Though published to little fanfare, recommendations from the synod’s canon law commission represent the first step toward codifying synodality into the church’s law.
Colleen Dulle
Colleen Dulle is the Vatican Correspondent at America and co-hosts the "Inside the Vatican" podcast. She is the author of Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter (Image, 2025).
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo is not ‘in panic mode’ about an A.I. catastrophe, but ‘we can’t just sit back’ and do nothing
The pope made the comments during an in-flight press conference on his return trip to Rome from France the evening of Sept. 28.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo meets with survivors of abuse in Lourdes
Pope Leo met with seven victims of sex abuse this evening in Lourdes, spending two hours with them in a meeting described by survivors as emotional.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope speaks out against French assisted-dying and abortion laws in Lourdes visit
In visits with French bishops and workers in ministry in Lourdes today, Pope Leo offered words of encouragement and took aim at that nation’s legalization of medically-assisted dying and abortion.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo addresses French conversion boom, warns against complacency
Pope Leo’s messages on his second day in France focused on the vocation of French Catholics in a secular society, with a particular emphasis on prayer and devotion aimed at inspiring Catholics to evangelize and work for justice.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican Notebook: Pope Leo navigates tensions between secularism and Catholic history on France visit
This visit to France was always going to be an interesting one, given the country’s rich Catholic history and, at the same time, its strict laïcité. How would a pope navigate those two aspects of French society?
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo’s trip to France won’t be a victory lap—and that’s a good thing.
The pope will arrive for a four-day trip through Paris, Lourdes and Metz studded with high-profile political speeches and massive outdoor liturgies, all set against the backdrop of a Catholic Church that has seen an unprecedented increase in conversions since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican Notebook: The convening power of the church
The Catholic Church—and particularly Pope Leo—have an impressive ability to bring diverse people together to focus on the things that are most important to humanity.
Posted inPodcasts
As Lourdes covers up Rupnik mosaics, here’s where his trial stands
The first issue of Vatican Notebook: Like the mosaics at Lourdes, Rupnik’s trial has been hidden completely from view.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Is Pope Leo ‘Americanizing’ Vatican fundraising?
Narratives that say “Francis ate with the poor; Leo eats with the rich” are oversimplifying the approaches of the two popes to Vatican finances.