John L. Allen Jr., a prominent American Vatican journalist and editor of Crux, died on 22 January following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 61 and had celebrated his birthday two days earlier.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential Vatican journalists of his generation, Allen spent decades reporting on the Catholic Church and global religious affairs. His work included extensive coverage of the Church in India, where he reported on persecution, internal Church disputes and the challenges faced by Christian minorities.
In July 2015, while serving as editor of Crux under the Boston Globe, Allen travelled to India to report on violence and discrimination against Christians. He visited regions affected by anti-Christian attacks, met victims and widows, and spoke with scholars and Church leaders to better understand the causes and consequences of persecution.
Allen also testified in February 2014 before a United States House subcommittee on violence against Christians in Odisha. Drawing on field research and interviews, he described the attacks there as the “worst anti-Christian pogrom of the 21st century,” attributing them to Hindu nationalist groups.
His reporting in India extended beyond violence. Allen closely followed the long-running liturgical disputes within the Syro-Malabar Church, publishing detailed and sometimes controversial analyses. He was known for reporting without deference to institutional power, a quality that earned him both respect and criticism.
Colleagues have noted that Allen was globally respected for his balanced, analytical approach and his insistence on editorial accuracy. As an editor, he was known for taking responsibility for mistakes made under his leadership and for publicly addressing editorial lapses when they occurred.
Allen’s death was noted by Indian Christians in particular, many of whom remembered his sustained attention to their concerns at a time when such issues received limited international coverage. His passing coincided with the anniversary of the killing of missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Odisha, an event Allen frequently referenced in his reporting.
A funeral Mass for Allen was celebrated on Monday at the Basilica of Sant’Eugenio in Rome. The principal celebrant was Father John Wauk, an American priest of Opus Dei and a longtime friend, who had administered the Anointing of the Sick to Allen shortly before his death. Eight priests concelebrated, including Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, former head of the Vatican press office.
Members of the Vatican press corps attended the Mass to pay tribute to Allen’s professional legacy and personal friendships. In his homily, Father Wauk reflected on Allen’s life, faith and capacity for friendship, drawing on Scripture and music that Allen had personally cherished.
Following the Mass, a gathering was held at the Allen family residence in Rome, where colleagues and friends shared memories of his life and work. The Basilica of Sant’Eugenio has also hosted the funeral of another major figure in Vatican journalism, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, a historical detail Allen himself would likely have appreciated.
Allen is remembered as a journalist with deep knowledge of Church affairs, a commitment to ethical reporting and a lasting impact on coverage of Christianity worldwide, including in regions where believers face pressure and persecution.
Adapted from reporting by Matters India and Crux.
