Jesuitical
Jesuitical is a podcast from America Media that offers honest conversations about the Catholic Church and current events, often over drinks. Hosted by Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis, it aims to engage both saints and sinners in thoughtful discussion. The show releases new episodes weekly.
Episodes
Pope Leo and Trump aren’t the first feuding leaders: a history of papal power clashes
When President Trump took to Truth Social earlier this year and attacked Pope Leo for being “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” most Catholics were understandably shocked. But a clash between a secular leader and the bishop of Rome is hardly without precedent. This week on “Jesuitical,” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless talk with Miles Pattendens, an expert on popes and papal conc
What the Lost Sheep parable says about individuality, tribalism and communion
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley sit down with Luke Burgis, the director of the Cluny Institute at The Catholic University of America and the author of The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. They discuss why we join and leave tribes, how to form a “solid” self and what healthy group identity looks like.
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss
What is it like to teach a future Pope?
This week on “Jesuitical”, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis talk to Dianne Bergant, C.S.A., who taught Scripture at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for 44 years. She also served as America’s Word columnist from 2002 to 2005. During her time at CTU, Sr. Dianne had one very famous student, Robert Prevost—the future Pope Leo XIV. With Sr. Dianne, Zac and Ashley discuss what it’s like to be the t
The Archdiocese of New York's Good News Strategy
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley speak with Mary Kate Polanin, the executive editor of The Good Newsroom, the digital news outlet of the Archdiocese of New York. They discuss the important and changing role of diocesan communications, Catholics in the digital space and New York’s new archbishop.
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Leo’s surprising and historic choice to le
Should the church encourage Catholic influencers?
On this bonus episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with two digital evangelization experts who helped create the Vatican’s study group report on the digital environment as part of the Synod on Synodality. Kim Daniels directs the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, and José Manuel de Urquidi runs the Evangelization Lab. Both were synod delegates,
Pope Leo's A.I. encyclical: Top takeaways from “Magnifica Humanitas”
This week on Jesuitical: A feed drop of this week's special “Inside the Vatican” roundtable, a discussion of “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo’s groundbreaking first encyclical on protecting the human person in the age of artificial intelligence. Host Colleen Dulle sits down with her co-host and senior Vatican correspondent, Gerard O’Connell, as well as America’s president and editor in chief, Sam S
How Catholics became obsessed with sex (and rules)
This week on the “Jesuitical” podcast, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis speak to theologian and legal scholar Cathleen Kaveny about why Catholics seem obsessed with questions of sexual morality. They were prompted to dig into the historical development of Catholic sexual ethics after Pope Leo said in a press conference, “We tend to think that when the church is talking about morality, that the only
Catholic? You need to know Father Henri Nouwen
This week, Jesuitical co-host Ashley McKinless and producer Sebastian Gomes speak to Michael W. Higgins about the spiritual master, Father Henri Nouwen (1932-1996). They explore Nouwen’s “wounded healer” approach to ministry, his brokenness and vulnerability, and his impact on contemporary Catholic thought.
In “Signs of the Times,” Ashley and Zac discuss Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to
Pope Leo XIV: Is he changing the papacy or restoring order?
Jesuitical’s co-host Zac Davis is joined by America's Vatican correspondent, Colleen Dulle, and executive editor Sebastian Gomes to assess the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s ministry as Bishop of Rome. They discuss Leo’s style, priorities and to what degree is continuing Pope Francis’ reforming agenda.
00:00 Pope Leo's first year
1:56 Can Pope Leo be claimed by the left or the right?
5:45 Is Pope
Pope Leo on same-sex blessings; and is Easter harder than Lent?
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac talk to Laura Kelly Fanucci, author of Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection. Together, they discuss the tendency among Christians to overlook the 50-day Easter season, as well as Laura’s personal experiences and struggles practicing resurrection.
In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac speak with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, t
Is the Gen-Z religious revival real or hype?
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Ryan Burge, author of the “Graphs about Religion” Substack and the new book, The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us. They discuss the polarization of U.S. Christianity and the supposed Gen-Z “religious revival.”
In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss some highlights from
President Trump won’t win his battle with Pope Leo
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with John Carr, founder of Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.
In “Signs of the Times,” a cross-promotion of America’s roundtable discussion between Ashley, Sam Sawyer, S.J., the president and editor in chief, and Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent and co-host of “Inside the Vatican,” on President Trump’s
Pope Leo’s first Holy Week and Easter in a world at war
This week on a special crossover episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Colleen Dulle, host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, speak with Gerard O’Connell, America’s senior Vatican correspondent, and his wife Elisabetta Piqué about co-writing The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis.
