Pope Francis sees secrecy as paramount for ensuring that synod participants can speak freely. But what if people start talking anyway?
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 inFaith, Synod Diary
Synod Diary: Pope Francis’ response to the ‘dubia cardinals’ tells us a lot about the synod
Pope Francis’ “yes, and” message to cardinals critical of his papacy is reflective of the synod as a whole.
Posted inFaith, News Analysis
Same-sex blessings, women’s ordination and whether doctrine can change: What Pope Francis said to the ‘dubia’ cardinals
Pope Francis breaks his silence in response to cardinals’ questions.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
The blessing of neighbors
A Reflection for Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time, by Colleen Dulle
Posted inFaith, Interviews
The Vatican blocked this theologian’s promotion—and he still doesn’t know why
Father Martin Lintner, whom the Vatican rejected after he was elected dean of his theological college, speaks to America about the tensions between the Vatican and theologians and his hopes for change.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Catholic orders in Rome sheltered more than 3,000 Jews during Holocaust, rediscovered document shows
A key document listing the names of 3,600 people who were allegedly sheltered by Catholic religious orders in Rome during the Nazis’ occupation of the city has been rediscovered, after having been considered lost.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Explainer: Mongolia only has 1,400 Catholics. Pope Francis is going there anyway.
Pope Francis will visit Mongolia’s 1,400 Catholics from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. What do they expect from the pope’s visit?
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
What volunteering at RCIA taught me about faith and community
A Reflection for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, by Colleen Dulle
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
How Mary Magdalene speaks to us in our love, loss and yearning
A Reflection for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, by Colleen Dulle
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Pope Francis taps Father James Martin for Synod on Synodality
“I’m honored to be invited by the Holy Father to participate in the Synod,” Father James Martin said. “As a Jesuit, I’m committed to this kind of group discernment.”