Crux offers the very best in smart, wired, and independent coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, explaining not only what is happening, but why it matters—religiously, politically, and culturally—for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Our reputation for unbiased reporting has made us the most trusted English language Catholic news sites in the world.

Launched in September 2014 as a project of The Boston Globe, Crux was led from the outset by its late founding editor, John L. Allen Jr., one of the world’s most respected Vatican analysts. His vision was to create a serious, fair-minded publication grounded in intellectual rigor rather than ideology, and committed to reporting on faith, power, and global Catholicism without fear or faction.

Our reputation for unbiased reporting has made us the most trusted English language Catholic news sites in the world.

After The Boston Globe ended its partnership with the project, Crux became fully independent in March 2016. That independence has remained central to Crux’s identity and mission.

In 2025, while battling cancer and as the sole owner of Crux, Allen quietly transferred ownership of Crux to the organization’s staff to ensure that Crux could continue his vision of independent, rigorous Catholic journalism. Today, Crux remains employee-owned, with editorial independence firmly in the hands of the journalists and editors who produce its work.

In an increasingly polarized media environment, Crux strives to be a trusted, objective voice—informing rather than inflaming, analyzing rather than advocating, and providing the context and insight needed to understand one of the world’s most influential institutions at a time of profound change.