Ep. 14 - Vatican controversies, and the two popes

The Vatican Briefing

In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalists Joshua J. McElwee and Christopher White discuss a major new Vatican document that has attracted controversy over its condemnation of gender-affirming surgery for trans individuals and the growing practice of surrogate motherhood.

They also speak with a Spanish-language Vatican journalist, Javier Martínez-Brocal, who is the author of a new book-length interview with Pope Francis. Martínez-Brocal, who spoke with the pope about behind the scenes of workings of the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, says Francis was motivated to reveal the information, in part, "to show the unity of the church."

Martínez-Brocal also takes listeners inside the Vatican's guest house where Francis lives and chronicles what it's like to interview the pope, explains why Francis was willing to finally open up about the decade of having "two popes" live inside the Vatican and makes some predictions about the rest of the Francis papacy.

This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program.

Relevant links:

Catholic News Service coverage of Brochal's book: Pope says he was 'used' in 2005 conclave: Ratzinger 'was my candidate'

Joshua McElwee's obituary of Pope Benedict XVI: Benedict, a pope who shaped his times but didn't tower over them, dies at 95

Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis comments that Benedict XVI's death has been 'instrumentalized' by agenda-driven church leaders

Christopher White's coverage of the Vatican's new document on human dignity: Vatican condemns surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery, gender theory in new doctrinal note

Joshua McElwee and Peter Feuerherd's obituary of the late Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton: Bishop Gumbleton, longtime soul of the US Catholic peace movement, dies