John Allen, the journalist who explained the Vatican with expertise and wit

John Allen, editor and founder of Crux, died in Rome after a long illness. The Vatican expert analyzed and recounted the events of the last quarter century in the life of the Catholic Church.
By Andrea Tornielli
He died after fighting cancer for four years, never giving up and continuing to work for as long as his strength allowed. John Allen Jr., 61, was the founder and editor of Crux, a website specializing in coverage of the Holy See and the Church around the world for English-language readers, particularly in the United States. I met John when he arrived in Rome 26 years ago as a correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, focusing on news about the Pope and the Holy See and following the Apostolic Journeys of John Paul II. What I remember first and foremost about him is his smile and his open, warm way of engaging with people.
In 2000, Pope John Paul II, already affected by illness, was living through the Great Jubilee, a significant milestone of his pontificate, and …