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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

Most Read

  • On sex and money, Pope Francis sets his course
    Pope urges religious leaders to denounce 'blasphemy' of violence in God's name
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Pope's meeting with Shia cleric in Iraq a new phase of interfaith dialogue
    • Mar 6, 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
  • Despite risks, Iraqis want Pope Francis to go ahead with visit
    • Mar 4, 2021

Latest Posts

  • First-person accounts illustrate CARA report on what inspires vocations
    First-person accounts illustrate CARA report on what inspires vocations
    • Mark Pattison
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Living the beatitudes can change the world, pope says in Iraq
    Living the beatitudes can change the world, pope says in Iraq
    • Cindy Wooden
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Cardinal Tobin invites faithful to ‘return to grace’ through the Eucharist
    Cardinal Tobin invites faithful to 'return to grace' through the Eucharist
    • Catholic News Service
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • El Salvador’s recent election may test Biden’s plan to stem immigration
    El Salvador's recent election may test Biden's plan to stem immigration
    • Rhina Guidos
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Palliative care in Australia on life support, says new report
    Palliative care in Australia on life support, says new report
    • Marilyn Rodrigues
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • St. Joseph’s Day can have its cake — and meat with it too
    St. Joseph's Day can have its cake -- and meat with it too
    • Carol Zimmermann
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Iraqi minister declares national day in honor of Pope, al-Sistani meeting
    Iraqi minister declares national day in honor of Pope, al-Sistani meeting
    • Elise Ann Allen
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • New Mexico abortion, assisted suicide bills called ‘gravely disappointing’
    New Mexico abortion, assisted suicide bills called 'gravely disappointing'
    • Catholic News Service
    • Mar 6, 2021
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Latest

  • Single Author Template
    First-person accounts illustrate CARA report on what inspires vocations
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Living the beatitudes can change the world, pope says in Iraq
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the Middle East, Pope in Iraq
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Cardinal Tobin invites faithful to 'return to grace' through the Eucharist
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    El Salvador's recent election may test Biden's plan to stem immigration
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the Americas
    • Mar 6, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Palliative care in Australia on life support, says new report
    • Catholic News Service, Church in Oceania
    • Mar 6, 2021
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