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John L. Allen Jr.

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  • John L. Allen Jr.



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    John L. Allen Jr.

    editor

    John L. Allen Jr. is the editor of Crux, specializing in coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church. He has written eleven books on the Vatican and Catholic affairs, and also is a popular speaker on Catholicism both in the United States and internationally.

    The London Tablet has called John “the most authoritative writer on Vatican affairs in the English language,” and renowned papal biographer George Weigel has called him “the best Anglophone Vatican reporter ever.”

    When John was called upon to put the first question to Pope Benedict XVI aboard the papal plane en route to the United States in April 2008, the Vatican spokesman said to the pope: “Holy Father, this man needs no introduction.” That’s not just a Vatican judgment.

    Veteran religion writer Kenneth Woodward of Newsweek described John as “the journalist other reporters – and not a few cardinals – look to for the inside story on how all the pope’s men direct the world’s largest church.” His work is admired across ideological divides.

    Liberal commentator Fr. Andrew Greeley calls his writing “indispensable,” while the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a conservative, called his reporting “possibly the best source of information on the Vatican published in the United States.” John’s weekly column, “All Things Catholic,” is widely read as a source of insight on the global Church.

    Among John’s books are “Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church”, and two about Pope Benedict XVI. The first was written before Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became pope; the other came after Benedict’s election to the papacy and was the first biography of the Pope in English.

    John's articles have appeared in The Boston Globe, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, The Tablet, Jesus, Second Opinion, The Nation, the Miami Herald, Die Furche, and the Irish Examiner.

    He is a senior Vatican analyst for CNN, and was a correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter for 16 years. John, a native of Kansas, received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Fort Hays State University and a master's degree in religious studies from the University of Kansas.

    For several years, he taught journalism at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California and also supervised the student-run newspaper, The Knight. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto, Ontario; Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.; St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt.; and the University of Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

Author's Posts

  • In Iraq, Pope can deepen ties with Church’s natural Islamic partners

    In Iraq, Pope can deepen ties with Church’s natural Islamic partners

    • News Analysis
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Reminders that in Catholicism, the past isn’t dead … and not even past

    Reminders that in Catholicism, the past isn’t dead … and not even past

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 28, 2021
  • Will the Vatican investigate a cardinal implicated in its own abuse trial?

    Will the Vatican investigate a cardinal implicated in its own abuse trial?

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 26, 2021
  • Pope can’t make ends meet with a ‘no firing’ policy

    Pope can’t make ends meet with a ‘no firing’ policy

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Will Pope have a ‘Pell Problem’ with Super Mario over visions of reform?

    Will Pope have a ‘Pell Problem’ with Super Mario over visions of reform?

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 21, 2021
  • Vatican justice system, Vatican thriller book launch: Last Week in the Church with John Allen Jr

    • Last Week in the Church
    • Feb 19, 2021
  • A cardinal in the dock would mark real reform in Vatican justice

    A cardinal in the dock would mark real reform in Vatican justice

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 18, 2021
  • New Vatican thriller captures the cost of scandal

    New Vatican thriller captures the cost of scandal

    • News Analysis
    • Feb 17, 2021
  • 1
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  • ›
  • »

Most Read

  • In Iraq, Pope can deepen ties with Church’s natural Islamic partners
    Despite risks, Iraqis want Pope Francis to go ahead with visit
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Online exhibit marks 50th anniversary of canonization of 40 Martyrs of England and Wales
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Iraqis hope papal visit can help unify country's diverse communities
    • Mar 2, 2021
  • Vatican says papal trip to Iraq is 'an act of love'
    • Mar 3, 2021
  • Days before trip, Pope's envoy in Iraq tests positive for COVID
    • Feb 28, 2021

Latest Posts

  • Bishop Rhoades: Latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience
    Bishop Rhoades: Latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience
    • Catholic News Service
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Angolan bishops warn of deteriorating social situation
    Angolan bishops warn of deteriorating social situation
    • Catholic News Service
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Catholic health care officials aim to get COVID-19 vaccine to everyone
    Catholic health care officials aim to get COVID-19 vaccine to everyone
    • Carol Zimmermann
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • In remote area of Colombia, bishops want cease-fire between army, rebels
    In remote area of Colombia, bishops want cease-fire between army, rebels
    • Manuel Rueda
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Pope Francis: An essential traveler ready to go
    Pope Francis: An essential traveler ready to go
    • Paul Haring
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Ahead of papal trip, prelates urge prayer, solidarity with pope and Iraq
    Ahead of papal trip, prelates urge prayer, solidarity with pope and Iraq
    • Catholic News Service
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Lay Catholics in India accuse bishop, priests of financial misconduct
    Lay Catholics in India accuse bishop, priests of financial misconduct
    • Nirmala Carvalho
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Ethiopia now calls Axum massacre allegations ‘credible’
    Ethiopia now calls Axum massacre allegations ‘credible’
    • Cara Anna
    • Mar 4, 2021
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Latest

  • Single Author Template
    Bishop Rhoades: Latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US, COVID-19
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Angolan bishops warn of deteriorating social situation
    • Catholic News Service, Church in Africa
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Catholic health care officials aim to get COVID-19 vaccine to everyone
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US, COVID-19
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    In remote area of Colombia, bishops want cease-fire between army, rebels
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the Americas
    • Mar 4, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Pope Francis: An essential traveler ready to go
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the Middle East, Pope in Iraq
    • Mar 4, 2021
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