Gerard O'Connell

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

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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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.

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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’

Gerard O'ConnellJune 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.”