John L. Allen Jr.

John L. Allen Jr. was staff writer, Vatican correspondent and senior correspondent for NCR from 1997 until 2014 when he joined Cruxnow.org. 

By this Author

Thoughts on Francis as 'Person of the Year'

Syrian Christians; pope-mania; and a looming check-up on Vatican finances

What's at stake in Francis/Netanyahu summit

Francis calls religious life 'prophecy,' refers to 'humiliations'

Francis and a church that breathes with both lungs

'Evangelii Gaudium' amounts to Francis' 'I Have a Dream' speech

Vatican abuse prosecutor says Rome 'well aware' of accountability problem

U.S./Vatican ties; Francis as Deng Xiaoping; and witchcraft

Vatican embassy move draws fire from former US envoys

Dolan's farewell; women; Russia; stuff you can't make up; and pope watch

Study finds massive 'Francis effect' in Italy

The synod turns sexy; statistics in a global war

Francis' gentle rebuke for the 'bling bishop'

Playin' church with Francis; the 'Bergoglio of Saskatchewan'; and Iraq

Hackett interview; Gotti Tedeschi; Lefebvrists; and speaking dates

Francis gets down to business on reform

Germany; Lefebvrists; papal cold calls; Legionaries; and Lampedusa

Rome debates funeral for Nazi war criminal

Francis' 'older son' problem; red herrings; and pingpong on financial reform

New-look synod on marriage is first fruit of G-8

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