Jesuitical

Everything is on the table: immigration and racism, women's ordination, abortion, sexual abuse, pornography, gender identity and dating apps. We’ve never seen a conversation with the pope like this. In Hulu’s “The Pope: Answers,” Francis sits with a group of 20 to 25-year-olds to discuss their most profound questions and struggles with faith and the church’s teachings. The young people also get practical, asking if the pope gets a salary.Ashley and Zac are joined by two Jesuit colleagues, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Jim McDermott, S.J., to discuss the new documentary and how Catholics can process this profoundly honest conversation that seemingly raised more questions than answers.Read more:In Hulu’s ‘The Pope: Answers,’ Pope Francis talks abortion, gender identity, dating apps and more with 10 young adults by Ricardo da Silva, S.J.Hulu’s ‘The Pope: Answers’ is the most thrilling movie out right now by Jim McDermott, S.J.Listen to the full conversation here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jesuitical is joined by Sam Sawyer, S.J., the new editor in chief of America Media to talk about:  How Sam went from working as a software developer to joining the Jesuits The Catholic Church’s approach to technology, and what A.I. and ChatGPT have in store for it His latest essay in America: “Catholicism, authentic communion and the way out of our polarization trap” And during Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss the following news stories:  Pope Francis has given women the right to vote at the synod for the first time in history Pope Francis losing his blue verification checkmark on Twitter Two events in Catholic-Anglican relations: A gift from Pope Francis to King Charles III and a “breakdown in communication” between a visiting Anglican group in Rome and the Basilica of St. John Lateran  Links from the showSupport America’s Anniversary!“Catholicism, authentic communion and the way out of our polarization trap”Does ChatGPT have a soul? A conversation on Catholic ethics and A.I.Pope Francis gives relics of the True Cross to King Charles III for his coronationOver 50 Anglicans celebrate liturgy at Pope Francis’ cathedral after “breakdown in communication”What’s on tap? Negronis and Aeropress Coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s face it: talking about climate change can feel depressing and futile. It seems like every few years there’s a new dire report, another agreement signed, and little progress is made. This week’s guest, Dorothy Fortenberry, is a writer and executive producer of “Extrapolations,” a new show from Apple TV+ that aims to shake us from our complacency by showing us what the world might look like in 10, 20, 30 years if we stay on our current trajectory. We talk to her about getting people to care about climate change, her love of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical “Laudato Si’” and the ethics of having kids in a climate crisis.In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a controversy between a group of Franciscans and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and talk about how Catholics should react to SatanCon, a gathering of members of the Satanic Temple in Boston next week.Links from the show:Military archdiocese: The end of Walter Reed’s pastoral care contract is ‘incomprehensible’Boston 'SatanCon' prompts Catholics to respond with prayer and the GospelWatch “Extrapolations” on Apple TV+I was at the first Earth Day. And I carry what I learned about care for creation to this day by James Martin, S.J.This Earth Day, meet the artist making beautiful icons of God’s endangered creatures by Jim McDermott, S.J.What’s on tap?MicheladasSupport Jesuitical! Become a digital subscriber to America Media! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jesuitical chats with Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., spiritual master and the author of many books, including “The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality.” Ashley and Zac talk to Father Rolheiser about the importance and universality of spiritual energy, sex, isolation and the differences between therapy and spirituality.During “Signs of the Times,” the team is joined by Michael O’Louglin to unpack an FBI memo that seems to be targeting “traditionalist Catholics.” Later they discuss Hulu’s new documentary, “The Pope: Answers.”Links from the show: RonRolheiser.ComHouse committee alleges FBI used undercover agent to produce analysis on ‘radical traditionalist’ CatholicsIn Hulu’s ‘The Pope: Answers,’ Pope Francis talks abortion, gender identity, dating apps and more with 10 young adultsWhat’s on Tap?Sparkling wine, with bubbles that are rising (like Jesus)Support Jesuitical! Become a digital subscriber to America Media! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this special triduum edition of Jesuitical, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of a regular interview, we’re sharing an episode from the America Media podcast “Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer,” by our friend and colleague Tucker Redding, S.J. In this episode, Tucker guides us through an imaginative prayer focusing on the Way of the Cross, the time between Jesus’ trial under Pontius Pilate and his crucifixion.In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley give an update on Pope Francis’ health and time in the hospital, and then they share their favorite parts of the Easter Triduum.Happy Easter everyone!Links from the show: Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer After hospital pizza party and baptizing a baby, Pope Francis expected to return to Vatican Saturday The Easter Vigil is the longest liturgy of the year. And it’s so, so worth your time. More Easter content from America The best way to support Jesuitical is to become a digital subscriber to America Media and access all of our digital content! