Jesuitical

Pope Leo XIV just did something no modern pope has done before: He voted in a democratic election of his native land as the leader of the sovereign Vatican City state. From the Vatican, Leo mailed in his absentee ballot for Will County, Ill., which was, according to the Vatican Press Office, “in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation.” The bishops’ conference of the United States praised the decision saying, “our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility.” But should Pope Leo, as a sovereign leader, be voting in a U.S. election? And what are the implications for the Vatican’s “soft” diplomacy around the world?

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Chris White, a senior fellow at the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, and a former Vatican beat reporter, to discuss the impact of Leo’s decision. They also discuss a controversial meeting between Catholic bishops and President Trump shortly before the midterms, and the historic beginning of Montse Alvarado’s leadership over the Vatican’s Dicastery of Communications, the first lay woman to serve as prefect in history.

Chapters:

00:00 We voted!

02:15 Should Pope Leo vote in U.S. elections?

11:13 U.S. Bishops pray over President Trump

21:25 A millennial woman runs Vatican communications

24:41 The challenge of Vatican reform

29:55 Leo goes to Latin America: what to watch for

32:40 Faith sharing: prayer and politics

Links from the show:

Vatican confirms Pope Leo voted by mail in U.S. midterm election

Catholic bishops regret White House prayer photo with Trump, say it was used politically

The bishops who prayed over Trump and apologized—and gave us a lesson in moral responsibility

Montse Alvarado prepares to step into Vatican communications prefect role Nov. 1

The changing face of Vatican communications

Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

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What makes a horror movie “Catholic”? That’s what hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless ask on this week’s special Halloween episode of “Jesuitical.” They’re joined by Ryan Duns, S.J., a professor and theologian at Marquette University. Known for his love of scary movies, Father Ryan is the author of Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films. Together, they discuss the Catholic fascination and taboo around horror. (Spoiler alert! The second half of this conversation reveals some plot points from “The Exorcist,” “Obsession” and “Sinners.”)

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

4:33 Interview with Fr. Ryan Duns, S.J.

4:55 Addressing the clown in the room

6:33 Why horror films should be taken seriously

9:42 The best way to experience horror films

14:11 Gratuity of horror movies

19:09 The supernatural in horror movies

21:51 The Exorcist

32:02 Obsession

41:00 Sinners

54:01 Outro

Links from the show:
About Ryan Duns, S.J.

‘Father Fright’ reveals top five horror flick picks for 2026

Marquette Bookshelf: ‘Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films’

‘The Exorcist,’ as a work of art, fostered an understanding of Catholic theology.

‘Sinners’: a tale of temptation and transcendence

Faith and Fine Wine: A Jesuit Pilgrimage to Italy

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Where do U.S. politics and Catholicism intersect? On this week’s roundtable episode, “Jesuitical” host Ashley McKinless speaks with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, and Father Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and senior analyst at Religion News Service, about today’s “signs of the times.” Together, Ashley, Kevin and Father Reese discuss Pope Leo’s health post-cancer surgery, immigrant detention as a religious liberty issue, the death penalty and how these all tie into how Catholics are feeling about politics ahead of the midterm elections.

*Note: After this was recorded, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo needs no further cancer treatment. Read the latest here: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/21/pope-leo-cancer-test-results-treatment

Chapters:

00:00 Our topics this week

1:19 Pope Leo health update (Note: After this was recorded, the Vatican

6:22 Pope calls Putin and Zelensky

11:50 Archdiocese sues Trump administration

15:52 Religious liberty and the Sacraments

20:20 Catholics denounce public execution

26:40 Catholics are souring on Trump

31:51 A Pope Leo effect in America?

Links from the show:

The Fragility of the Pope

St. Louis archdiocese sues DHS and ICE to bring sacraments to immigrant detainees

The death of the American conscience will be livestreamed

USCCB President Condemns Plans for Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter's Execution as ‘a Barbaric Promotion of a Culture of Death’

Pope Francis: ‘death penalty inadmissible’

Pew: Trump’s support among Catholic voters drops heading into midterms

How Catholics have defended free elections—and why they must do so again

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This week on the “Jesuitical” podcast, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis speak with National Public Radio’s Scott Detrow about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis and Scott’s new book, American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City. Scott shares his initial reaction to the pope’s lung surgery this week and provides insights into Leo’s medical history. Then, Scott, Zac and Ashley follow Robert Prevost’s incredible journey from Chicago to Peru to the Vatican and discuss what makes the first American pope uniquely qualified to lead the Catholic Church.

Chapters
00:00 Pope Leo's cancer diagnosis
2:02 A surprise conclave
4:18 Scott reacts to Leo's cancer
7:37 How Catholics in Chicago shaped Leo
13:45 Leo's leadership style
17:45 Leo's vision of the church
20:44 An unlikely bishop
29:56 A cardinal, not a bureaucrat
32:38 Did Francis prepare Prevost to be pope?
35:12 Pope Leo, the American
39:38 Open questions about Pope Leo

Links from the show:
- Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican announces: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/13/pope-leo-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-vatican-announces
- Pope Leo is walking, eating and receiving therapy after lung cancer surgery: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/14/pope-leo-lung-cancer-recovery-walking

- Pope Leo has ‘resumed work’ three days after lung cancer surgery: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/15/pope-leo-cancer-lung-surgery-recovery-work
- What to know about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/10/14/what-to-know-about-pope-leos-cancer-diagnosis
- American Pope: Leo XIV’s Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250446053/americanpope
- No one expected Leo to be pope — except everyone who knew him as ‘Bob’: https://www.npr.org/2026/10/03/nx-s1-5987816/pope-leo-american-pope-book-excerpt
- Sign up for our Vatican newsletter: https://www.americamagazine.org/sign-up-for-vatican-notebook-email-newsletter

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This week on “Jesuitical,” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless speak with Joseph de Viveiros, C.R., about the pastoral consequences of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking 2016 document on family life, “Amoris Laetitia.” Father Joseph is a priest of the Congregation of the Resurrection, and chaplain for the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board in North Bay, Ontario. As Pope Leo gathers bishops from around the world at the Vatican to review the document’s implementation, Zac, Ashley and Father Joseph discuss the complex challenges facing families and young couples, and how a lot of work needs to be done, especially by priests, to realize Pope Francis’ vision.

Chapters:

00:00 Auguri Ashley McKinless!

1:50 Why we're talking about 'Amoris Laetitia'

7:45 The Christian ideal vs. lived reality

12:23 People's lives are messy

16:30 Critics of Francis' approach

21:57 How to discern in conscience

25:58 How the Church forms couples

36:20 Advice for priests

37:45 Why you should get married

43:25 Parish announcements: auguri!

44:33 Faith sharing: grace in sacraments

Links:

Read “Amoris Laetitia”

Amoris Laetitia: For a new proclamation of Gospel with families and for families

Bishops are meeting at the Vatican next week to discuss ‘Amoris Laetitia.’ Here’s what you need to know.

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

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