In “Signs of the Times,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian break down Pope Leo’s first Holy We
Catholic women react to the Vatican’s report on women’s leadership
In March 2026, the Vatican’s doctrine office released its final report on women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Catholic Church. The report brings to a close the two-year work of Study Group 5, which, as part of the Synod on Synodality, was tasked with studying women’s ministries and leadership. In this special roundtable conversation, editors at America magazine discuss the repo
Bishop Michael Martin on making disciples, Charlotte’s growth and liturgy debates
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Bishop Michael Martin, O.F.M. Conv., of the Diocese of Charlotte. Bishop Martin sparked headlines in 2025 when a document leaked with plans to restrict the Latin Mass and other liturgical practices in his diocese.
Ashley, Zac and Bishop Martin discuss:
- His pastoral priorities as bishop of Charlotte
- Changes to the celebration of the Latin
How to walk the mystical path (Hint: you’re already on it)
This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley, Zac and Jesuitical producer Sebastian have a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism. Jim is a clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation where he teaches and writes on the Christian mystical tradition. He’s also the host of the podcast, ‘Turning to the Mystics.’
0:00 A s
U.S. culture has a contempt problem
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse.
0:00 Welcome back Zac Davis!
2:35 A new papal nuncio to the U.S.A.
6:27 Cardinals respond to Iran war
9:04 Synod report on women released
Just or unjust? Catholics respond to the Iran war
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory.
Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from last year: a conversation with Jamie Baxter, the founder & C.E.O. of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to streng
Father James Martin on the summer jobs that shaped him
This week on a special, interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian talk with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, about his new memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.
Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jim discuss:
The differences in writing an autobiography vs. a
When your son becomes a priest—and you’re not so sure about the Catholic Church
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Kristen Gilger, author of My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith and her son, Patrick Gilger, S.J., to discuss their interwoven journeys of faith.
0:00 Critiquing our ashes
3:00 Pope Leo's first Ash Wednesday
4:35 Vatican won't join "Board of Peace"
5:50 St. Peter's has a new snack bar!
8:10 Kristin's shock when
The Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras
This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras.
0:00 Mardi Gra
Minneapolis Catholic Bishop on ICE, immigration and human dignity
Bishop Kevin Kenney was born in Minneapolis and has ministered to Latino communities there for years. Now an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he speaks to America about the realities facing Latino Catholics on the ground and what the Catholic Church is doing to support them.
0:00 ICE outside churches and schools
4:45 How the Catholic Church is responding
10:00 Ta
Prayer in sports: healthy spirituality or superstition?
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Patrick Kelly, S.J. Father Pat holds the Heider Chair at Creighton University and is an expert in the theology of Sports.
Then, in a special faith sharing segment, the hosts speak with Patrick Hyde, O.P., a Dominican priest and the pastor of St. Paul Catholic Center at Indiana University, about recent Heisman Trophy winner,
David French on Christianity and the MAGA movement
This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America, have a conversation with David French, political commentator and opinion columnist at The New York Times, about the complex relationship between Christianity and politics during the Trump administration.
Ashley, Father Sawyer and David discuss:
- David’s journey as a never-Trum
Euthanasia isn't (and shouldn’t be) a partisan issue
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak to Charles Camosy. Charlie teaches moral theology and bioethics at the Catholic University of America and is the author of 10 books, including Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician-Assisted Killing.
Ashley, Sebastian and Charlie discuss:
- How opposition to euthanasia transcends typical partisan camps
- Th
Pope Leo and Pope Francis: the similarities—and differences
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Vatican expert Thomas Reese, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine.
Ashley, Sebastian and Father Reese discuss:
- The big takeaways from Pope Leo’s first consistory
- 101 on the recent history of the College of Cardinals
- Whether Leo is contin
Spiritual advice you don't want to miss for 2026!
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Eric Sundrup, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is the vice president for mission and ministry and university chaplain at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Father Eric has also worked on “Jesuitical” since its inception (in 2017!) in a variety of roles; today, he continues to provide faith formation for the team.
Ashley, Sebas
Saint baby names and the best pilgrimage sites: Your questions for Jesuitical, answered.
