Jesuitical

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 Week and how it was shaped by the conflict between the United States and Iran. They also discuss astronaut Victor Glover, the pilot of the Artemis II mission, and his Easter message from space. 

Finally, in “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley and Sebastian talk about how the death and resurrection of Christ can help us understand and live through the extremes of this past week’s news—the threat of Iran’s total destruction and the new heights reached by humanity in space.

 Links:

The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis, by Gerard O’Connell and Elisabetta Pique

Excerpt: Behind the scenes of Pope Leo XIV’s election

Pope Leo praises U.S.-Iran ceasefire as ‘sign of genuine hope,’ presses for peace

Pope Leo: Trump’s threat to destroy Iran ‘truly unacceptable’

What photos from the Artemis II astronauts say to us in a time of war

Artemis astronaut: Moon mission inspires wonder, prayer and unity

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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 report’s content and proposals, and ask if the document changes the status quo for women in the Catholic Church.

Featuring:

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of the “Jesuitical” podcast

Kerry Weber, executive editor

Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent and co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast

Molly Cahill, associate editor

0:00 The Vatican’s final report on women and ministry

4:23 Women’s reactions to the report

11:28 New ministries for women?

20:05 The horizons and limits of women’s authority

30:30 Will women be involved in decision-making?

Links:

⁠The final synod report on women: what it says, what it means and what’s next⁠

⁠Where the women deacons question stands at the Vatican⁠

⁠Full Report of Study Group 5 on “The Participation of Women in the Life and Leadership of the Church⁠”

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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 Mass in his diocese

- How he approaches his outspoken critics within his community—and online

In “Signs of the Times,” Ashley and Zac discuss the recent sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez; Pope Leo’s call for bishops to come to Rome for a meeting on the family in October 2026; and a Belgian bishop who said he will “make every effort” to ordain married men as priests by the year 2028. Finally, in light of Easter coming up, Zac and Ashley talk about the pope’s favorite candy, Peeps!

Finally, in “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley talks about her experience inadvertently unplugging on a recent trip and the spiritual freedom found from it.

 Links for further reading: 

How the cover-up of Cesar Chavez’s abuse mirrored the clergy sex abuse crisis

What you need to know about Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage and family

Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028

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You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. 

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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 special episode on mysticism

3:00 How Jim Finley discovered monasteries

12:00 An introduction to interior prayer

22:48 Where to start

24:30 How to stay patient

28:40 When life gets busy

34:48 Cultivating silence in your life

39:50 Finding God in trauma

41:45 Trusting your own experiences of God

48:00 Is God really inside of us?

51:00 Where mysticism and formal religion intersect

56:15 Does mystical experience relativize religion?

Links for further reading: 

Jim’s podcast, “Turning to the Mystics with James Finley”

The Center for Action and Contemplation

Merton's Palace of Nowhere

The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation

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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

10:27 Tim Shriver's holy family

13:04 What is the dignity index?

18:57 Contempt is the problem

24:00 What's your dignity score?

30:52 What dignity really means

38:20 Responding to contempt with dignity

46:00 How to do it

51:48 Is the Catholic Church a model?

54:32 Influence of Pope Leo XIV

58:50 Updates and faith sharing

 Links for further reading: 

Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Caccia as nuncio to the United States

Iran’s Cardinal Mathieu evacuated to Rome

Pope Leo expresses ‘deep sorrow’ for Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire

Final synod report on women’s leadership does not address female diaconate

The Dignity Index

Need a Lift? With Tim Shriver

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