Delia Gallagher
Encyclopedia
Delia Buckley Gallagher (born 11 March 1970) is an American journalist based in Rome
who currently serves as the Senior Editor for Inside the Vatican
magazine. She formerly served as CNN
’s Faith and Values Correspondent. Based in New York
, Gallagher was a long time CNN
Vatican Analyst, Vaticanologist
, and religious journalist. Prior to joining CNN full time, she lived in Rome for 7 years. In Rome, she wrote a weekly column for Zenit News Agency
and was a contributing editor for the magazine. The History Channel Documentary, "Angels and Demons Decoded" released by A & E Television Networks profiled Gallagher commenting on Dan Brown's bestseller book which was made into a movie. Subsequently, Gallagher moderated the Angels and Demons movie press conference film debut in Rome on stage with Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Dan Brown often speaking in Italian and English. She knows Pope Benedict XVI personally and travelled extensively with John Paul II, including his last trip to Poland. Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, she broadcast and commented for CNN Worldwide covering the unfolding event.
and wed in Ireland
in 1969. Delia was born in San Francisco
a year later. She grew up in nearby San Jose
, where her parents still reside. With four younger brothers, Delia is the oldest of five children.
Gallagher attended St. Joseph of Cupertino School, then attended the college preparatory school of Saint Lawrence Academy
. Delia earned her undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco
(where she was an editor of The Foghorn, the school newspaper). She then attended Blackfriars, Oxford
University (founded by the Dominican Order
), where she got her MPhil in Theology
. Gallagher speaks fluent Italian
and conversational French
.
After graduate school, Delia joined the Oxford University Press
(OUP) as a researcher and editor. Her work involved being part of the team that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls CD-ROM. She moved to Rome in 1998 and started as a writer for Inside the Vatican
. As a member of the Vatican
Press Corp, she traveled with Pope John Paul II
to Croatia
, Poland
, Slovakia
, Spain
, and within Italy
. She also wrote a weekly column for the Zenit News Agency
called “Rome Notes.”, and has followed for CNN
the earthquake of Molise. Gallagher lived in the Roman neighborhood of Parioli
.
and the Priesthood, Hassidic Jews in Brooklyn
, and Intelligent Design
. She also hosted a highly rated two-hour special entitled The Last Days of Pope John Paul II: The Untold Stories, which aired on the first anniversary of the pope's death. Alongside these examples of her work, she has also done an interview with the author Anne Rice
. Delia appeared regularly on CNN as an expert on religious matters. Most recently, her expertise was consulted on Pope Benedict XVI
’s first encyclical
, Deus Caritas Est
. She was a regular contributor to “On the Story” and a frequent guest on Lou Dobbs
, CNN Newsroom
, and Anderson Cooper 360.
2006.03.30 A Pope's Last Request: "Read me the Bible" (CNN)
2004.09.04 Holy House of Loreto; New Saints; Marvelli and Suriano (Zenit)
2004.08.26 An Icon the Pope Hoped to Deliver Personally (Zenit)
2004.08.19 Cardinal Poupard on Inculturation; Olympic Peace (Zenit)
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
who currently serves as the Senior Editor for Inside the Vatican
Inside the Vatican
Inside the Vatican is a monthly magazine relating to issues within the Roman Curia, at the Vatican in Rome, which is at the very heart of the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole....
magazine. She formerly served as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
’s Faith and Values Correspondent. Based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Gallagher was a long time CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Vatican Analyst, Vaticanologist
Vaticanologist
Vaticanologist or Vaticanist is a term coined in the mid-to-late twentieth century to describe journalists, academics and commentators whose area of expertise is in studying and understanding the manner by which the Holy See and the Roman Catholic Church operates...
, and religious journalist. Prior to joining CNN full time, she lived in Rome for 7 years. In Rome, she wrote a weekly column for Zenit News Agency
Zenit News Agency
ZENIT is a non-profit news agency that reports on the Catholic Church and issues important to it from the perspective of Church doctrine. ZENIT's motto is, "The world seen from Rome."...
and was a contributing editor for the magazine. The History Channel Documentary, "Angels and Demons Decoded" released by A & E Television Networks profiled Gallagher commenting on Dan Brown's bestseller book which was made into a movie. Subsequently, Gallagher moderated the Angels and Demons movie press conference film debut in Rome on stage with Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Dan Brown often speaking in Italian and English. She knows Pope Benedict XVI personally and travelled extensively with John Paul II, including his last trip to Poland. Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, she broadcast and commented for CNN Worldwide covering the unfolding event.