Who’s the best TV priest? Should you name your kid after a saint? And what pilgrimage sites are on our bucket list? These are just a few of the questions Zac, Ashley and “Jesuitical” producer Sebastian Gomes tackle in our end-of-year mailbag episode!
Thanks to all the listeners who sent in questions for the hosts—we love hearing what’s on your minds. So don’t hesitate to reach out to jesuitical@a
Evangelist or Catholic influencer? Spreading the Gospel in the digital age.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak to Noah Banasiewicz, S.J. Noah is a Jesuit scholastic and lecturer in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago.
Ashley, Zac and Noah talk about:
- The opportunities and pitfalls of evangelizing on social media
- The fine line between evangelist and Catholic influencer
- How media theory can help us understand the evolution of evan
Pope Leo’s historic first trip; and, is this the most chilling Christmas carol?
This week, Ashley and Zac debrief Pope Leo XIV's first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon, where he preached a strong message of peace and Christian unity, and shared insights from the conclave that elected him.
Then, they speak to their colleague and America's senior audio producer, Maggi Van Dorn, about the new season of her podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols
Pope Leo in Lebanon and Catholics in the Middle East
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac chat with Daniel Corrou, S.J. Father Corrou is a Jesuit priest from the USA East Province who is currently the regional director of Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East & North Africa. Father Corrou lives and works in Lebanon, where Pope Leo XIV will visit from November 30 to December 2, 2025.
Ashley, Zac and Father Corrou talk about:
- The significance of
These Catholic Sisters are on a mission to serve spiritual abuse survivors
This week on an interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Sister Theresa Aletheia and Sister Danielle Victoria, founding members of the Sisters of the Little Way, a private association of the faithful intending to become a religious institute, who live a mission of listening and solidarity with people who have been hurt by the church.
Ashley, Zac and the sisters talk about
Meet John Henry Newman, the church's newest doctor
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac chat with Chris Cimorelli. Chris is the director of the National Institute for Newman Studies and the editor of the Newman Studies Journal, and an expert on St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, the newest doctor of the church.
Ashley, Zac and Chris talk about:
- Newman’s journey from Anglicanism to the Church of Rome
- Newman’s many (and lasting) contributio
Dragons, plagues and Christ's return: The Book of Revelation, explained
This week on a special Halloween episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Micah Kiel, a professor of New Testament at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., where he teaches a class called “Apocalypse-mania.” Micah is also the author of Apocalyptic Ecology: The Book of Revelation, the Earth, and the Future.
Ashley, Zac and Micah discuss:
- How Catholics s
Catholics vs. ICE’s immigration crackdown
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac talk to Brendan Curran, O.P., a Dominican priest who leads interfaith partnerships at the Resurrection Project and serves on the International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace.
Links for further reading:
The International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace website
The Resurrection Project website
Chicago Catholics confr
When the church fails: How to balance being critical and Catholic
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac sit down with Colleen Dulle, America’s Vatican correspondent and host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, to speak about her new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter.
Ashley, Zac and Colleen discuss:
- The spirituality of a Vatican reporter covering church scandals
- Colleen’s experience attending—and leaving—the L
Latin chant or folk guitar: What should Catholics sing at Mass?
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Kate Williams, the vice president of sacred music at GIA Publications, publisher of the “Gather” and “Worship” hymnals.
Ashley, Zac and Kate discuss:
- Why Catholics don’t sing at Mass
- How the role of music in liturgy changed post-Vatican II
- Why the slightest changes in language make all the difference when it comes to hymns
In a brief
When Bishops call out Bishops: the Cupich-Durbin controversy, explained
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America Magazine, to discuss the recent controversy surrounding Cardinal Blase Cupich’s decision to present Senator Dick Durbin with a “lifetime achievement award” for his work in defense of migrants.
Ashley, Zac and Sam discuss:
- Senator Durbin’s decision to decline the award in the face of
Debt relief in the jubilee, escaping nuns and Zac on newborn parenting
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac sit down with Dean Detloff, a research and advocacy officer at Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, to talk about the importance of foreign debt relief in the Jubilee Year.
Ashley, Zac and Dean discuss:
- The biblical roots of forgiving debts in a jubilee year
- How foreign debt stunts the development of poor nations
- Why framing matters when it co
How should Catholics respond to the murder of Charlie Kirk?
