Joshua J. McElwee

Joshua J. McElwee was NCR's news editor from 2021-24. He was previously the publication's Vatican correspondent from 2014-21, where his dispatches from Rome and during papal trips abroad were frequently cited by his peers, and broadly seen as a touchstone for nuanced Vatican and papal coverage. 

Among McElwee's most noted work was his years-long, tenacious coverage of Pope Francis' clergy abuse commission, which through a series of exclusive interviews with ex-members of the group revealed serious shortcomings to its work.

McElwee was also the first journalist to break the news of Pope Francis' promise during a meeting with an international group of sisters and nuns in 2016 to create a commission to study the history of the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church.

McElwee reported for NCR from 39 countries and traveled for the publication in the press pool abroad with Pope Francis 24 times. 

By this Author

Young woman raises issue of clergy abuse at lunch with Francis

Francis laments 'senseless and irresponsible condemnation' of migrants

Francis encourages juvenile detainees in Panama to embrace possibility of change

Francis tells Central American bishops to emulate Romero

Francis: Panic over migrants borne of 'fear that drives us crazy'

Accused priest remains active at Vatican's doctrinal congregation

Pope warns about fragility of international order in annual address to diplomats

Vatican press office director and deputy resign in apparent sign of tensions

Exclusive: Former papal abuse commissioners want re-evaluation of group

Francis tells perpetrator priests: turn yourselves over, 'prepare for divine justice'

Abuse survivors request meeting with Francis in Panama over Costa Rica archbishop

Francis refashions Council of Cardinals, removing Pell and Errázuriz

Francis to be first pope to visit Abu Dhabi in February

Vatican appears likely to empower archbishops on abuse claims against bishops

Proposed abuse reporting system garners wide criticism at bishops' meeting

Vatican's delay of US bishops' abuse measures leaves even some prelates confused

Vatican reorganization would be 'decisive shift,' says Cardinal Gracias

Synod ends, calling women's inclusion in Catholic leadership a 'duty of justice'

Viganò: Vatican rebuke proved truth of McCarrick cover-up

World's superiors general to ask for greater women's voice at synod

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