The society is named after the Flemish Jesuit Jean Bollandus. Father Maher talks about that work, about how to separate fact from legend in a saint’s life, the need for scholars to know ancient languages for this work, and what we can learn about societies from reading the lives of the saints. A riveting conversation about a unique institution! Part II next week.

My special guest this first weekend in June on Vatican Insider’s interview segment is Fr. David Hulshof, director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Part I of our conversation aired last weekend.There are a number of apostolates that are mandatory for all seminarians during their formation years such as working with the poor and homeless, with refugees, visiting patients in hospitals, being a guide in St. Peter’s Basilica and working in an Italian parish. Fr. David explains the apostolates offered at NAC, and you will revel in his passion and joy for the priesthood, the apostolates and especially for the current class of seminarians. In this photo, Fr. David (l) was one of three guests at the May edition of EWTN’s Roman Nights that took place in the historic Palazzo Grillo that overlooks the Roman Forum. The theme chosen for the gathering was “Charity Within the Church and Given by the Church.” Guest speakers were Ambassador Antonio Zanardi Landi of the Order of Malta to the Holy See, Dr. Alessandro Pernigo, of the Board of Directors for the Bio Medico University Campus of Roma, and Fr. David.

My special guest this Pentecost and Memorial Day weekend on Vatican Insider’s interview segment is Fr. David Hulshof, director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There are a number of apostolates that are mandatory for all seminarians during their formation years such as working with the poor and homeless, with refugees, visiting patients in hospitals, being a guide in St. Peter’s Basilica and working in an Italian parish. Fr. David explains the apostolates offered at NAC, and you will revel in his passion and joy for the priesthood, the apostolates and especially for the current class of seminarians. You’ll come away with a great feeling of hope – even joy – for the future of the Church in America and astonishment at the training that seminarians have – it is not just theology and philosophy! His wonderful stories will put a big smile on your face!

After the news segment of this week’s Vatican Insider is Part II of my special guest in the interview segment, Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. Many of you know him from his years as editor-in-chief of Magnificat but there’s so much more to his story. Born in Rhode Island, raised in Connecticut, he was ordained a Dominican priest in 1986. For 24 years, Father Cameron taught homiletics at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, and three other seminaries. He is now in Rome and currently holds the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics at the Pontifical North American College in Rome where we spoke last week. Homilies are our main focus, of course but the entire conversation is riveting, especially when you learn of Father Peter’s theatre background and how that helped him prepare and deliver homilies! Lots of insightful, compelling stories, including on the length of a homily – fascinating! – and the difference between a homily and a sermon. So don’t miss that conversation!

After the news segment of Vatican Insider, I have a very special guest in the interview segment, Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. Many of you know him from his years as editor-in-chief of Magnificat but there’s so much more to his story. Born in Rhode Island, raised in Connecticut, he was ordained a Dominican priest in 1986. For 24 years, Father Cameron taught homiletics at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, and three other seminaries. He is now in Rome and currently holds the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics at the Pontifical North American College in Rome where we spoke this week. Homilies are our main focus, of course but the entire conversation is riveting. …especially when you learn of Father Peter’s theatre background and how that helped him prepare and deliver homilies! Lots of insightful, compelling stories, including on the length of a homily – fascinating! – so don’t miss that conversation!

My guests in the interview segment this weekend are Swiss-Indian filmmaker and producer, Kamal Musale and co-producer and actress Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz who portrays Mother Teresa in the film “Mother Teresa And Me.” This is Part II of our conversation in Rome (Part I aired last weekend). As the film’s website says, “This is a story about love and compassion inspired by the life of Mother Teresa, a story about Teresa and Kavita: two women’s lives – passionate and uncompromising – woven over generations by two intertwined stories. Both women achieve their vocation in spite of serious personal doubts.” It is truly a riveting story about life and death, dignity and deprivation. The film was selected as this year’s winner in the Mirabile Dictu International Catholic Film Festival, founded in 2010 by producer and filmmaker Liana Marabini, to honor producers, filmmakers, documentaries, docu-fiction, TV series, short films and programs “that promote universal moral values and positive models.” MIRABILE DICTU is a Latin phrase meaning “wonderful to relate.”

