In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White speaks with Australia's Ambassador to the Vatican, Chiara Porro, to discuss the recent 50th anniversary of Australia and the Holy See formally establishing diplomatic ties. In the interview, the Australian diplomat assesses how the Catholic Church is progressing on issues of women's leadership and child protection and looks ahead to Pope Francis' upcoming September visit to four countries in Asia Pacific and Oceania.  This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Christopher White's report on Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore: Pope Francis to make ambitious September trip to Asia Pacific, Vatican says Christopher White's report from Australia on its plenary council and the global synod: To understand Rome's Synod of Bishops, look to Australia Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick's account of her recent correspondence with Pope Francis: After Vatican text, pope tells Jeannine Gramick: Trans people 'must be accepted' Christopher White's reports on an exchange between Francis and parents of LGBTQ children in Malta: Pope responds with 'open heart' to Vatican document criticism from parents of LGBTQ children Christopher White's interview with Fr. Tomas Halik: Catholicism must reject 'heresy of triumphalism,' says noted Czech priest