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America Media, and J.D. Long-Garcia, senior editor for America to respond to the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Ashley, Fr. Sawyer and J.D. discuss:
- Why this is a difficult (but necessary) conversation
- Why people rush to say, "This is terrible, but..."
- Significance of the murder in national polit
Why people leave the church–and why they join
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Jack Bentz, S.J., a Jesuit priest and the host of the “Catholics in Ordinary Time” podcast and Substack. Father Jack also works in campus ministry at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jack discuss:
- What kids are looking for in campus ministry and parish settings
- Surprise lessons fr
We need to talk about ‘hot priests’
This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian unpack the trend of “hot priests” on social media with Maggie Phillips, a contributing writer for Tablet Magazine. Maggie recently published an article exploring the phenomenon of the “hot priest”: Thou Shalt Not Scroll Past a Hot Priest.
Ashley, Sebastian and Maggie discuss:
- What the “hot priest” trend says about the cultural status
Best of Jesuitical: Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Mass
On this last "best of" episode of summer 2025, Zac and Ashley resurrect an interview with the always entertaining Father Dave Dwyer, the executive director of Busted Halo, a media outreach of the Paulist Fathers, and the author of the book “Mass Class: Your Questions Answered.”
Is there a question you have about the Catholic Mass that you’ve always been too embarrassed to ask? Like: When we say,
Best of Jesuitical: How a religious order decides it’s time to close up shop
This week, Jesuitical is bringing back a poignant yet hopeful conversation with Sister Donna Dodge, the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York, which recently decided to embark on a “path to completion.” That means the over 200-year-old congregation will no longer accept new vocations (though their ministry continues). We discuss:
- How religious life has changed since Sister Donna joine
Best of Jesuitical: What's the deal with the Traditional Latin Mass?
Pope Francis' 2021 decree, Traditionis custodes, which limited the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, set off a heated and at times toxic debate between more traditionalist Catholics and those who want to see the reforms of the Second Vatican Council more fully implemented. Is there a way for us to talk about the liturgy without it turning into a war?
On this "best of" episode, we're revi
Best of Jesuitical: Is Augustine the most relatable saint?
Forget what you think you know about Saint Augustine. Maybe you only know the cities that take his name, or you had a tough experience in your introduction to philosophy class and found him medieval (in the pejorative sense) and scrupulous.
But what if Augustine was actually the first to hone in on and clearly express our human desire for authenticity, that restlessness that all of us have felt a
Best of Jesuitical: How to become a mystic (and keep your day job)
The hot weather couldn’t keep Ashley and Zac away from the mics, so they’re back with a summer “best of” series, featuring some of the most interesting and engaging interviews from the past few years.
What does it mean to be a mystic in the modern age? Many of us think of mysticism as something for spiritual masters who lock themselves away from the world in monasteries and convents and dedicate
Best of Jesuitical: Why Rome is so important to the Catholic Church
The hot weather couldn’t keep Ashley and Zac away from the mics, so they’re back with a summer “best of” series, featuring some of the most interesting and engaging interviews from the past few years.
In this episode, Professor Kenneth Bartlett, a renowned Renaissance historian and author from the University of Toronto, explores the enduring legacy and allure of the eternal city of Rome for Catho
What you need to know about Pope Leo XIV
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Christopher White, the former Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. Next month, Chris will start a new position as the associate director for strategic engagement and a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. Chris’s forthcoming book is, Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave
What Father James Martin is still learning about the spiritual life
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are thrilled to speak with their friend and colleague Father James Martin about his new podcast, “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” which launched this week.
We then share Jim’s conversation with actor and comedian Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi is known for playing a larger-than-life nun in “Sister Act,” but did you know she was also raised Cath
Senator Chris Coons: Democrats need to talk about their faith
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley talk with U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat who has served as a senator from Delaware since 2010.
Zac, Ashley and Senator Coons discuss:
How the senator’s Protestant upbringing and the example of his parents shaped his perspective on service
Why Democrats need to be more open about their faith in the public arena
How Senator Coons f
The story of the first quadriplegic Catholic priest on the road to sainthood
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley share a live interview recorded at 6ABC studios in Philadelphia, Pa., featuring prior provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, Robert Hagan, O.S.A. Father Rob discusses the case for the canonization of Bill Atkinson, O.S.A., an Augustinan friar who was the first quadriplegic ordained in the Catholic Church and whose life—according to Father R
Exodus 90 Founder and CEO on asceticism, masculinity and becoming uncommonly free
Joining Zac and Ashley on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” is Jamie Baxter, Founder & CEO of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, asceticism and fraternity, faced some early skepticism from the Church—and the Jesuitical team—that led to valuable innovation.
