Deborah Tomlinson

Deborah Tomlinson
President, Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages
Executive Director, Urbi et Orbi Communications

Deborah Tomlinson is the President of Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages and the Executive Director of the Urbi et Orbi Communications. She began working for Urbi et Orbi Communications, the publisher of Inside the Vatican magazine, in 2006. Two years later, in 2008, she founded Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages after recognizing the need for a true pilgrimage experience—one that goes beyond mere tourism to engage the mind, heart, and spirit. Her vision was to create pilgrimages that offer deep encounters, not just with the sacred sites and churches visited, but with the “living stones”—the people met along the way and among the pilgrims themselves.

Since then, Deborah has created and led more than 60 pilgrimages to destinations including Rome, England, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, and Russia. With warmth, thoughtfulness, and a gift for meaningful connection, she has guided pilgrims through intimate experiences of prayer, conversation, and reflection—always rooted in a deep love for the Church and its mission.

In addition to her leadership in pilgrimages, Deborah has been instrumental in organizing numerous events with the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and Orthodox churches worldwide. Her work has fostered stronger ties between Catholic and Orthodox communities, both clergy and laity.

One of Deborah’s most cherished initiatives is the Catholic-Orthodox Women’s Council, an ecumenical project she co-founded to foster understanding and friendship among women of faith across traditions. Inspired by Pope St. John Paul II’s call to elevate the unique “feminine genius” within the Church, this initiative seeks to help heal the longstanding schism between East and West through the witness of women.

With a heart for service and a gift for creating space for transformative encounters, Deborah continues to guide pilgrims not just across miles, but into deeper relationship with Christ and His Church.

Dr. Robert Moynihan, Ph.D.

Dr. Robert Moynihan
Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Inside the Vatican Magazine

Dr. Robert Moynihan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Inside the Vatican magazine. He has written on Vatican affairs for more than 40 years, since 1984, and has interviewed many Vatican officials—including Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò—during that time. A church historian, well-known Vaticanist, and engaging pilgrim, Dr. Moynihan brings a rare blend of scholarship, journalistic insight, and spiritual depth to every pilgrimage he leads.

He holds a Ph.D. in medieval studies from Yale University and is widely respected for his deep understanding of Church history, theology, and global Catholic affairs. Over the years, he has commented on Catholic issues for Fox News, CNN, ABC, EWTN, BBC, and other international networks. On March 13, 2013, he appeared live on Fox News as the lead analyst during the election of Pope Francis.

As a seasoned Vatican analyst and the author of several acclaimed books—including The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI and Finding Viganò—Dr. Moynihan invites pilgrims into a rich and meaningful encounter with the heart of the Church. His thoughtful leadership, personal connections within the Vatican, and deep love for the Church make each pilgrimage a unique spiritual and intellectual journey.

Dr. Jan Bentz

Jan Bentz, Ph.D. teaches Philosophy of Art (Aesthetics) for The Catholic University of America, History of Medieval Philosophy at Christendom College and Apologetics for IES study abroad. His journalistic career includes weekly TV coverage in German and English for EWTN, writing for CNA, The Catholic Herald, and the Jüdische Rundschau. He contributes regularly to Inside the Vatican. Jan Bentz works as a freelance docent tour guide in Rome and the Vatican for over six years.