Archbishop Fernández’s appointment has been met with criticisms focusing on a book he wrote about kissing, his handling of sexual abuse and comments he made expressing an openness to blessing gay and lesbian couples.
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 inExplainer, Faith
The most important takeaway from the synod (so far) is something you’ve never heard of
News reports, to the chagrin of the synod office, have focused primarily on the questions of the ordination of married men and women deacons—questions on which it invites discussion but makes no recommendations.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Two U.S. bishops were recently subject to Vatican visitations. What do these interventions mean?
Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tenn., and Bishop Joseph Strickland, of Tyler, Tex., have both been subject to apostolic visitations recently. Here’s what we do (and don’t) know about the Vatican interventions.
Posted inFaith, News Analysis
Pope Francis is appointing more young bishops. Will they secure his legacy?
Since February, Pope Francis has appointed four men under age 60 to lead major archdioceses around the world, in what have widely been viewed as efforts to shore up his legacy.
Posted inNews Analysis, Politics & Society
Explainer: What the Vatican tells the public when the pope is sick
How does the Vatican communicate about the pope’s health—and what accounts for their changing tactics?
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
What to do when a Scripture passage leaves you stumped
A Reflection for Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, by Colleen Dulle
Posted inExplainer, Faith
When bishops attack: How Pope Francis handles his critics
Bishop Joseph Strickland recently accused Pope Francis of “undermining the Deposit of Faith.” It remains unknown whether Francis will publicly respond but past cases provide a clue of how the pope will approach this latest challenge.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
I never understood devotion to Mary. Then I had a baby.
My relationship with Mary is complicated. I couldn’t see the appeal of Marian devotion until I had a baby and understood how she embodies the life-giving sacrifice of motherhood.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
The holy impatience of waiting for a baby
A Reflection for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent, by Colleen Dulle
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
What Judgment Day can teach us about hope
A Reflection for Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time, by Colleen Dulle