Early years and education
Delia Gallagher's parents are both Irish immigrants from County Kerry & Donegal. They met in AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and wed in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1969. Delia was born in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
a year later. She grew up in nearby San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where her parents still reside. With four younger brothers, Delia is the oldest of five children.
Gallagher attended St. Joseph of Cupertino School, then attended the college preparatory school of Saint Lawrence Academy
Saint Lawrence Academy
Saint Lawrence Academy, SL, a college-preparatory Roman Catholic high school in Santa Clara, California, USA, was founded in 1975. It stresses its small size, which translates to close interaction among students, administration, faculty, and counselors. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese...
. Delia earned her undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
(where she was an editor of The Foghorn, the school newspaper). She then attended Blackfriars, Oxford
Blackfriars, Oxford
Blackfriars, Oxford houses three distinct institutions: the Priory of the Holy Spirit, the religious house of the friars, whose current prior is John O'Connor OP; Blackfriars Studium, the centre of Theological studies of the English Province of the Dominican Friars ; and Blackfriars...
University (founded by the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
), where she got her MPhil in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Gallagher speaks fluent Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and conversational French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Pre-CNN Life
While still in college, Gallagher started working part-time as a writer at KCBS San Francisco. She later joined the AM News Radio station full time after graduation. Her former colleagues described her as "extremely nice, focused, and hard working."After graduate school, Delia joined the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
(OUP) as a researcher and editor. Her work involved being part of the team that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls CD-ROM. She moved to Rome in 1998 and started as a writer for Inside the Vatican
Inside the Vatican
Inside the Vatican is a monthly magazine relating to issues within the Roman Curia, at the Vatican in Rome, which is at the very heart of the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole....
. As a member of the Vatican
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
Press Corp, she traveled with Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and within Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She also wrote a weekly column for the Zenit News Agency
Zenit News Agency
ZENIT is a non-profit news agency that reports on the Catholic Church and issues important to it from the perspective of Church doctrine. ZENIT's motto is, "The world seen from Rome."...
called “Rome Notes.”, and has followed for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
the earthquake of Molise. Gallagher lived in the Roman neighborhood of Parioli
Parioli
Parioli is a neighbourhood in the north of Rome, Italy. The name comes from Monti Parioli, a series of tufa hills, and was given to the area before its incorporation into the city proper at the beginning of the 20th century...
.
CNN Life
After taking the position of Faith and Values Correspondent in September 2005, Gallagher reported on a wide range of topics for the television network. Some of her work included reports for Vatican Rules on HomosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and the Priesthood, Hassidic Jews in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and Intelligent Design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
. She also hosted a highly rated two-hour special entitled The Last Days of Pope John Paul II: The Untold Stories, which aired on the first anniversary of the pope's death. Alongside these examples of her work, she has also done an interview with the author Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
. Delia appeared regularly on CNN as an expert on religious matters. Most recently, her expertise was consulted on Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
’s first encyclical
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
, Deus Caritas Est
Deus Caritas Est
Deus Caritas Est is a 2006 encyclical—the first written by Pope Benedict XVI, in large part derived from writings by his late predecessor, Pope John Paul II. Its subject is love, as seen through a Christian perspective, and God's place within all love...
. She was a regular contributor to “On the Story” and a frequent guest on Lou Dobbs
Lou Dobbs
Louis Carl "Lou" Dobbs is an American journalist, radio host, television host on the Fox Business Network, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air that he would leave the 24-hour cable news television network.He was born in Texas and lived...
, CNN Newsroom
CNN Newsroom
CNN Newsroom is an American news program on CNN/US.Broadcasting throughout the week, Newsroom features live and taped news reports, in addition to analysis from experts on the issues being covered, and headlines throughout each hour. The program tends to focus on softer news than their hard news...
, and Anderson Cooper 360.
Recent written work
2006.03.30 A Peek Through the Vatican Curtains (CNN)2006.03.30 A Pope's Last Request: "Read me the Bible" (CNN)
2004.09.04 Holy House of Loreto; New Saints; Marvelli and Suriano (Zenit)
2004.08.26 An Icon the Pope Hoped to Deliver Personally (Zenit)
2004.08.19 Cardinal Poupard on Inculturation; Olympic Peace (Zenit)