Zac, Ashley and Jamie discuss:
Jamie’s conversion story, going to seminary and ultimat
Pope Leo XIV: The overlooked experiences that will shape his papacy
On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Mark Francis, C.S.V., who was a seminary classmate of Pope Leo (then known as Bob Prevost) at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in the late 1970s. Father Mark is the provincial of the Chicago province of the Viatorian community, and he describes Pope Leo as a thoughtful and sensitive leader—even in their seminary days.
Zac,
What Pope Leo’s first days tell us about his priorities
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the first days of Leo XIV’s historic papacy.
Today, Pope Leo met with members of the Vatican press corps and the thousands of other media in Rome covering his election, telling them to be peacemakers and calling for the release of all imprisoned journalists.
On our final episode recorded in Rome, the
Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian friar. Here's what that means
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, the team discusses the Augustinian (and American) roots of Pope Leo XIV.
They discuss:
Pope Leo XIV is an alum of Villanova University. What’s the atmosphere is like on campus right now?
The Augustinian roots of Pope Leo: the intellectual, spiritual and social principles that will lead his ministry
How poverty, chas
What Pope Leo XIV’s speedy election means for the Catholic Church
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O'Connell speaks to Colleen Dulle and Sam Sawyer, SJ about the unexpectedly quick election of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on the fourth ballot in the conclave.
They discuss:
What the speedy election tell us about the conclave?
Why a pope from the U.S. was thought to be "impossible", and w
Habemus papam! The first American pope is elected, and we love him.
Welcome to the America magazine conclave podcast. We are thrilled to join the church in welcoming Pope Leo XIV!
Our team was just in St. Peter’s Square for the historic election, and we’re here with first reactions and some important details about the life and ministry of the missionary Augustinian friar turned pope: the now former-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost.
Links from the show:
Robert Fra
There's only one thing left for Catholics to do: pray.
Do we really trust the Holy Spirit to guide the election of a pope? What does that trust feel like? Are we hopeful or fearful for what is to come? Why does it feel so hard to pray in Rome sometimes?
The cardinals have asked for our prayers repeatedly in the run-up to the conclave. While they are sequestered away on the second day of conclave, Sebastian Gomes, Ashley McKinless, Zac Davis and J.D.
Black smoke on first vote. But what happens after a pope is elected?
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
The protocols being followed by the cardinals in conclave
The “habemus papam” moment, what the pope wears and other telling symbolic gestures
What happens in the days immediately following the elect
Where the cardinals stand one day before the conclave
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses the frontrunners entering the conclave, and explains how the voting could quickly confirm papabile lists or pivot to an unexpected candidate.
Featuring:
Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed His
What happens inside a conclave? Everything you need to know.
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
Final preparations for the conclave, including additional meetings for the cardinals
President Trump’s A.I. pope image
Covering the conclave for secular media, with NPR’s Scott Detrow
The quirk
Will the next pope embrace synodality–or reject it?
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
The security measures being taken at Casa Santa Marta, where the cardinal electors will stay during the conclave, including lock inspections and sealed windows
The history and recent rise of betting on who
At the conclave, politics and prayer come together. Is that a problem?
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
The latest conclave news, including the installation of the chimney of the roof of the Sistine Chapel and how many cardinals have arrived in Rome
The cardinals have asked Catholics to pray for them and the
Choosing a pope: What qualities the cardinals will look for in the conclave
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
Cardinal Beniamino Stella’s stunning attack on Pope Francis in Wednesday’s general congregation meeting of the College of Cardinals
The “election” of a new bishop in mainland China—while the chair of St. P
Will the next pope be Italian? And the unfinished business of Francis’ papacy
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:
President Donald Trump’s choice for pope
The latest from the cardinal pre-conclave meetings
The question: Will the next pope be an Italian?
The unfinished business of Pope Francis’ papacy, incl
Clarity, Confusion, Unity: Unpacking the conclave’s code words
Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.
In today’s episode, the team discusses:
- The controversial presence at the pre-conclave meetings of Cardinal Becciu, convicted of embezzlement, and Cardinal Cipriani, who was sanctioned by the Vatican for alleged sexual abuse
- The topics emerging in the cardinal
The Conclave is more than a referendum on Pope Francis
America Magazine’s editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope. As part of the coverage, the team is producing a new podcast episode every day and releasing it on Inside the Vatican and Jesuitical.
