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Inside the VaticanJune 12, 2025
(CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

We pause our regular “Inside the Vatican” episode this week to pick up where our America subscriber-only Conclave Debrief live Zoom event left off on Monday, June 9. Hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell briefly cover the latest Vatican headlines before inviting their producer, Ricardo da Silva, S.J.—who also participated in the live event—to join the conversation. Together, they tackle the key questions posed by America subscribers, focusing on four areas of concern:

  • Inside the Conclave
    What made this conclave different from the 2013 election of Pope Francis? What stood out this time? What was it like covering a conclave live from the Vatican for the first time? And how did secular media in the U.S. respond to the papal transition?
     
  • Pope Leo and AI
    What early signals has Pope Leo given about artificial intelligence, deep fakes and the ethical challenges of new technologies? How might these shape the church’s approach to rapidly evolving technology environments?
     
  • Ongoing reforms in the church’s response to the sexual abuse crisis
    What structural reforms could Pope Leo pursue to address the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church? How might he respond to broader abuses of power—including financial misconduct and spiritual abuse—and better center and respond to survivors?
     
  • Vatican-China relations
    How might Pope Leo’s background and experience in Asia shape the Vatican’s evolving relationship with China? What diplomatic challenges and opportunities lie ahead?


[Listen and subscribe to “Inside the Vatican” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.]


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