Hays Catholic schools announced the death on Jan. 22 of alumnus&nbsp;John L. Allen Jr., 61, from cancer.

Allen was a journalist reporting on the Vatican. He was the editor of the Catholic news website, Crux.

He also worked for CNN and covered the conclaves in 2005 and 2013.

He wrote multiple books on the Catholic Church.

He was a 1983 graduate of TMP and earned degrees from Fort Hays State University and the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

He was also honored by TMP with the Point of Light award.

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 </figure>Hays PostHays Catholic schools announced the death on Jan. 22 of alumnus&nbsp;John L. Allen Jr., 61, from cancer.Allen was a journalist reporting on the Vatican. He was the editor of the Catholic news website, Crux.He also worked for CNN and covered the conclaves in 2005 and 2013.He wrote multiple books on the Catholic Church.He was a 1983 graduate of TMP and earned degrees from Fort Hays State University and the University of Kansas.&nbsp;He was also honored by TMP with the Point of Light award.

Hays native, Vatican journalist dies