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, including: synodality, fighting sexual abuse, reforming Vatican governance and an ecumenical trip to Turkey on the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
This episode features:
Sam Sawyer, S.J., America’s editor in chief
Sebastian Gomes, America’s executive editor of audio and video
Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast
Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
Zac Davis, director of digital strategy and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
Sign up for America’s subscriber-exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: AmericaMagazine.org/Subscribe
Links from the show:
Cardinals say they are expecting a short conclave
Watch: Trump jokes he’d ‘like to be Pope’
Synodality—and ‘controversial’ issues—are here to stay: Takeaways from the Synod’s final document
The four signs of a truly synodal church
Pope Francis issues new rules for accountability and response to allegations of sexual abuse
Pope Francis’ new sex abuse rules are a revolution for the Catholic Church
Vatican to consider classifying ‘spiritual abuse’ as new Catholic crime
With Pope Francis’ reform of the Roman Curia, nine years of work is coming to fruition
Podcast: Pope Francis’ Roman Curia reform, explained
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
35:30
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 cardinals’ secret meetings
- How “unity” and “clarity” are becoming buzzwords for reversing Francis’ style of governance
This episode features:
- Sebastian Gomes, America’s executive editor of audio and video
- Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast
- Gerard O’Connell, Vatican correspondent and co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast
- Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
- Zac Davis, director of digital strategy and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
- Sam Sawyer, S.J., America’s editor in chief
Sign up for America’s subscriber-exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: AmericaMagazine.org/Subscribe
Links from the show:
- What Pope Francis taught us: Church teaching finds clarity and power in acts of mercy
- Cardinal Becciu will not participate in conclave following dispute over right to vote
- As Cardinals Prepare to Elect a Pope, One Motto Is ‘Unity.’ That’s Divisive.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
55:33
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 numbers
- How the conclave is (and isn’t) a referendum on Pope Francis’ pontificate
Hosted by Sebastian Gomes, America’s executive editor of audio and video, and featuring commentary from “Inside the Vatican” co-hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell, Jesuitical hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless, editor in chief Sam Sawyer, SJ, editor at large James Martin, SJ, and senior editor J.D. Long García.
Sign up for America’s exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: AmericaMagazine.org
Links:
- Conclave to elect a new pope will start on May 7
- The three surprises of Pope Francis’ funeral
- Mourners from around the world flock to Rome to say goodbye to ‘pope of the people’
- Father James Martin: Don’t be afraid of the conclave—or the next pope
- The papal transition: What you need to know
- Cardinal Becciu will not participate in conclave following dispute over right to vote
- The prayer Rome needs right now: Come, Holy Spirit.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
38:27
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 personal encounters with the pope and how Francis impacted their priesthoods, careers and prayer life
- Pope Francis’ gifts as a pastor—and whether he will have a lasting impact on the papacy
- How Pope Francis responded to criticism and sought to preserve the unity of the church
Links for further reading:
- Pope Francis, trailblazing Jesuit with a heart for the poor, dies at 88
- How Pope Francis changed the place of women in the church
- Pope Francis never stopped being a Jesuit
- Trump, Vance and Biden react to the death of Pope Francis
- A prayer for our beloved Pope Francis
- Vatican releases Pope Francis’ final testament
- What happens after a pope dies?
- Pope Francis died after stroke and heart attack, Vatican says
- Pope Francis’ funeral set for April 26, first photos of his body released
- Before picking a new pope, the cardinals will politick
- In last words, Pope Francis thanked his nurse ‘for bringing me back to the square’
You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.
You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.
Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
56:06
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 documentary on the life and work of philosopher René Girard
- Mimetic desire, Girard’s central theory of human behavior and relationships
- Girard’s insights that offer a new perspective on Christian theology
In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ plan to end a decades-long partnership with the U.S. government related to refugee resettlement after funding cuts from the Trump administration; and the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council in the history of the church.
Zoom Event | Praying through Holy Week with ‘Jesuitical’ and Father James Martin
As we enter into Holy Week, join America Media for a subscriber-only virtual event with James Martin, S.J., and “Jesuitical” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless.
Links for further reading:
Things Hidden: The Life and Legacy of René Girard
8beats
8beats and Cinematic Catholic Beauty: An Interview with Sam Sorich
U.S. bishops will cease refugee resettlement work with government after Trump funding freeze
Nicaea anniversary inspires faith, strengthens mission, theologians say
The Council of Nicaea, Christian unity and a common date for Easter
Pope Francis hopes to travel to Turkey for Council of Nicea’s 1,700th anniversary
"Inside the Vatican": The Council of Nicaea and the struggle for a common date of Easter
Why the Council of Nicaea still matters—1,700 years later
You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.
You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.
Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast for young Catholics hosted by two young, lay editors at America—Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless. Each episode features a guest who offers a unique perspective on faith, culture or current events. We also bring you some of the top (and maybe more obscure) Catholic news of the week. And we'll ask: Where do we find God in all this?
USA