Inside The Vatican

On Saturday morning, Feb. 28, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior regime figures. The following day, Pope Leo appealed for peace, urging world leaders to stop “the spiral of violence before it becomes an unbridgeable chasm.” This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Veteran Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell explains why he saw Leo’s comments as relatively restrained compared to John Paul II’s at the beginning of the Iraq War.

In the second part of the show, Gerry shares a story from his forthcoming book on the 2025 conclave.

0:00 Intro

2:20 Vatican response to Iran war

7:05 John Paul II on the 2003 Iraq War

9:07 Pope Leo decries 'zeal for war'

10:48 Archbishop Coakley speaks out on war

11:30 On the Christian communities of Tehran

12:50 Pope Leo talks on Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai

14:18 Cardinal Parolin's statements on the war

19:00 What difference the Vatican make

22:14 Stories from Gerry's new book on the conclave

25:40 Cardinal forgets to give away his phone

27:25 Cardinals unused to having no phones

29:00 Behind the scenes of the conclave

32:05 Is the conclave not 'top secret'?

33:26 Outro

Links:

Pope Leo urges a halt to ‘spiral of violence’ across Iran and Middle East

Cardinal Parolin on Iran war: ‘The force of law has been replaced by the law of force’

Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, Jan. 9, 2026

Against Unjust and Unjustified War with Iran

I regret supporting the Iraq War. We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes in Iran now.

Book Excerpt: Behind the scenes of Pope Leo XIV’s election

The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the announcement of several new papal trips, as well as the Society of St. Pius X’s rejection of a Vatican offer for dialogue and what could happen next. In the second part of the show, the hosts look at the situation of Ukrainian Catholics and the Vatican’s efforts to help end the war on its fourth anniversary.


0:00 Intro


0:47 Papal trips for spring announced


7:30 SSPX rejects Vatican proposal


12:33 The extra letter to SSPX that Gerry saw


17:30 Cardinals Muller and Sarahs’s warnings


19:24 What’s next for SSPX?


24:14 Fourth anniversary of war in Ukraine


26:59 Vatican response to Ukraine peace talks


31:02 Vatican’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine


34:02 Situation of Ukrainian Catholics


38:32 Outro and Credits

Links:

Pope Leo XIV to embark on 10-day Africa tour and trips to Spain and Monaco

SSPX rejects Vatican dialogue, plans to consecrate bishops without papal mandate

Cardinals Müller, Sarah urge SSPX to submit to papal authority

Pope Leo calls for ‘an immediate ceasefire’ to the war in Ukraine

Four years of war: ‘The Ukrainian Catholic Church is wiped out every time there is Russian aggression.’

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Senior Vatican Correspondent and Contributing Editor Ricardo da Silva, S.J., discuss the Vatican’s decision not to join President Trump’s Board of Peace, Pope Leo’s Lenten message, and the pope’s plans for the first Lent since his election last May.

0:00 Intro

0:35 Vatican declines Board of Peace invitation

5:06 Pope Leo’s Ash Wednesday plans

7:17 Pope Leo’s Lenten message

12:14 Inviting communities to listen during Lent

14:30 Pope Leo calls war a public health crisis

18:14 Pope Leo begins visiting Roman parishes

22:43 Altar girls serve at papal Mass

25:36 Recent appointments of women in Vatican offices

29:20 Pope Leo dissolves papal committee for World Children’s Day

32:11 Credits

Links:

Vatican will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says

Pope Leo XIV explains why Catholics fast during Lent

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerard O’Connell and Colleen Dulle are joined by longtime Vatican journalist John Thavis to discuss the strained relationship between the Vatican and the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, after the Society said it plans to ordain new bishops July 1 with or without papal permission.

0:00 Intro

1:08 Pope Leo travel updates

4:36 What is the Society of St. Pius X?

7:14 SSPX’s beginnings and beliefs

12:46 The 1988 SSPX bishops’ ordinations

16:48 Pope Benedict and the Latin Mass

22:24 Benedict lifts excommunications, offers autonomy

28:05 Pope Francis’s actions on SSPX and Latin Mass

30:34 Questions facing Pope Leo XIV

36:37 What do the Vatican and SSPX each want?

42:57 Update on Feb. 12 meeting with Cardinal Fernandez

44:00 Credits

St. Pius X Society to ordain new bishops without Vatican approval, risking excommunication

The Vatican Diaries: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Power, Personalities and Politics at the Heart of the Catholic Church

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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Bishop Kevin Kenney was born in Minneapolis and has ministered to Latino communities there for years. Now an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he speaks to America about the realities facing Latino Catholics on the ground and what the Catholic Church is doing to support them.

0:00 ICE outside churches and schools

4:45 How the Catholic Church is responding

10:00 Targeting criminals only?

11:45 Preaching during the crisis

15:12 Ministering to ICE

16:45 Latinos have enriched Minneapolis

18:53 Longterm effects

23:45 Pope Leo and prioritizing immigration

34:00 What Bishop Kenney is praying for

Links for further reading: 

Twin Cities pastors preach on the killing of Alex Pretti: ‘We are walking in darkness and living in fear’ 

I’m a Minnesota Catholic mom. Here’s what my neighbors are saying about ICE

No more funding for ICE without reform. Congress must act

Bishop Tyson: Not all are called to be martyrs like Alex Pretti. But we can be witnesses

Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund

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