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It’s taken over a year for us to get our boss, Matt Malone, S.J., on Jesuitical—and we promise it was worth the wait. Matt is president and editor in chief of America, and the reason why Jesuitical exists in the first place.

This week we talk to him about Pope Francis’ election five years ago, for which he was present, the spiritual side of St. Patrick’s day and his journey to working at America.

In Signs of the Times we chat about our favorite topic of all time: Catholic sisters, since it’s National Catholic Sisters Week, and we also discuss how Catholics should be responding to the Parkland students’ call for gun reform.

Thank you to all of our new patrons this week! To see the unedited interview, visit patreon.com/americamedia to donate. Shout out to our VIPs: Kody Teaford and Vivian Veloso Macaspac; and our Super Fans, Jim Eraci and Ben Bartosik.

As always, we want to hear from you. Write us an email at jesuitical@americamedia.org and follow us on Twitter @jesuiticalshow.

Links from the show:

Have Pope Francis’ first five years been a success?

A Big Heart Open to God: An interview with Pope Francis

The Nun in Loyola-Chicago’s Huddle Has a Few Things to Say

Immigrant advocate Sister Norma Pimentel to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal

n Vatican Magazine Exposé, Nuns Reveal Their Economic Exploitation

CFO quits Florida Catholic university, stays on gun manufacturer board

How one Catholic ministry is helping families deal with the devastating aftermath of suicide

What’s on tap?

Thanks to a special dispensation from Matt, and in honor of St. Patrick’s Day: Jameson

Producer

Eloise Blondiau was a producer at America from 2016 to 2019. She produced "The Examen with Fr. James Martin"; "Inside the Vatican"; "Jesuitical"; and "Plague: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church." She is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School.