John Allen: formidable Vatican correspondent and faithful friend

Vatican
John Allen
Crux
Author

Edward Pentin

Published

January 23, 2026

Summary

John Allen, a Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and founder of Crux news agency, died at age 61 after battling cancer. Prior to founding Crux in 2014, he served as a Rome correspondent from 1997 to 2014. During this period, he gained fame for his fair, accurate, and balanced reporting, which was noteworthy given the partisan stance of his bosses. Allen’s work involved extensive shoe-leather reporting, including interviews with numerous bishops, cardinals, and Vatican officials. He also attended a wide range of conferences and seminars in Rome. Known for his professional excellence, he covered core aspects of human existence within the Catholic Church, which he considered the best beat for journalists to cover. His dedication to his work is evident from his appreciation of the role of the Vatican as an endless source of interest and fascination. Prior to passing away, Allen was recognized with a tribute in NCR’s website.

Key Topics

Vatican, John Allen, Crux


Read full article at edwardpentin.substack.com