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The Vatican Briefing

By: National Catholic Reporter
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  • Summary

  • The Vatican Briefing is a podcast from the National Catholic Reporter, featuring two respected Vatican journalists and experts: Joshua McElwee and Christopher White. They review the most recent news relating to Pope Francis and the discussions impacting the very future of the global church, and interview key Catholic decision-makers.
    National Catholic Reporter
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Episodes
  • Ep. 15 - A border bishop's 'grave concern'

    Ep. 15 - A border bishop's 'grave concern'
    Apr 30 2024
    In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," a leading Catholic bishop on the U.S.-Mexico border expresses "grave concern" that the 2024 presidential race could lead to further demonization of migrants seeking to enter the country. "I'm concerned about the election period very much," El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz tells expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White. "It seems that politicians have latched on to immigration as a way to mobilize their bases." Seitz, who has served in El Paso since 2013 and is currently the chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee, also says that some Christians "are more formed, it seems, in their thoughts, in their behaviors, by the political sort of thinking than by church teaching." "They want to make their Christianity fit their political outlook rather than the other way around, and that concerns me," says the bishop. Also in this episode, McElwee and White have a conversation about the Vatican's ongoing process for the Synod of Bishops and the recent announcement of Pope Francis' plans to travel in September to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Rhina Guidos' coverage of Seitz's comments during an April conference on Catholic responses to migration: Both Republicans and Democrats spread anti-immigrant views, says Bishop Seitz Brian Fraga's reporting on Seitz's concerns about "militarization" at the U.S.-Mexico border: Texas is escalating efforts to criminalize migrants, says Bishop Seitz Christopher White's coverage of theologian Anna Rowlands lecture at Cambridge University: Synod adviser: Pope Francis more interested in big discussions than specific issues Christopher White's reporting on the Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis' travel plans: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note
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    30 mins
  • Ep. 14 - Vatican controversies, and the two popes

    Ep. 14 - Vatican controversies, and the two popes
    Apr 16 2024
    In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White discuss a major new Vatican document that has attracted controversy over its condemnation of gender-affirming surgery for trans individuals and the growing practice of surrogate motherhood. They also speak with a Spanish-language Vatican journalist, Javier Martínez-Brocal, who is the author of a new book-length interview with Pope Francis. Martínez-Brocal, who spoke with the pope about behind the scenes of workings of the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, says Francis was motivated to reveal the information, in part, "to show the unity of the church." Martínez-Brocal also takes listeners inside the Vatican's guest house where Francis lives and chronicles what it's like to interview the pope, explains why Francis was willing to finally open up about the decade of having "two popes" live inside the Vatican and makes some predictions about the rest of the Francis papacy. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Catholic News Service coverage of Brochal's book: Pope says he was 'used' in 2005 conclave: Ratzinger 'was my candidate' Joshua McElwee's obituary of Pope Benedict XVI: Benedict, a pope who shaped his times but didn't tower over them, dies at 95 Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis comments that Benedict XVI's death has been 'instrumentalized' by agenda-driven church leaders Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note Joshua McElwee and Peter Feuerherd's obituary of the late Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Bishop Gumbleton, longtime soul of the US Catholic peace movement, dies
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    30 mins
  • Ep. 13 - A Ukrainian bishop's plea for Pope Francis

    Ep. 13 - A Ukrainian bishop's plea for Pope Francis
    Mar 19 2024
    A prominent U.S. Ukrainian Catholic leader has sharply criticized Pope Francis' recent suggestion that Ukraine might enter negotiations to end its brutal, two-year war with Russia, calling the pontiff's remarks "very problematic." In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White interview Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who represents Ukrainian Catholics across much of the eastern U.S. Gudziak says he and people across Ukraine "were really knocked off balance" by the pope's suggestion. "Negotiating with Russia and [President] Putin today is a no-go," said Gudziak, who heads the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. "Ukrainians have tried. They see that he is a relentless killer." "I think the Holy Father really cares for the people of Ukraine, and he cares for the suffering people of the world," said the archbishop. "The expression … was very unfortunate." Given the seriousness of the subject matter, The Vatican Briefing is devoting the entirety of this episode to its interview with Archbishop Gudziak. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Associated Press reporting on the pope's interview: Pope Francis: Ukraine should have courage of the 'white flag,' negotiate end of war with Russia Associated Press coverage of how Vatican officials addressed the interview: Vatican diplomats seek to defuse outrage over Pope Francis' Ukraine 'white flag' comments Catholic News Service coverage of a December 2023 phone call between Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Pope Francis, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy speak by phone Christopher White's reporting from a December 2022 visit to Ukraine: 'Ukraine Crucifixion': At Christmas, war-torn Ukraine confident in its resurrection
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    24 mins
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Prominent Guests, Good Questions

Seem able to get guests who are leading voices in the Catholic Church, Willingness to ask questions who help listeners understand the style of leadership of the guests, and how the Church is slowly moving forward.

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