John L. Allen Junior, a prominent American Vatican journalist and editor of Crux, died on January 22, after a lengthy battle with cancer. One of the most influential Vatican journalists of his generation, John, as he was popularly known, spent decades covering the international Church events, including the Church in India.
In July 2015, as the editor of the Boston Globe vertical CRUX John visited various places in India where Christians suffered persecution. He met and spoke with victims, documented incidents, met with scholars to understand the undying reasons for the persecution and analyzed the challenges faced by the miniscule Christi an community in the country. John also reported on the intense, long-running liturgical disputes within the Syro-Malabar Church in India, not afraid of upsetting the powers reporting without fear or favour.
John was my editor as I report for Crux from South Asia. As I received the painful devastating news of his passing, I found it providential that Jesus called John home on the anniversary of the horrific burning alive of Graham Staines and his two young sons in Odisha. The modern-day Martyrs of Odisha (John’s term) had an intense place in John’s heart. Writing for Boston Globe, John visited India to see first-hand the precarious situation in which Christians live and practice their Faith.
I was his fixer, we travelled to Odisha meeting with the widows of the Christians killed for the Faith. I was surprised to see John’s expression, listening to the widows share the horrific stories of the martyrdom of their husbands. At one point, he held his head in his hands, deeply moved and shocked by the “savagery,” which according to John, seemed more at home in the early Church, or the Middle Ages, than post-modernity.
In February 2014 John testified before a U.S. House subcommittee regarding violence in Odisha – backed by his analytical skills- documenting the destruction and interviewing the victims. John described the anti-Christian violence in Odisha as the “worst anti-Christian pogrom of the 21st century,” noting it was carried out by Hindu nationalists.
Speaking tenderly to Sister Meena Barwa who was violated in the large-scale anti-Christian persecution. Learning that she was studying law, John expressed confidence in her legal acumen, assuring Sister Meena, he would engage her legal services, if he required one. John was respected globally for his objective and balanced reporting.
Among those he met was Reverend Chander Mani Khanna, Church of North India pastor in Srinagar who spent 14 days in police custody in 2011 for the alleged crime of baptizing people into the faith. John then understood that the miniscule Christian community in India faced persecution even from its Muslim minority.
John was a boss with professional tenacity, theological insights and encyclopaedic knowledge all generously peppered with kindness. With his excellent editorial skills and mastery of the English language, Allen made my copy read extremely well.
John had zero tolerance for error – he took the fall for his journalists – at least in my case he did so. Reporting extensively on the tumultuous period of the Syro Malabar Church, one of my sources was a respected and esteemed priest- against whom a criminal case was filed.
My failure to disclose this fact was brought to his notice by Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, who chaired the Church’s commission for media. John wrote a lengthy article on the CRUX site – an apology for a Crux failure in editorial judgment.
In my arrogance, I was upset at the prominent space given to the apology. The noble boss that John was, calmly explained his tenets of responsibility and visibility we have to make sure, that it takes central place, it must be seen not hidden away.. That was the greatness of John… Ethical and Transparent
During my annual visits to Rome, accompanying my husband who was a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, we were welcomed into the beautiful home of John and Elise.
John was passionate about telling stories and encouraged me to dive deep into the facts, engaging multiple perspectives and to verify with multiple sources. He encouraged me to look beyond – investigate historical perspectives. For him, contextualization was the key.
On May 12, 2025, in Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV greeted journalists. As the Pope shook hands with John and Elise, they received a thunderous extended applause from other journalists present. Watching live from the comfort of my home, I texted John complimenting him on being held in high esteem by his fraternity. John replied, as only John could – “That’s because I’ve been along for so long.”
Humble, unassuming and kind to the end. John Donne’s sonnet concludes, Death, thou shalt die. John has passed on, but his legacy will inspire generations of writers for all times. Farewell Boss, Thank you!
- Nirmala Carvalho, Matters India