My guests in the interview segment this weekend are Swiss-Indian filmmaker and producer, Kamal Musale and co-producer and actress Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz who portrays Mother Teresa in the film “Mother Teresa And Me.” I also talk to Thierry Cagianut, head of the Zariya Foundation, created in 2010 on the occasion of Mother Teresa’s birth centenary to raise funds for the making of the movie and whose aim now is to alleviate the suffering of the poor, abandoned, sick and dying. As the film’s website says, “This is a story about love and compassion inspired by the life of Mother Teresa, a story about Teresa and Kavita: two women’s lives – passionate and uncompromising – woven over generations by two intertwined stories. Both women achieve their vocation in spite of serious personal doubts.” It is truly a riveting story about life and death, dignity and deprivation, and is due to premiere in the United States in early fall.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this final weekend of August and what a weekend it promises to be in Rome! My guest this week in the interview segment is Msgr. Tom Powers, the new rector of the Pontifical North American College and a wonderful friend of many years! In Part I of our talk, he tells how he was invited to be rector, looks back a bit at his own years in Rome as a seminarian under two rectors, now Cardinals, Edwin O’Brien and Timothy Dolan and explains exactly what the duties of a rector are. The new seminarians had just arrived and Msgr. Powers spoke about how they all met and exchanged inspirational vocation stories. He spoke of the vocation stories as “moments of God’s grace.” He said “my work here, our work here, is to form men to the heart of Christ.” Among his powerful remarks were his words on answering the call this past spring to become the rector, saying: “My priesthood has been one of saying yes to the Church.” He also talks about the new freshman class of seminarians, highlighting how they all met and exchanged inspirational vocation stories. He spoke of the vocation stories as “moments of God’s grace,” adding, “my work here, our work here, is to form men to the heart of Christ.”

Join me this weekend for a new edition of Vatican Insider, especially for the interview segment when I present Part II of a special I prepared for the Easter season called “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” Part I aired Palm Sunday weekend. And now, this weekend, you can sit back and relax and listen to Part II of The Man of the Shroud. For decades, as worshipers gather around the world to commemorate Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion. The object of intense religious devotion as well as scientific curiosity is a simple strip of linen, known as the Shroud of Turin. It has been venerated by Christians for centuries as the burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ in his tomb after his crucifixion and death. I explore the provenance and history of that relic, as well as the scientific tests that have been done over the years in order to find an answer to the question: Who is the Man of the Shroud? Tune is this weekend to hear the answer! The shroud arrived in Turin, as you will hear, in 1578 and since 1683 it has been housed in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud of Turin’s St. John the Baptist Cathedral.

Joan interviews Patrick Reilly, president and founder of the Cardinal Newman Society, whose mission is to promote and defend faithful Catholic education. They discuss the work and outreach and challenges of the Society, including the many court challenges to faith-based institutions in the United States.

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this Palm Sunday weekend, the start of Holy Week, a week that includes the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, an extraordinary and privileged time in our lives as Christians for whom the Son of God came down to earth as man where, by his death and Resurrection, he redeemed us! This week, I special I have prepared for what is normally the interview segment. As you know, the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ is celebrated every year throughout the Christian world during Holy Week. What you may not know is that, as worshipers gather to commemorate Christ’s passion, scientists have been studying the results of tests made on an object alleged to be directly connected with that passion. The object of intense religious devotion as well as scientific curiosity is a simple strip of linen, known as the Shroud of Turin. It has been venerated by Christians for centuries as the burial cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus Christ in his tomb after his crucifixion and death. I explore the provenance and history of that relic, as well as the scientific tests that have been done over the years in order to find an answer to the question: Who is the Man of the Shroud? It is a fascinating story! Part I this weekend!

This week, in what is normally the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” that follows the news review, I’ve prepared a Special on the Seven Sorrows of Mary as a prelude to Holy Week. Perhaps we rarely think of the Seven Sorrows of Mary but there are many times during the year when reflections on those sorrows can be useful and inspiring. In fact, the final four of those 7 sorrows are all related to Christ’s passion and death, so in this Lenten season, as a lead-up to the Passion, let’s take a look. Maybe I should first ask: Can you name the seven sorrows of Mary? Did you know that Our Lady revealed seven promises to St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century for those who recite seven Hail Marys daily while reflecting on her tears and sorrows? The promises are truly amazing!

Because of recent, exciting news from the Jesuit-run Vatican Observatory, in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this weekend, I bring you on a visit to the Vatican’s specola or Observatory. What was the news? Well, in February, the Observatory announced that the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) published their latest batch of named asteroids that includes 3 Jesuit astronomers and a Pope. The Vatican is a prestigious member of the IAU. Two Vatican telescopes are on the apostolic palace at Castelgandolfo but the Vatican’s latest generation of telescopes – VATT (Vatican Advanced Telescope Technology – are on Mount Graham near Tucson. The Special I’ve prepared will tell you why they are in Arizona.

