Vatican Insider

I hope and pray that each one of you had a beautiful and blessed Christmas, marked by meaningful liturgies and many happy moments with family and friends. My days were full and delightfully happy, filled with wonderful memories.

In this weekend’s pre-Christmas edition of Vatican Insider, instead of an interview, I present a fun Special on Christmas and New Year, how both are celebrated in the Vatican and in Rome. Some interesting history, color and traditions are included in this report. So, gather around for a Christmas Story a la Italiana, and be sure to include the young ones!

In the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this weekend, just days after the December 10 feast of Our Lady of Loreto, I present a Special on the stunning Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto on Italy’s Adriatic Coast. You will be enchanted by the story of this beautiful and historic shrine. This and more in today's Vatican Insider with Joan Lewis.

This week, in what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I offer a special report on the recently completed, 3-year-long Synod on Synodality in which I present what several U.S. prelates attending the synod had to say about that experience from pieces they wrote, press conferences they spoke at, or interviews they gave to the media. This and much more in today's edition of Vatican...

Instead of a guest interview this week, I offer a two-pronged special on Thanksgiving, my own thoughts on how I am thankful for God’s multitude of blessings in my life, and then a very special reflection by Pope Francis on the meaning of Thanksgiving.

The interview segment of Vatican Insider this weekend features my conversation with celebrated Chicago sculptor Lou Cella and the story he tells of the statue he sculpted of the world’s beloved St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – Mother Cabrini – a statue now in Rome at the basilica of St. Paul. An American saint is back in her native Italy forever.

The interview segment of Vatican Insider this weekend features my conversation with celebrated Chicago sculptor Lou Cella and the story he tells of the statue he sculpted of the world’s beloved St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – Mother Cabrini – a statue now in Rome at the basilica of St. Paul. An American saint is back in her native Italy forever.

In the interview segment of Vatican Insider this week, I accompany you on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, describing this much-acclaimed shrine and looking at the life and times of this celebrated saint.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

My special guest this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider is Michael Heinlein, editor of Simply Catholic, a ministry of Our Sunday Visitor and he is a frequent contributor to OSV. Our focus is his captivating book “Glorifying Christ” on the life and times of Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago.

Join me on Vatican Insider this weekend as I offer a number of interesting stories and audiences the Pope had this week and then my special report in what is normally the interview segment on the College of Cardinals. On October 6 the Pope announced he would create 21 new cardinals on December 7 and so I look at the College they will join that day – its history and makeup and some interesting stat...

I met Fr. Maher a few years back through a mutual friend, Irini de Saint Sernin, the Society’s Director of Philanthropy. We have become fast friends and I have to say, if you could just spend five minutes with Irini, you’d somehow believe, as I do, that her passion for the Bollandists played a role in the papal visit! So stay tuned after the news for Part II of my conversation with Fr. Maher.

Welcome to my first post-vacation edition of Vatican Insider as we start the busy news month of October with the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican and a number of interesting appointments for the Pope, including a canonization ceremony. But now, as I do every Friday, let me tell you about my guest in this week’s interview segment, Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. He is an expert in the Belgium-based Soc...

As you know, because of the COVID-19 crisis and restrictions imposed on and by people for in person interviews – at least up to now – in recent weeks I have filled what is normally the interview segment of Vatican Insider with Specials. So far, I’ve explored 6 of the 7 Roman basilicas known as the Pilgrim Basilicas – St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Paul’s outside the Walls, Holy...

VATICAN INSIDER: ST. JOHN CANTIUS, THE STORY OF A CHICAGO PARISH My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is a longtime friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago’s well-known St. John Cantius Church. After a number of years, we met serendipitously over my vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St....

This week on Vatican Insider, the interview segment is a repeat but it features a compelling storyteller and fascinating guest, Fr. Bill Petrie. At the time of our conversation, Fr. Bill, a priest of the Order of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC), was pastor of St. Damien parish on the Hawaiian island of Molokai’i. We’ve been friends for a number of years and usually met at Kalaupapa on M...

My guest this weekend and next in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is Samuel Gregg, research director at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We spoke when he was in Rome to talk about his latest book, Reason, Faith and the Struggle for Western Civilization. (Originally aired on 11/15/19)

In the interview segment this week and next, I feature a conversation I had with Tony Clark, a scholar of all things Chinese, an historian, and writer who has authored dozens of books, articles, and other publications. He is a professor of Chinese history at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Tony has lived and travelled extensively in China and tells many wonderful, riveting stories. We...

In the interview segment this week and next, I feature a conversation I had with Tony Clark, a scholar of all things Chinese, an historian, and writer who has authored dozens of books, articles, and other publications. He is a professor of Chinese history at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Tony has lived and travelled extensively in China and tells many wonderful, riveting stories. We...

Welcome to Vatican Insider on the weekend after ferragosto, the Italian name once associated with pagan games in the month of August but now referring to the solemnity of the Assumption! It also refers to the usually quite long August period of holidays. In fact, the lazy, hazy days of ferragosto is the title of the Special that will appear in what is normally the interview segment of VI. This is...

My guest this week in the interview segment is Anthony di Mauro. We talk briefly about his time this summer as an intern in the Rome EWTN office and then focus on something amazing he has started called The Relic Project. That is the main focus of our conversation. What is a relic? Have you ever seen on? Does your family have one? What about your parish? Perhaps it even has a few relics. Are they...

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy” says George Gershwin’s famous song “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.” “The livin’ is easy” unless, of course, you are a tourist in Italy in July and August, desirious of seeing everything this culturally super rich country has to offer but you have to do so under scorching temperatures. There are days when the sidewalks seem to melt right under your feet and yo...

As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, I decided to reprise a conversation I previously had with Catherine Wiley, grandmother and founder of Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) and Marilyn Henry who coordinates CGA in the United States. (Catherine L, Marilyn R) Both women are grandmothers and both have exceptional lives and stories. A...

Welcome to Vatican Insider on yet another scorching weekend in so many parts of the world. I hope you are staying cool as you listen to the program this week, especially the interview segment with my two special guests. As you know, Sunday, July 28 the Church marks the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Thus, this weekend and next, in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I reprise a c...

Welcome to Vatican Insider on what seems to be a torrid weekend in so much of the world! And so many people in the world do not have access to air conditioning or other methods of cooling off so let’s pray for those brothers and sisters of ours! This weekend in the interview segment! I present Part II of my conversation with Fr. Ramil Fajardo, a dear friend from the archdiocese of Chicago. For sev...