Noted Journalist Will Visit Saint Peter’s College

Jersey City, NJ – John Allen, Jr., considered to be the one of world’s top journalists covering the Vatican, will speak at Saint Peter’s College on Wednesday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. in Dinneen Hall on the College’s Jersey City campus. Allen will discuss the cultural gap that exists between the Vatican and the rest of the Western World. Allen is the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. He also provides commentary on for such well-known media outlets at CNN, National Public Radio and the News Hour With Jim Lehrer. Newsweek recently wrote that Allen is “the journalist other reporters – and not a few cardinals – look to for the inside story on how all of the Pope’s men direct the world’s largest Church.” Allen, 38, is a former Los Angeles high school teacher who originally wrote freelance articles for the NCR before gaining a full-time assignment covering the Vatican three years ago. He has since broken many stories emanating from the Vatican, including the appointment of Bishop Sean O’Malley as a replacement for Boston Cardinal Bernard Law. Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey City and a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. Saint Peter’s also offers classes in downtown Jersey City near the waterfront financial district and in South Amboy.