All Things Catholic

Russian patriarch sends message to UAE interreligious event ahead of pope’s speech
- Feb 4, 2019
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, although not attending the Human Fraternity Meeting, sent a message to the conference condemning using religion as a basis for violence.

By Inés San Martín
Canadian bishops won’t publish new policy on minor protection till 2018
- Sep 28, 2017
In June 1992, the Canadian bishops published a report entitled “From Pain to Hope,” entirely devoted to sexual assaults by the clergy. The bishops proposed “ways and means both to eliminate in the church the after-effects of past scandals and to prevent new cases of aggression against children.” The adoption by the Vatican of new standards for the protection of children made it necessary to revise the standards and policies of the bishops’ conference.

By Francois Gloutnay
Three ironies about a dramatic show of papal muscle in Nigeria
- Jun 11, 2017
At the popular level, Pope Francis often is perceived as a lovey-dovey man of dialogue and peace. However, beneath that surface still beats the heart of a classic Jesuit superior, and a dramatic show of papal muscle in Nigeria this week confirms that when the time comes for obedience, he fully and completely expects to get it.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Despite it all, Francis and Trump may just hit it off
- May 7, 2017
When President Donald Trump and Pope Francis meet in the Vatican on May 24, in many ways it will be a study in contrasts — Francis the man of simplicity and humility, Trump an icon of bombast. Yet the two figures actually share a surprising number of traits, all of which suggest that perhaps they can hit it off despite all the ways in which they seem to be from different planets.

By John L. Allen Jr.
How a clown could help the pope engage today’s populist tide
- Dec 3, 2016
Italy’s “Cinque Stelle” movement is the country’s most significant opposition force, and could be on its way to power. Were Pope Francis to take a direct role in engaging it, Cinque Stelle could become his nose under the tent amid today’s wave of populist anti-establishment politics.

By John L. Allen Jr.
Two hints something’s stirring on anti-Christian persecution
- Nov 26, 2016
“Christians [in the Middle East] are hit by war, and because they are Christians,” said Bence Rétvári, Hungary’s Vice Minister for Human Capacities. “We’re like a brother who sees that his sister’s house is on fire, and we need to go put out the fire and then help rebuild the house.”

By John L. Allen Jr.