On Dec. 4, the final report from the Vatican’s second study commission on women deacons was published, saying that women can’t be ordained to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders,” but it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while its “assessment is strong…it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time.”

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Vatican correspondents Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell unpack the commission’s report: how it came about, why the commission seems to have left the door open to women deacons despite its “no,” and where the push for women’s ministries in the church is likely to go next.

In the second part of the show, Gerry and Colleen examine the dissolution of a Holy See fundraising commission that Pope Francis approved while he was in the hospital. Gerry argues that Pope Francis would likely have dissolved the commission, too, and Colleen raises concern that Vatican officials had asked the pope to sign off on things when he was not in a state to do so.

After our recording, Pope Leo commented on why he appeared not to pray in the Blue Mosque—a topic Colleen and Gerry discussed last week. You can read Colleen’s story here.

A correction to our production credits: Inside the Vatican was engineered by Adam Buchmueller this week.

Links from the show:

Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now

Video: Women Deacons and the Catholic Church | An Explainer

Pope Leo cancels Vatican fundraising commission announced under questionable circumstances

UPDATED: Pope Leo meets Ukraine’s Zelensky as European leaders discuss controversial U.S. peace plan

Pope Leo explains why he appeared not to pray at the Blue Mosque in Turkey

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, the Vatican published the results of its second study commission on women deacons. It said that women cannot be admitted to the diaconate “as understood as a degree of holy orders.”

However, it stopped short of an unequivocal “no” to women deacons, saying that while the commission’s “assessment is strong… it does not allow for a definitive judgment to be formulated at this time, as in the case of priestly ordination.”

Stay tuned to Inside the Vatican for a more in-depth look at this story, and read Gerard O’Connell’s report here: Vatican report says no to ordaining women deacons—for now

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Later this week, Pope Leo XIV begins his first international apostolic visit: a six-day trip to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2. At the center of that journey is his stop in Nicaea—today the town of İznik—where the first ecumenical council (325 A.D.) set down the Nicene Creed, the profession of faith that has united Christians for seventeen centuries. Pope Francis had hoped to make this pilgrimage in May; now, Pope Leo is taking up the mantle.

We’re re-running our deep dive episode on Nicaea today—originally published before Pope Francis’ death. It explores the history of Nicaea and its ongoing importance for Christians, particularly in working toward a common Easter date.

In the show’s introduction, producer Ricardo da Silva, S.J., updates listeners on Pope Leo’s new document on Christian unity, released to commemorate the council’s anniversary, and on a recently issued doctrinal note on monogamy from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In the deep dive, you’ll hear from:

• Aristotle (Telly) Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology and the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University 

• John Chryssavgis, deacon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

• Donald Bolen, Archbishop of Regina in Canada and a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity 

• Married professors Ben Hohman, a Roman Catholic, and Claire Koen, an Eastern Orthodox Christian

• Sandra Beardsall, Professor Emerita of Church History and Ecumenics at St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Canada, an ordained United Church minister and a member of the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Links from the show:

• Why the Council of Nicaea still matters—1,700 years later
• Pope Leo in Lebanon—and Catholics in the Middle East (Jesuitical podcast)
• Pope Leo in Turkey and Lebanon: What to expect from his first international trip
• The Council of Nicaea, Christian unity and a common date for Easter
• Pope Francis: The Catholic Church is willing to accept a common date for Easter in the East and West
• “In Unitate Fidei”, Apostolic Letter by Pope Leo XIV on the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
• “Una caro”  (“One Flesh: In Praise of Monogamy”), doctrinal note from Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and executive producer Sebastian Gomes unpack the news from the reports and analyze in-depth the work of the groups studying women’s ministries, seminary formation and the appointment of bishops.

Links from the show:

Synod study groups on ‘controversial’ issues release interim reports

To submit contributions to the liturgy working group: [email protected] (Further info)

The debate on women deacons in the Catholic Church: A short documentary

Podcast: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop

The changing face of seminary formation: Group therapy, digital detoxing and more listening

Pope Leo to Hollywood: Don’t give up on movies (or movie theaters)

Pope Leo fulfills Francis’ promise: 62 Indigenous artifacts returned to Canada

On World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo calls on government leaders ‘to listen to the cry of the poorest’

More information on Pope Leo’s Q-and-A with American youth
Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Senior Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell explains what we know about the meeting, what cardinals are expecting, and what it means that this will be Pope Leo’s first big agenda item that was not already planned for Pope Francis.

Links from the show:

Buy Gerry’s new book (Spanish edition) El último Cónclave!

Pope Leo to call College of Cardinals to Rome for a two-day January meeting

Vatican News: Augustinian Fr Daleng new vice regent of Pontifical Household

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Vatican correspondents Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle discuss the new doctrinal statement on Mary and look at St. John Henry Newman being named a doctor of the church and co-patron of Catholic education.