In today’s episode, the team discusses:
- The funeral of Pope Francis
- The cardinal’s decision to start the conclave on May 7
- The College of Cardinals by the nu
R.I.P. Pope Francis, feat. his fellow Jesuits Sam Sawyer and James Martin
On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by America magazine’s editor in chief, Sam Sawyer, S.J., and America editor at large James Martin, S.J., to discuss the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 in the early morning of April 21, 2025. He was the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit pope.
Zac, Ashley, Sam and Jim discuss:
- Their per
Jesus as the ultimate scapegoat: The philosophy of René Girard
On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Sam Sorich, an award-winning filmmaker teaching film production at John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California. His latest film, which you can watch on YouTube, is “Things Hidden: The Life and Legacy of René Girard.”
Zac, Ashley and Sam discuss:
- How Sam’s love of filmmaking and faith led him to make a documen
Catholic Charities USA Head: “We don’t have a choice to ignore the Gospel”
Joining Zac and Ashley on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” is Kerry Robinson, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, the domestic humanitarian arm of the Catholic Church in the United States. Kerry was recently awarded the Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious honor bestowed exclusively on American Catholics.
Zac, Ashley and Kerry discuss:
- Kerry’s family his
A deep dive into the (slightly creepy) world of Catholic relics
Joining Zac and Ashley on this episode of “Jesuitical” recorded in Douglaston, N.Y., is Msgr. Robert Sarno, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn and a former official of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. With 38 years of experience in overseeing the process of canonization and beatification of saints, Monsignor Sarno offers a deep dive into the world of Catholic relics, including their histor
Indulgences 101: The history of a controversial Catholic practice
On this Jubilee Year of Hope-themed episode of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Father Ramil Fajardo, a tribunal judge in the Archdiocese of Chicago, about indulgences: What are they? Where did they come from? And how are they practiced today?
Zac, Ashley and Father Ramil discuss:
- The evolution of indulgences, from the early church through the Protestant Reformation to today
- The four
A Catholic neuroscientist explains your brain on religion
On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Sofia Carozza, a developmental neuroscientist working in research and a co-host of “The Pilgrim Soul,” a Catholic podcast about the journey of faith in the modern world. Sofia is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Human Network Initiative at Harvard Medical School, where she uses computational modelling to study the role of the early-life
Trump’s clashes with the Catholic Church, Pope health update and history of the Lenten Rice Bowl
On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Kim Daniels, the director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Kim is a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, and served in the 2021-24 Synod on Synodality as an expert participant, as a member of the Synod Communications Commission, and as the coordinator of one of the 10 major Synod
Pope Francis speaks for the first time from hospital
After 21 days of hospitalization, Pope Francis sent a brief message of thanks that was played for those praying for him in St. Peter's Square the night of March 6.
Read Gerard O'Connell's report on the message here.
Visit americamagazine.org for the latest on Pope Francis' health.
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How failing Lent can help you grow in holiness
On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley are joined by Sister Josephine Garrett, a sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, a licensed counselor, host of the “Hope Stories” podcast and the author of the new book, Wilderness Within: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation. Presently a counselor in private practice, Sister Josephine earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counselin
Pope Francis health update, and a Jesuit guide to thinking about science and faith
Joining Ashley and Zac to cover the cosmos on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” is Guy Consolmagno, S.J., the director of the Vatican Observatory and author of the new book, A Jesuit’s Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science. A research astronomer, physicist and Jesuit brother, he has served at the Vatican Observatory since 1993, and in 2015 Pope Francis appointed him director.
Pope Francis schools JD Vance, and how medieval mysticism can rock your spiritual world
On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Simon Critchley, the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York and a Director of the Onassis Foundation, about his new book, Mysticism. Among the most prolific of modern academic philosophers, Simon has written over twenty books, from works of philosophy to studies on topics from Greek tragedy and dead p
Why churches would collapse without women
This week, Zac and Ashley chat with Dr. Gina Zurlo, the Yang Visiting Scholar of World Christianity at Harvard Divinity School, about her groundbreaking research on women outpacing men in worldwide church participation.
Zac, Ashley, and Gina discuss:
- Gina’s experience co-authoring World Christian Encyclopedia (Third Edition), a 1,000-page textbook that documents the changing status of global
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