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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

  • Once again, Pope Francis reaches out to a foe

    • Church
    • Apr 26, 2014
  • Fracas over divorce stirred by call from the pope

    • Church
    • Apr 25, 2014
  • What the canonizations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II tell us

    • Church
    • Apr 19, 2014
  • Global war on Christianity is violent and real

    • Church
    • Apr 12, 2014
  • Pope takes responsibility for child abuse scandal

    • Church
    • Apr 11, 2014
  • Immigration reform becomes a Catholic ‘pro-life’ cause

    • Church
    • Apr 5, 2014
  • «
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  • 249
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  • ›
  • »

Most Read

  • Once again, Pope Francis reaches out to a foe
    Iraqi priest says Pope's visit an act of 'bravery' and 'madness'
    • Feb 24, 2021
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    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Italian ambassador killed in Congo remembered for humanitarian work
    • Feb 23, 2021
  • Vaccine scandals add to political tensions in Latin America
    • Feb 23, 2021
  • Pope extends outreach to women with halo, home visit
    • Feb 22, 2021

Latest Posts

  • At trial, former students recall ‘unhealthy’ environment at minor seminary
    At trial, former students recall 'unhealthy' environment at minor seminary
    • Junno Arocho Esteves
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Brooklyn bishop calls suit accusing him of decades-old abuse ‘defamatory’
    Brooklyn bishop calls suit accusing him of decades-old abuse 'defamatory'
    • Catholic News Service
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Religious leaders urge Biden to support global coronavirus aid, debt relief
    Religious leaders urge Biden to support global coronavirus aid, debt relief
    • Dennis Sadowski
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Bishops defend property after Spain claims irregularities in registration
    Bishops defend property after Spain claims irregularities in registration
    • Catholic News Service
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Vatican official insists religious services are ‘essential services’
    Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'
    • Catholic News Service
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Pope chooses gerontologist as his personal physician
    Pope chooses gerontologist as his personal physician
    • Catholic News Service
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Pakistani couple’s appeal of blasphemy sentence postponed
    Pakistani couple's appeal of blasphemy sentence postponed
    • Babar Dogar
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • English cardinal calls for legislation tackling ‘extremism’
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    • Charles Collins
    • Feb 24, 2021
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Latest

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    At trial, former students recall 'unhealthy' environment at minor seminary
    • Catholic News Service, Vatican
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Brooklyn bishop calls suit accusing him of decades-old abuse 'defamatory'
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Religious leaders urge Biden to support global coronavirus aid, debt relief
    • Catholic News Service, Church in the US
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Bishops defend property after Spain claims irregularities in registration
    • Catholic News Service, Church in Europe
    • Feb 24, 2021
  • Single Author Template
    Vatican official insists religious services are 'essential services'
    • Catholic News Service, Vatican
    • Feb 24, 2021
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