Pope Leo and Pope Francis: the similarities—and differences

Jesuitical

America Media

News, News Commentary, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Vatican expert Thomas Reese, S.J., a Jesuit priest who is a senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor in chief of America magazine. Ashley, Sebastian and Father Reese discuss: - The big takeaways from Pope Leo’s first consistory - 101 on the recent history of the College of Cardinals - Whether Leo is continuing on the synodal path set by Pope Francis In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Sebastian discuss Catholic reactions from Minnesota a week after the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE officer. They also unpack the Vatican’s diplomatic involvement in Venezuela and the meeting between the new U.S.C.C.B. president, Archbishop Paul Coakley, and President Trump at the White House. Finally, the hosts explain the history and significance of Pope Leo’s new papal staff. Links for further reading: - Read more from Father Reese at RNS - Pope Leo says he will hold consistories with the College of Cardinals every year - Pope Leo XIV’s papacy began today - Pope Leo meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Machado - Trump meets with US bishops’ president at White House - Baptizing the lie about ICE and the killing of Renee Nicole Good - Leo’s new papal staff highlights Christ’s victory over death 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 magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Hank Center at Loyola University Chicago is proud to sponsor Jesuitical.
0:04.0	We begin our spring semester programming by welcoming Father Mark Massa of Boston College's Boise Center for Religion and American Public Life for a lecture on Wednesday, January 28th.
0:16.0	Father Massa will present this year's Jesuit lecture entitled Catholic Fundamentalisms, based on its provocative
0:22.6	new book, Catholic Fundamentalism in America. The term fundamentalism has its roots in specific
0:28.3	forms of American Protestantism that arose around the turn of the 20th century in reaction to
0:33.4	liberalizing and modernizing trends within the church. In Catholic fundamentalism in America, Massa demonstrates how the Catholic right,
0:40.8	like its evangelical Protestant counterpart, has reacted to and fought against modern American culture.
0:46.4	This event will take place in person and will be available to view online after the lecture.
0:51.6	For more information about this or any other Hank Center event, please
0:55.1	visit LUC.edu slash CCIH.
1:09.1	Hello and welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast for America Media, for saints and sinners.
1:14.8	You can join us each week for honest conversations about the Catholic Church and our world today, sometimes over drinks.
1:20.8	I'm Ashley McHenless, and I'm joined by Sebastian Gomes.
1:24.1	Hey, Ashley, good to be with you again.
1:25.6	Good to be with you.
1:26.9	And since I have you for the next
1:28.8	couple months, I thought we could get in some really Catholic nerdy episodes. So that is what we...
1:34.4	I'm learning a lot about your perception of me by being your co-host. Yes, revelatory.
1:41.9	But last week we had the consistory called by Pope Leo bringing all the cardinals to Rome
1:48.2	to give him advice and to get to know each other. And we could think of no one better to talk to
1:53.2	about this than Father Tom Reese. Yeah, Father Tom is a Jesuit priest, former editor at our
2:00.7	magazine, America.
	...

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