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, B.V.M., captured the heart of America during Loyola Chicago’s Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2018, she was Zac’s hero and mentor while he was attending Loyola. To be fair, she had been many things to many people in 100 years of life. Sister Jean is out with a new book (written with help from ace basketball writer Seth Davis) titled Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years. She joins the podcast to discuss that magical Final Four run, why she loves being around young people and where she believes the Catholic Church is headed.During Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley give an update on Pope Francis’ health and discuss why an A.I.-generated image of him in a puffer jacket went viral. Finally, Zac explains where he found God during jury duty.Links from the show:  “Wake Up With Purpose!” What you don’t know about Loyola’s Sister Jean How Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean prays—on and off the court Vatican: Pope Francis’ condition improving after resting overnight in hospital AI-generated images of Pope Francis in puffer jacket fool the internet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could pray with the Black Madonna of Montserrat, on the banks of the River Cardoner or the cave in Manresa where St. Ignatius developed the Spiritual Exercises—from the comfort of your couch? Today’s guest, Vivian Richards, S.J., wants to help Catholics do just that. Father Vivian is a Jesuit priest of India’s Karnataka province and part of the team of Jesuits who developed the JesuitPilgrimage app. The app provides photos, prayer and audio guides and interactive maps to bring users to the significant spots in the life of St. Ignatius and the Society of Jesus. We talk with Father Richards about how smartphones can help (and hurt) our prayer life, what it’s like to work at the Jesuit curia (a.k.a the home office) and what it means to take a “digital pilgrimage.”And in Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss President Joe Biden’s asylum policy being at odds with Catholic teaching, the five lucky cousins who will receive an inheritance from the late Pope Benedict XVI and Georgetown University poaching the star coach of Providence College’s men’s basketball team.Links from the show:Bishop Seitz on Biden’s new asylum policy: Death cannot be the cost of our immigration lawsFive cousins of late Pope Benedict XVI may receive small inheritanceGeorgetown hires Ed Cooley to revive Hoyas men's basketballJesuitPilgrimage App Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bishop Robert Brennan leads the most diverse diocese in the country: Brooklyn-Queens. Every Sunday, you are able to find Mass in over 25 languages throughout the diocese. Before coming to Brooklyn, Bishop Brennan was bishop of Columbus, Ohio (Zac’s hometown). This week, we talk to Bishop Brennan about the differences between Ohio and Brooklyn, what it’s like to switch dioceses as a bishop and the future of parish life in an era of church closings and reorganization.In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac look at St. Patrick’s Day dispensations around the country and a new “cannabis studies” certificate offered by St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.Links from the show: Bishop Brennan Podcast: Big City CatholicsSt. Joseph’s University has a cannabis certificate program, and some Catholics aren’t pleasedWhen St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday in Lent, should we eat the corned beef?Jesuitical March Madness: FacebookWhat’s on tap? Scotch! (We have a St. Patrick’s Day dispensation ourselves) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each year, during Holy Week, Catholics hear the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and the washing of the apostles’ feet, and finally, the betrayal, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. These events at the heart of our faith can become familiar, even sanitized after a while. But this year, we can hear them all anew thanks to “The Passion,” a new musical production from the Notre Dame Folk Choir.Zac and Ashley talk with J.J. Wright, the director of the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, and Tristan Cooley, the creative director and librettist for “The Passion,” about the origins of the album, how spending so many hours with these Gospel passages affected their faith and how current realities—clergy sex abuse, police brutality and ongoing discussions about the place of women in the church—shaped the production.In Signs of the Times, we mark International Women’s Day by discussing the record number of female employees at the Vatican—as well the hope expressed during synod consultations for greater inclusion and leadership for women in the church. Next, newly discovered asteroids were named for three Jesuits and a pope. Why are there so many monuments to Catholics in space? And finally, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis and share what we remember most from his historic papacy.Make sure to check our Facebook page to vote in the Jesuitical Saint Sixteen (and shout out to our organizers Chris Kinkor and Jeff Johnson!)Links from the show:10 years of Pope Francis: Significantly more women working at the VaticanSynod working document for the continental phaseNew asteroids named for 3 Jesuits and pope of ‘Gregorian calendar’ fameEveryone has an opinion about the pope. But how does Pope Francis understand his past 10 years?A Big Heart Open to God: An interview with Pope FrancisTour dates for “The Passion”Stream “The Passion” on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catholics love their saints. But it's not easy to become one. On this special Deep Dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” we take you inside the grueling process of saint-making, which starts at a local diocese and involves dozens of people, a long paper trail with the Vatican, travel for miracle verification and a lot of money.We’ll hear from Vatican historians and journalists about how the process evolved from folks being devoted to holy people in their cities to a codified Vatican process. We’ll talk with individuals who are working on Dorothy Day's canonization cause in New York about how the significant cost and local politics can lead to causes being delayed indefinitely. And finally, we’ll look into how miracles are verified—and why some people think that ought to change.Support Inside the Vatican! Become a digital subscriber to America Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices