Two U.S. dioceses recently had visits from Vatican investigators, and one led to the resignation of Bishop Richard Stika, who is a decade shy of the standard retirement age for bishops. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry unpack what these official reviews mean. After that, the hosts look at some of the younger bishops Pope Francis recently appointed to lead major dioceses.
[Listen and subscribe to “Inside the Vatican” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.]
In the second half of this episode—the last before the podcast’s summer hiatus—Gerry and Colleen give a preview of Pope Francis’ summer plans. Although the pope’s audiences have been cancelled for the month of July, Pope Francis is still planning to travel to World Youth Day in Portugal in early August and then to Mongolia Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. Will he heed his doctor’s orders to rest as he continues to recover from abdominal surgery?
Update 07/01023: After this episode was published, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had appointed Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez the next head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Read Gerry's reporting on this crucial appointment here.
Links from the show
Days after Wagner coup attempt, Pope Francis sends cardinal for peace talks
Deep Dive: Inside the top secret process of appointing a Catholic bishop
Two U.S. bishops were recently subject to Vatican visitations. What do these interventions mean?
Pope Francis is appointing more young bishops. Will they secure his legacy?
Exclusive interview with Archbishop Frank Leo, Pope Francis’ ally in Toronto