Tune in as Joan Lewis, the Vatican Insider, takes us into the latest news from the Vatican and the Church around the world. Then stay tuned for the final part of her interview with Deacon Brad Easterbrooks on Military Chaplaincy."

"Tune in as Joan Lewis, the Vatican Insider, takes us into the latest news from the Vatican and the Church around the world. Then stay tuned for the first part of her interview with Deacon Brad Easterbrooks on Military Chaplaincy."

Joan Lewis presents a special on Italy's Shrine of Pompeii and Lenten Station Churches in Rome.

My guest this week in the interview segment is Sr. Gabriella Bonnati, the dedicated and enthusiastic international coordinator of Talitha Kum, the Catholic network against human trafficking under the auspices of UISG (International Union of Superiors General). This week and next, we talk about the name Talitha Kum, how people are trained to help rescue women from traffickers, how rescued women are cared for and reinserted into society, the difficulties nations have with stopping human trafficking, and much more!

My guests this weekend in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” are Fr. Ramil Fajardo, rector of the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, sculptor Lou Cella and Carol Christiansen, a St. Cabrini fan, follower and enthusiast and the inspiration for this week’s story. The four of us are united by our faith, by the fact we are all Chicagoans and by our common love for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, better known to millions as Mother Cabrini. You’ll hear a bit about Mother Cabrini’s life in this four-way conversation but more importantly what brings a small delegation from Chicago to Rome for a week. Don’t miss this!

This week, in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider,” I present Part II of a real ‘insider’ story – a conversation with Alexey Gotovsky, my multi lingual, multi talented colleague from Kazakhstan in the EWTN Rome Office. Last week you learned about his childhood in a country flanked by India, China and Russia and heard about his road to Rome and EWTN. And now, the rest of Alexey’s story including his trip to his native Kazakhstan with Pope Francis! I could tell so many similar, interesting stories if my only interviews were with the staff of our Rome bureau and other EWTN offices throughout Europe – amazing, talented, very bright people who, on screen or behind the scenes in video and audio editing studios, bring you into the Catholic Church and bring the Church to you!

This week, in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider,” I present a real ‘insider’ story – that of my colleague in the EWTN Rome bureau, Alexey Gotovsky who hails from Kazakhstan. Learn about his childhood in a country flanked by India, China and Russia and hear about his road to Rome and EWTN. I could tell so many similar, interesting stories if my only interviews were with the staff of our Rome bureau and other EWTN offices throughout Europe – amazing, talented, very bright people who, on screen or behind the scenes in video and audio editing studios, bring you into the Catholic Church and bring the Church to you!

In this week’s interview segment, Vatican Insider welcomes back Fr. Christopher Pearson, pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in London. As I mentioned last week in Part I of our conversation, we’ve been friends for over a dozen years, as you will hear in the amusing start of our conversation, and Fr. Christopher was in Rome to concelebrate at the January 5 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. What links us in friendship is one of Pope Benedict’s major achievements – the creation in 2009 of the Personal Ordinariate, a canonical structure within the Catholic Church established to enable “groups of Anglicans” to join the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical and spiritual patrimony. Fr. Chris was an Anglican pastor for 15 years and talks about his becoming a Catholic priest. He highlights Benedict’s great desire for Christian Unity, citing the Ordinariate as one example of how that can be achieved.

Lots of news this weekend on Vatican Insider (as there always seems to be!), and also a special guest on the interview segment, Fr. Christopher Pearson – pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in London. We’ve been friends for over a dozen years, as you will hear in the amusing start of our conversation, and Fr. Christopher was in Rome to concelebrate at the January 5 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Lots of news this weekend on Vatican Insider (as there always seems to be!), and also a special guest on the interview segment, Fr. Christopher Pearson – pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in London. We’ve been friends for over a dozen years, as you will hear in the amusing start of our conversation, and Fr. Christopher was in Rome to concelebrate at the January 5 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. What links us is one of Pope Benedict’s major achievements – the creation in 2009 of the Personal Ordinariate, a canonical structure within the Catholic Church established to enable “groups of Anglicans” to join the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical and spiritual patrimony. Fr. Chris was an Anglican pastor for 15 years and talks about his becoming a Catholic priest. He highlights Benedict’s great desire for Christian Unity, citing the Ordinariate as one example of how that can be achieved.

