American journalist and Vatican expert
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Key moments and achievements from John Allen's life.
John was born
· Rome, Italy
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John Allen earned a masters degree in religious studies from the University of Kansas, building on his bachelors in philosophy from Fort Hays State University. This academic foundation in theology and philosophy prepared him for a career as the foremost English-language authority on the Vatican.
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John Allen earned a masters degree in religious studies from the University of Kansas, building on his bachelors in philosophy from Fort Hays State University. This academic foundation in theology and philosophy prepared him for a career as the foremost English-language authority on the Vatican.
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Allen moved to Rome in the late 1990s to serve as Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, a position he held for 17 years. He quickly established himself as the journalist other reporters and not a few cardinals looked to for the inside story on Vatican affairs.
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Allen moved to Rome in the late 1990s to serve as Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, a position he held for 17 years. He quickly established himself as the journalist other reporters and not a few cardinals looked to for the inside story on Vatican affairs.
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Allens daily reporting during the illness and death of Pope John Paul II and the subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 cemented his reputation as the preeminent Vatican journalist. His coverage was essential reading for Catholics and secular media alike during one of the most significant papal transitions in modern history.
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Allens daily reporting during the illness and death of Pope John Paul II and the subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 cemented his reputation as the preeminent Vatican journalist. His coverage was essential reading for Catholics and secular media alike during one of the most significant papal transitions in modern history.
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In 2014, Allen founded Crux, a church-focused news outlet, in partnership with the Boston Globe. The publication filled a critical gap in Catholic journalism and quickly became an authoritative source for news about the Catholic Church and the Vatican.
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In 2014, Allen founded Crux, a church-focused news outlet, in partnership with the Boston Globe. The publication filled a critical gap in Catholic journalism and quickly became an authoritative source for news about the Catholic Church and the Vatican.
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When the Boston Globe closed its Crux venture in 2016, Allen took the publication independent, running it with funding from donors and advertising. Under his leadership as editor-in-chief, Crux became one of the most respected independent Catholic news outlets in the world.
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When the Boston Globe closed its Crux venture in 2016, Allen took the publication independent, running it with funding from donors and advertising. Under his leadership as editor-in-chief, Crux became one of the most respected independent Catholic news outlets in the world.
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Throughout his career, Allen hired and mentored some of the most prominent Vatican journalists of the next generation, including Ines San Martin, Christopher White who became NCRs Vatican correspondent, and Claire Giangrave of Religion News Service. The London Tablet called him the most authoritative writer on Vatican affairs in the English language.
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Throughout his career, Allen hired and mentored some of the most prominent Vatican journalists of the next generation, including Ines San Martin, Christopher White who became NCRs Vatican correspondent, and Claire Giangrave of Religion News Service. The London Tablet called him the most authoritative writer on Vatican affairs in the English language.
John Allen passed away
