Crux, the Boston Globe-owned vertical dedicated to all things Catholic, would likely not exist if not for the phenom known as Pope Francis. The worldwide interest in the man formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio pushed the Globe into creating the standalone site and, in a hiring coup, brought renowned Vatican observer John Allen into the fold as associate editor.

As Francis makes his first visit to the United States as pontiff, it would seem this is Crux‘s chance to shine. But a look at the website as well as the crossover coverage in the Globe finds little to differentiate Crux from much of the blanket coverage by the legacy media, especially the New York Times and Washington Post with the pope’s stops in those two cities.

On the Crux website, which in quantity of stories takes a backseat to no one, there are nearly as many wire service pieces as there are staff and correspondent bylines. There is some inside analysis by Allen, though he has offered similar takes in his job as CNN correspondent when appearing on camera for that network. Crux national reporter Michael J. O’Loughlin offers some personal observations, such as the fact the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, where the pope addressed some 300 bishops, was his home parish when O’Loughlin lived in the nation’s capital.

But much of the coverage of Pope Francis’s visit has revolved around the politics and the optics, with what he says and where he says it getting parsed by pundits around the country. It’s hard for Crux‘s limited staff, with their background in “Covering all things Catholic,” as the website’s slogan declares, to stand out in a flood of media coverage that is placing the visit in the context of American politics and culture.

Perhaps, though, that’s what readers should realize. Crux strength is in covering Catholicism and church policy as well as analyzing the goings on in Vatican City. Allen can pound out a 2,000-word analysis of the pope’s encyclical on climate change and what its foundation is in church dogma before most other reporters can even divine its message. Or he can give insight into why Francis’s annulment reform matters.

Correspondent Ines St. Martin is a native of Francis’s home country of Argentina and can use her connections and knowledge of the pope’s advisors to put context into his actions and speeches on homelessness and immigration. O’Loughlin, a former writer for the National Catholic Reporter, uses his ties to the nation’s bishops to report on issues affecting the changing tides in the church on this side of the Atlantic. And columnist Margery Eagan has been giving voice to the local congregations and disaffected Catholics about how the church impacts their lives and what they want to see from leaders.

The access to travel with the pope’s media pool and the ability to report first-hand on his visit is clearly a benefit to Globe and Crux readers. But for the interactions between Francis and President Obama, his speech to Congress, or his visit to the United Nations, there is no dearth of media destinations.

Once the pope returns to the Holy See and political reporters return to their beats here, there will still be interest in what Francis – and, by extension, the church – has to say and what he’s doing to effect world change. In that, Crux will continue to have the upper hand. Perhaps this visit will bring new readers along.

—JACK SULLIVAN

 

BEACON HILL

The Senate voted to repeal a 26-year-old law that mandated the automatic suspension of the driver’s license of anyone convicted of a drug crime. (Boston Globe) CommonWealth wrote about the law in the cover story of the summer issue.

When it comes to getting public officials’ personal finance records, Massachusetts puts up roadblocks that other states don’t. However, MassLive has obtained a healthy number of them including Gov. Charlie Baker’s and published them here.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone tells the Boston Herald that prosecutors should drop the charges pending against Black Lives Matter protesters who shut down I-93 last year. Curtatone wrote about the Black Lives Matter movement for CommonWealth in August and in April.

Mayor Marty Walsh wants to raise parking meter fees as high as $7 per hour — and people are not happy about it. (Boston Herald) He hopes they’ll be happier about a new city website that aims to streamline the permitting process (a promise made by City Hall for eons).

The Supreme Judicial Court overturned a lower court’s ruling, with the justices siding with the town of Hanover in the case of a police officer who claimed officials mishandled her situation when she was passed over for promotion to sergeant. (Patriot Ledger)

A Fall River dispatcher was fired after an investigation determined a fire at the closed Coughlin School could have been averted if she had responded correctly to a “trouble” alarm at the vacant school. (Herald News)

James Fitzpatrick is sworn in as Lawrence police chief, becoming the first resident of the city to lead its police force in 20 years. (Eagle-Tribune)

The Christian Science Monitor profiles Boston community activist, one-time mayoral candidate, and technology training entrepreneur Mel King.

CASINOS

As Mayor Marty Walsh suddenly seems ready to talk with, rather than try to sue the pants off, Steve Wynn, it’s clear he is trying to cut his losses after backing the wrong horse in the casino derby, writes Adrian Walker. (Boston Globe)

WASHINGTON/NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

House Speaker John Boehner, under heavy criticism from conservatives in his own party, is resigning from Congress at the end of next month. (New York Times)

ELECTIONS

For the third time since 2007, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch and former mayor William Phelan will face off for the office in November after finishing first and second in the four-person preliminary field. (Patriot Ledger)

Fall River City Councilor Jasiel Correia who topped the mayoral field in the preliminary Tuesday took some legal and political heat after a photo of him smiling and holding his completed ballot was enlarged to show off his election choices and posted on social media. (Herald News)

Bernie Sanders tries to crank his insurgent wave into a well-oiled New Hampshire campaign operation. (Boston Globe)

Joan Vennochi wonders whether John Kasich is really much of a moderate. (Boston Globe)

Carly Fiorina‘s unflappable presence and way with the mic may be two of the bigger reasons she’s doing well in the debates and rocketing up in the polls. (U.S. New & World Report) But as she climbs, she’s finding the focus on her a little more intense as reports surface she advises a nonprofit that touts enrollment in Obamacare and chairs the board of another charity that supports abortion rights, both anathema to a Republican base. (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

The next Ward 7 city councilor in Salem will be the candidate who gets the most write-in votes in November, as the district’s incumbent councilor, Joseph O’Keefe, the only candidate who had qualified for the ballot, died recently so no names will appear on the ballot. (Salem News)

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Theater tax credits get a cautious response from The Berkshire Eagle.

EDUCATION

Federal officials are holding off on searching for a permanent director of the John F. Kennedy Library until the dust settles from the tumult that has seen an exodus of about one-third of its staff. (Boston Globe)

TRANSPORTATION

Massport officials accuse Uber of deceiving customers by labeling an added fee to Logan an “Airport Surcharge,” and demand the technology company make it clear to riders that the authority does not levy the fee. CommonWealth wrote about Uber’s controversial operation out of Logan in August.

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Bourne officials have questions about a Plymouth wind turbine project. (Cape Cod Times)

With prospects for Cape Wind growing dimmer by the month, offshore wind supporters ponder what’s next. (MetroWest Daily News)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The Globe takes an in-depth look at the troubled life of Michael McCarthy, the accused killer of Bella Bond.

The murder trial of Timothy Kostka, charged with the vicious stabbing death of a retired South Boston nurse, gets underway. (Boston Herald)

A Lowell man was released on $2,000 bail after pleading not guilty to charges he tried to run over the Westford police chief who was attempting to arrest him as the man was allegedly driving a stolen car. (The Sun)

Renowned defense lawyer Barry Scheck, one of the founders of the Innocence Project, talks about wrongful convictions and their impact on society as well as the trust in the criminal justice system. (Greater Boston)

MEDIA

WGBH has agreed to acquire Global Post, the highly respected international nonprofit news website started by local media and business veterans that has struggled to become financially viable. (Boston Globe) The Boston Business Journal looks at how the public broadcaster plans to integrate the outlet.

Northeastern University professor and media blogger Dan Kennedy is taking a year off to focus on a book he’s writing about three newspaper owners — John Henry, Aaron Kushner, and Jeff Bezos — who are using their wealth to change the industry model.

Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy has shut down the local cable access station, calling it a “rogue board,” and has taken steps to create a new board by appointing her own members. (The Item)