Inside The Vatican

Today, July 2, in response to the SSPX’s illicit ordinations of bishops, the Vatican announced that not only were the bishops involved in the ordination automatically excommunicated and in schism, but that anythe clergy of SSPX orand any of its lay members who “adhere” to the schism are also to be considered excommunicated.

The announcement came in a decree from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by Cardinal Fernandez, which was accompanied by an explanatory note. The explanatory note went further than the decree: It added that priests of the SSPX cannot validly hear confessions or solemnize marriages. Gerry reported this morning that there is some question as to whether an explanatory note is enough to overturn Pope Francis’ 2016 decision allowing SSPX priests to witness marriages and absolve sins.

The note appealed to SSPX’s lay members to “remain firm in communion” with Rome and not to participate in SSPX activities. It also assured them that “the church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and deep concern all those who desire to return to full communion” and that the apostolic nuncios will develop procedures to help former SSPX members officially return to Rome.

For more on the background of the Vatican’s long efforts to bring the SSPX back into the fold, we have an Inside the Vatican episode with John Thavis that I will link to in our show notes.

There, you can also find links to Gerry’s report from this morning and to an explainer piece on excommunication and what exactly it entails. And you can check America Magazine dot org for further analysis pieces coming soon.

Tomorrow is also Pope Leo’s speech to the United States; it will be livestreamed by the National Constitution Center at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, and we’ll have coverage at AmericaMagazine.org.
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On this season finale of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry discuss the hectic weeks before Pope Leo’s summer vacation. First they recap the pope’s trip to Pavia to visit the remains of St. Augustine and the home of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, his speech to the World Food Program and the Vatican’s denial of the German bishops’ request to allow lay people to preach homilies. They also look ahead to this week’s consistory of cardinals, the illicit ordinations planned by SSPX, the pope’s address to Americans on July 3 and his trip to Lampedusa July 4, along with how Leo plans to spend his summer vacation.

In this episode, Gerry also breaks the news of how many days Pope Leo will spend in Argentina, Peru and Uruguay this fall.

0:00 Intro
1:17 Pope Leo’s visit to Pavia and Cabrini’s hometown
4:52 Breaking News - Pope Leo’s agenda for Latin America
5:44 Pope Leo’s visit to the World Food Program
10:50 Vatican says no to lay homilies during Mass
11:35 Meeting of continental synod leaders at Vatican
16:38 Consistory of cardinals on war, AI and the synod
23:49 Cardinals could discuss SSPX at consistory
28:44 Pope Leo’s address to Americans July 3
34:06 Pope Leo’s July 4 visit to Lampedusa
34:53 What we know about Pope Leo’s summer plans
39:22 Please fill out our listener survey!

Links:

Pope Leo XIV exalts first American saint Cabrini as a model for Christians for her care of migrants

Pope Leo: War is ‘fed more easily’ than the hungry

Vatican to German bishops: No lay people preaching homilies at Mass

SSPX stands firm against Vatican II in open letter to Pope Leo

Extraordinary consistory signals Pope Leo’s push to work with cardinals on global challenges

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Pope Leo visited Spain from June 6-12, a visit that drew record-breaking crowds. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerard O’Connell recaps for Colleen Dulle the highlights from the pope’s three stops: Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. On the last day, Gerry reports, Leo spoke out against those who take advantage of migrants “like I’ve rarely seen him,” shouting, “Stop! Repent!”

After this episode was recorded, Pope Leo spoke to journalists outside Castel Gandolfo, saying “Thank God” for the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and commenting on the upcoming illicit ordinations of bishops for the Society of St. Pius X. Regarding the latter, he said, ““If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward.”

Interview: Madrid’s Cardinal Cobo says Pope Leo’s visit to Spain ‘is bringing out the best in people’

In Spain, Pope Leo denounces polarization and hails commitment to multilateralism

More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid

Pope Leo defends the unborn and migrants in historic speech to Spanish parliament

Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain

Pope Leo blesses 21 ambulances that an Argentine nun is taking to Ukraine

Pope Leo tackles depression, domestic violence and the ‘cult of self-image’ in dialogue with young people

Pope Leo visits famed Spanish monastery, entrusting his ministry to the Virgin of Montserrat

Pope Leo XIV honors Antoni Gaudí and blesses the Sagrada Familia’s final tower

‘Human dignity has no passport’: Pope Leo visits Gran Canaria

Pope Leo ends visit to Spain with a call to repent

Pope Leo speaks out on SSPX ordinations and U.S.-Iran deal

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Pope Leo’s encyclical ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ published May 25, has sparked debates in the worlds of technology and theology while galvanizing online creators opposed to artificial intelligence. Anna Rowlands, a theologian and co-presenter of the text with Pope Leo, joins Colleen Dulle to parse the encyclical’s reception, its contributions to Catholic teaching, and whether workers can use the encyclical to justify religious exemptions to using A.I.

Links:

Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape

More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid

Pope Leo meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain

Pope Leo meets Bad Bunny in Madrid

A.I. is the headline for ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ but Catholic social teaching is its spine

Why ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ is Pope Leo’s most important action on synodality yet

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Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss EWTN News President and COO Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican’s dicastery for communications. They unpack some of the challenges currently facing the dicastery and analyze the appointment in light of the Vatican’s previously strained relationship with EWTN. In the second half of the show, Gerry gives a preview of Pope Leo’s trip to Spain next week.

0:00 Intro

0:48 The dicastery for communications’ challenges

3:32 Montse Alvarado’s appointment and experience

6:38 First lay woman to head a Vatican dicastery

11:08 Significance of an American as head of communications

13:49 Alvarado steered EWTN away from conflict with Francis

17:19 Pope Leo’s vision for communications

21:38 Pope Leo to address Spanish parliament in Madrid

24:29 Pope Leo’s visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

26:20 Pope Leo to highlight migration in Canary Islands

28:04 Other possible events for pope’s Spain trip

31:34 Outro and credits

Links:

Pope Leo appoints president of EWTN News as head of Vatican communications

Pope Francis responds to attacks from EWTN, other church critics: ‘They are the work of the devil.’

Explainer: The story behind Pope Francis’ beef with EWTN

Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape

Bad Bunny wants to meet Pope Leo XIV. In Madrid, a crossover event is in the works.

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome 

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle 

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