#12242 Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope – Behind the Scenes with Dr. Matthew Bunson - Matthew E. Bunson
Catholic Answers Live
Catholic Answers
4.8 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 17 June 2025
⏱️ 55 minutes
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Summary
In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Dr. Matthew Bunson of EWTN joins us to discuss the historic election of Pope Leo XIV—the first American Pope. Dr. Bunson shares behind-the-scenes insights from his front-row seat at the Vatican during the conclave, including the dramatic moment white smoke signaled a new pontiff. Learn how the voting process unfolded, why the election moved faster than expected, and how the Church and media reacted. Dr. Bunson also discusses his new book, Pope Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope, published by EWTN Publishing. From spiritual significance to journalistic intensity, this episode captures a powerful moment in Church history as experienced by a leading Catholic voice.
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| 0:00.0 | Buying or selling your home, real estate for life can connect you with a pro-life real estate agent. |
| 0:05.2 | When Real Estate for Life receives a referral fee, they donate 65% to Catholic Answers. |
| 0:11.5 | Learn more at realestateforlife.org. Welcome back to Catholic Answers live, as promised Dr. Matthew Bunsen is our guests from EWTN, where he runs the news department for EWTN, and also I know many people, and I among them, the first hearing of the new Pope was an American. |
| 0:47.1 | It was because he exclaimed that on the air, the first American Pope. |
| 0:51.7 | And now he has a book out, Pope Leo the 14th, Portrait of the First American Pope. |
| 0:57.3 | And I mean, out, out. It's not about to be out. It's out from EW, I believe from EWTN Press. Is that, |
| 1:03.5 | is that correct? It is correct. EWTN publishing. |
| 1:05.7 | EWTN publishing. Dr. Matthew Bunsen. Hello, by the way. |
| 1:08.5 | Hello. Thank you for being here with us. It's great to be with. |
| 1:11.6 | I don't think we've actually talked since the conclave, have we? |
| 1:14.6 | No, and I want to tell you, I was about 20 miles from here doing an interview with Archbishop |
| 1:22.6 | Cordione. |
| 1:23.6 | Yeah. |
| 1:24.6 | And then in the midst of the interview, somebody said, white smoke. And for some reason, |
| 1:29.2 | I thought they were telling me that something was on fire. It did not even connect. And then, |
| 1:35.6 | so we talked about, you know, I just asked him some questions about it. I didn't ask him, |
| 1:40.7 | who do you think it's going to be? Because we're still a couple hours away or something. |
| 1:44.0 | And like, he doesn't want to answer that. |
| 1:47.0 | But then I got in the car, and I tried to be back here in this building because I wanted to be with everybody here at Catholic Answers when we found out who the new Pope was. |
| 1:55.5 | And I couldn't make it. |
| 1:58.7 | I couldn't get here. |
| 1:59.4 | So I was listening to you. |
... |
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