Links from the show:

Pope Leo says ICE should allow ‘pastoral workers’ to bring detained migrants Communion

Vatican officially says no to controversial titles for Mary: ‘Co-redemptrix’ and ‘Mediatrix of all Graces’

Pope Leo declares St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the church and co-patron of Catholic education

St. John Henry Newman’s unique approach to conscience

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo XIV delivered remarkably candid responses at a jubilee gathering for synodal teams and participatory bodies, in what senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell called “perhaps the most extraordinary session” he has witnessed since Leo’s election.

0:00 Intro

0:27 Interfaith peace meeting

1:48 Synod Jubilee Q-and-A

17:06 Synod Jubilee homily

23:45 Visit of King Charles III

28:54 Address to Popular Movements

34:28 Meeting with Jesuits

41:05 Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

46:04 Outro and Credits

Links from the show:

• Watch the Synod Jubilee Q-and-A

• Read: Pope Leo’s homily on what it means to be a synodal church

• No, synodality is not a ‘Trojan horse’ that will destroy the church.

• Pope Leo and King Charles make history with first-ever joint prayer service in Sistine Chapel

• Pope: Popular movements must fill void left by society’s inhuman indifference

• Full Text: Speech to the Popular Movements

• Pope Leo’s address to the Jesuits: ‘The church needs you at the frontiers.’

• Analysis: Why is Pope Leo letting Cardinal Burke say the Latin Mass at the Vatican?

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Elise Allen, senior correspondent for Crux, sat down with Pope Leo XIV for his first full-length interview since his election, she heard echoes of Pope Francis’ inclusive vision—“todos, todos, todos”—but also a key difference. As she told Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell, hosts of “Inside the Vatican,” that when it comes to affirming church teaching, Leo is “much more willing to say that upfront and to just be super clear about that, drawing the line from the beginning.”

In the interview, Elise explained how Leo’s pastoral experiences have formed him into a leader whose ministry embodies synodality in action. He empowered lay leaders, particularly women, as a parish priest in Peru. As prior general of the Augustinians, he confronted corruption within his religious order. Returning as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he handled clergy sex abuse cases and investigated the controversial lay society Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. This collaborative approach has deep roots in the Latin American church, she said, where “the Augustinians were doing it for decades” and “the rest of the church is catching up.” She noted that “synodality is really at the core of what he wants to do,” and while Francis set the vision, Leo is “a very practical person.” She expects, in his pontificate, “more commissions, more teams—that sort of blended leadership, blended collaboration as things go forward.”

Her book, León XIV, ciudadano del mundo, misionero del siglo XXI, is out now in Spanish from Penguin Peru, with an English edition expected in early 2026.

Links from the show:

In new biography, Pope Leo weighs in on Trump, LGBTQ Catholics and the Latin Mass

How Pope Leo plans to govern the church: From Rome to China to Gaza

Pope Leo meets with board of global organization of clergy sexual abuse victims to talk zero-tolerance

Pope Leo declares seven new saints, including first from Venezuela and Papua New Guinea

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo is drawing criticism from some U.S. Catholics over his consistent pro-life ethic, particularly after responding to questions about Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin with a lifetime achievement award, despite Durbin’s support for abortion rights.

While he said he was not familiar with all the details, Pope Leo expressed confidence in Cardinal Cupich’s judgment and emphasized that being truly “pro-life” means opposing not only abortion but also the death penalty and the “inhumane treatment of immigrants.” Senior Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell notes on “Inside the Vatican” that the pope’s “honeymoon period” appears to have ended as he speaks his mind on church teaching.

Also on the show: Pope Leo calls the Israel–Hamas ceasefire "a spark of hope," Cardinal Cupich's new Vatican appointment, upcoming synod gatherings and speculation about the pope using Duolingo to learn German at 3 a.m.

Links from the show:

Pope Leo pleads for a just peace as cease-fire in Gaza holds Pope Leo tells border bishop: The American church needs ‘to be united’ on migration

Pope Leo is finding his voice on migrationPope Leo ice blessing sets off social media meltdown

Credits:

Producer: Ricardo da Silva, SJ

Audio engineering and video editing: Kevin Christopher Robles

Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes

Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.

Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pope Leo XIV has released his first major teaching document, “Dilexi Te” (”I Have Loved You”). The apostolic exhortation, addressed “to all Christians on love for the poor,” was begun by Pope Francis and completed by Pope Leo. It emphasizes that the poor reveal a fundamental way of encountering Christ.

Gerard O’Connell, senior Vatican correspondent, and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., associate editor, join Colleen Dulle, host and Vatican correspondent, for a roundtable discussion on the document’s themes, its continuity with Pope Francis and the challenges and encouragement that it offers Christians.

Credits

Producers: Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J.

Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes

Audio and video engineering: Kevin Christopher Robles

Production assistance: Will Gualtiere

Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media.

Support Inside the Vatican by ⁠subscribing to America Magazine⁠!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices