Voices
Gerard O'Connell, Associate Editor/Vatican Correspondent

Rome-based associate editor Gerard O’Connell is responsible for planning and producing America’s coverage of the papacy, Vatican affairs and Rome events. He writes a weekly column in the print edition of America called “Vatican Dispatch” and files reports

@gerryorome
Articles By Gerard O'Connell
Pope Francis embraces Cardinal Juan Jose Omella of Barcelona, Spain, as the pontiff leads a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 28. The Spaniard was one of five men elevated to cardinal at the service. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Faith Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis tells five new cardinals not to become ‘princes’ but to serve like Jesus
June 28, 2017
Jesus “has not called you to become ‘princes’ in the church,” the pope said, but “to serve like him and with him.”
Pope Francis laughs as he greets a woman during an audience with people from Lyon, France, in Paul VI hall at the Vatican July 6. The audience was with 200 people living in difficult or precarious situations. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Faith Vatican Dispatch
Francis makes clear his mission as pope is far from ended
June 27, 2017
The pope's words can be read as an answer to those who hope his pontificate may end soon.
Faith Vatican Dispatch
Canadian cardinal spent 9 years in a Colombian war zone. Now he serves a new periphery.
June 21, 2017
Pope Francis encouraged Cardinal Lacroix and the bishops from Quebec to be a missionary church, “a church that goes out, reaches out to people.”
South Sudanese Catholics pray during Mass in 2011 at a church in Juba (CNS photo/ Mohmaed Messara, EPA).
Faith Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis announces aid to war stricken people of South Sudan
June 21, 2017
The war has “caused a grave humanitarian crisis that has left half of the country’s population, around 7.3 million people, hungry every day."
Pope Francis smiles with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer, left, on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Ettore Ferrari/Pool Photo via AP)
Politics & Society Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis encourages Chancellor Merkel to continue the fight against climate change
June 17, 2017
This was the pope and chancellor's sixth meeting.
Government protestors in Caracas, Venezuela, are sprayed by a national guard water canon May 29. (CNS photo/Mauricio Duenas, EPA)
Politics & Society Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will meet with Venezuela bishops as crisis deepens
June 05, 2017
The meeting comes in the midst of an ongoing national crisis in Venezuela marked by daily protests that have lasted more than 70 days and by acts of repression from the forces of President Maduro’s government.
Faith Vatican Dispatch
Avoid becoming Christians of “the right or the left” urges Pope Francis during Pentecost Homily
June 04, 2017
Pope Francis celebrated Pentecost Mass, urging Christians to avoid "diversity without unity" and "unity without diversity."
Participants look at a screen showing a world map with climate anomalies during the World Climate Change Conference at Le Bourge, France, in this Dec. 8, 2015, file photo. (CNS photo/Stephane Mahe, Reuters)
Politics & Society Vatican Dispatch
Vatican official: President Trump’s decision to withdraw from Paris climate change accord a ‘disaster’
June 02, 2017
Vatican officials slammed it as “a disaster for the whole world because the United States has such importance today and is a country that many follow.”
This image released by the Minya governorate media office shows bodies of victims killed when gunmen stormed a bus in Minya, Egypt, Friday, May 26, 2017 (Minya Governorate Media office via AP).
Politics & Society Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis denounces roadside attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt
May 26, 2017
The attack in central Egypt today killed at least 26 people, including children aged 2 to 4, and wounded 25 others.
Pope Francis talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during a private audience at the Vatican May 24. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-TRUMP-MEET May 24, 2017
Politics & Society Vatican Dispatch
Despite apprehension, Pope Francis and President Trump talked in a “relaxed, sincere way,” sources say
May 25, 2017
Media reports that the meeting was “cold” are “a gross misinterpretation,” a Vatican source told America.