(Best Of) Not having much time to prepare a full “Vatican Insider” with news and a new interview, we’ve put together a “Best Of Vatican Insider” and this weekend you can listen to Dallas Jenkins, producer, and Neal Harmon, founder of Angel Studios that made the film. As you know, “The Chosen” is full into season three!

Welcome to Vatican Insider on this Christmas and New Year’s weekend. After all, don’t forget that it is still the Christmas season! In what is usually the interview segment after the News, I have prepared what I hope is a fascinating Christmas story, a Special in which I bring you to Italy to learn how the Vatican and Rome and Italians celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. Christmastide is as wonderful here as you can imagine, and I think you’ll want to invite family members, especially children, to sit around and listen!

December 10th was the feast day of the Holy House of Loreto, my very favorite shrine in Italy that I’ve visited several times, and this seems like the perfect season to tell a special story about Mary’s house, the house in which she grew up. I will tell you that, according to tradition, this Marian shrine is the home in which Mary lived, in which the Angel Gabriel appeared to her, announcing she would become the Mother of God, and the home she shared with Jesus and Joseph. It was transported to this Italian hill town overlooking the Adriatic on the night of December 10, 1294. Tune in and you will learn exactly how it was transported to Italy! As I prepared this Special, I felt myself leaning against the stone walls of this holy house – as I’ve done on every visit – praying to Mary, running my hands over the stones as I imagined she and Jesus and Joseph did countless times! Rarely have I been so induced to pray, so recollected in prayer, so sensing the presence of the Holy Family as I have in this holy home! I hope you sense the awesomeness of this home as I tell its story!

My guests this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider are two of my dearest friends, two priests, two brothers, native Chicagoans, who were both in Rome at the same time: Msgr. Michael Boland, a consultant to Catholic Charities USA following 30 magnificent years as head of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese of Chicago, and his brother Fr. Jeremiah Boland, pastor of a parish I know and love, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, Illinois. Fr. Jerry, a priest for 40 years, was in Rome on sabbatical at the North American College’s Institute of Continuing Theological Education at the same time that Msgr. Michael, a priest for 35 years, had to attend some meetings. They are two of my most cherished friends and, as I note in our conversation, there are two things that bind us in friendship: celebration of Mass and meals! I know you will hear that friendship when we talk!

“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” So goes one of St. Francis’ most popular sayings. But wait – he never said it! And while the saying can be well-intentioned, it’s not even faithful to what Christ taught about evangelization. We’ll talk with Trent Horn about other popular misquotes from the saints. Then Al looks at the sacrifice of a priest who gave his life saving others during the Pearl Harbor attacks. We’ll also look at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who died on December 5, 1791. In the second hour we see that In reading the New Testament, it quickly becomes obvious that the events occurred in a world that is much different from ours today. What were the attitudes and values of the people at the time? How was it influenced by the Greeks, Romans and other cultures? And how does the universal message of the New Testament apply to that audience and to ours? We talk with NT Wright.

As you may already know, the Vatican websites have been up and down for several days, and are down, in fact, as I write this column. vaticannews.va is down but vatican.va is up, although the English language site has not been updated since November 30. A Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said Wednesday that the Holy See had taken down its main vatican.va website amid an apparent attempt to hack the site. Without expanding on what caused the problem, he said, “Technical investigations are ongoing due to abnormal attempts to access the site.” Numerous users online, in fact, noted that the site was unavailable as of Tuesday morning. The sites have been up and down since Wednesday afternoon, with many attempts producing “404” error messages. The link you see below has nothing to do with what I normally bring you daily in this column but the World Cup is on, and it’s hard to ignore stories related to this global event that, every four years, mesmerizes most of the world’s population for a month! I saw a story today that I found to be very interesting – all about the traditional Arab headgear that is taking the games by storm. It quotes one Swiss fan as saying he has “been surprised by how indulgent Qataris — and others from across North Africa and the Middle East — have been when it comes to foreigners adopting and appropriating local customs and clothing, something that is generally seen as disrespectful in Europe and North America.” Being an American who lives in Europe, it was that soccer fan’s statement that drew my attention. I think you’ll enjoy this piece and perhaps even learn something new. It’s the World Cup’s Hot Accessory. But Should Fans Wear It? – The New York Times (nytimes.com) VATICAN INSIDER: SERVANT OF GOD JOSEPH DUTTON: HAWAII’S THIRD SAINT? This week, in what is normally the interview segment, I’ve prepared a Special Report on Joseph Dutton. The past two weeks, you heard Fr. John Paul Kimes of Notre Dame University, which has a lar

Join me this weekend on Vatican Insider for Part II of my off-the-cuff interview with Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame and member of the Historical Commission for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Dutton, a layman was companion, caregiver and friend for 44 years, alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope, to the victims of leprosy on Kalaupapa, a peninsula of the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Father John Paul and I spoke after a recent event in Honolulu for this cause of canonization, a gala, fund-raising luncheon that brought together just under 500 people from several Hawaiian islands. He gave an over-the-top keynote address at that event! This took place during a week in Hawaii in which I was also sworn in as an official member of the Historical Commission, a huge honor! Father Kimes, a riveting storyteller, tells us about the link between Notre Dame University and Joseph Dutton and explains what he has learned of Dutton by researching the university archives on this Servant of God. You’ll love every minute of our conversation! Fr. John Paul had arrived in Honolulu the night before the luncheon and had to get to the airport almost immediately afterwards for his return flight so finding time – and a place! – to have this conversation was a real blessing, almost a miracle. The only available space, in fact, was in a small hallway off the main hallway not far from the room where our luncheon was. A table and two unoccupied chairs seemed to be waiting just for us. Not an acoustically perfect setting, however, so you’ll hear some faint background conversation as people walk by in the main hall but Father John Paul is such a great storyteller that you may not even note it!

What an exciting guest I have this weekend and next on Vatican Insider! I feature an off-the-cuff interview with Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame and member of the Historical Commission for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Dutton, a layman was companion, caregiver and friend for 44 years, alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope, to the victims of leprosy on Kalaupapa, a peninsula of the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Father John Paul and I spoke after a recent event in Honolulu for this cause of canonization, a gala, fund-raising luncheon that brought together just under 500 people from several Hawaiian islands. He gave an over-the-top keynote address at that event! This took place during a week in Hawaii in which I was also sworn in as a member of the Historical Commission, a huge honor! Father Kimes, a riveting storyteller, tells us about the link between Notre Dame University and Joseph Dutton and explains what he has learned of Dutton by researching the university archives on this Servant of God. You’ll love every minute of our conversation! Fr. John Paul had arrived in Honolulu the night before the luncheon and had to get to the airport almost immediately afterwards for his return flight so finding time – and a place! – to have this conversation was a real blessing, almost a miracle. The only available space, in fact, was in a small hallway off the main hallway not far from the room where our luncheon was. A table and two unoccupied chairs seemed to be waiting just for us. Not an acoustically perfect setting, however, so you’ll hear some faint background conversation as people walk by in the main hall but Father John Paul is such a great storyteller that you may not even note it!

Welcome to another, new edition of Vatican Insider. My very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist, returns this weekend for Part II of our conversation. In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and care (IADC) that he now directs. Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!

You are in for a real treat this weekend and next with my very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist. In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) that he now directs.Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!

As you may be aware, as I wrote yesterday in this very spot, there has been much consternation in Catholic circles – hierarchy and faithful – about Pope Francis’ recent nomination of a pro-abortion member to the Pontifical Academy for Life. I have prepared a Special for the interview segment of “Vatican Insider,” on this nomination and related issues. I look at how the academy has changed from its original makeup and focus under its founder, Pope St. John Paul, when it was re-tooled by Pope Francis, and how Francis also re-instituted his predecessor’s John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family to the point where it is unrecognizable for original members. I ask: Why would a Pope appoint as an academician someone who is pro-abortion. Abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. The academy is FOR life. Now, people are asking: Is it truly the Pontifical Academy for Life? The bottom line of my piece is: What are we to make of the remarkable dichotomy between the Church’s Magisterium and Pope Francis’ pronouncements on protecting and defending all life from conception to natural death and the appointment of people to Church institutes and academies who do not defend and protect that life? So tune in this weekend for that analysis.

Tune in this week to the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” when I present Part II of my conversation with a long-time friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago’s well-known St. John Cantius Church. As I wrote last week, we met serendipitously during my recent vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony on September 24 for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius. His story intertwines with the history of the church where, over 30 years, he enriched liturgy and music, brought many devotions back to life and founded a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. And, very importantly, helped the parish grow from 75 members to over 2,000!