Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
JesuiticalJanuary 12, 2024
Pope Francis smiles as he arrives for a meeting with members of the Unicoop supermarket cooperative in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Jan. 5, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley welcome John Martens, a professor of theology and director of the Centre for Christian Engagement at St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to shine a light on the Bible passages that have shaped Pope Francis’ papacy. 

They discuss:

  • How the Call of Matthew and the Parable of the Good Samaritan shape the pope’s view of a church that is a “field hospital” for sinners
  • Debates over the connection between justice, truth and mercy
  • Criticisms of Pope Francis’ approach, especially in the U.S. Church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley cover a Vatican official’s recent call to reconsider mandatory priestly celibacy in the church. They also discuss Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has come under fire for a book he wrote 25 years ago on spirituality and sensuality. And after the interview they welcome another friend to share about his faith: Michael O’Brien, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows who helps produce “Jesuitical.” He shares what drew him to the fellowship and how his post-grad year at America has enriched his faith. If you or someone you know might be interested in the O’Hare Fellowship the final deadline to apply is February 1, 2024. Apply here!

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. Please email us if you plan to attend any of the events below at jesuitical@americamedia.org 

Jan 22: Vintage Brewing Company (Madison West) from 7-9 pm. Meet and greet with Zac and Ashley, over drinks! Location: 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711

Jan. 23: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison, Wisconsin. Mass at 5:30 pm followed by a live interview with Bishop Donald Hying on “Why we love the church” from 6:30-8:30pm.

Jan. 25: Loyola University Chicago (Ignatius House) in Chicago, IL. Live discussion with Patrick Gilger, S.J. on, “What the heck should I do with my life?: God, discernment and vocation outside the college bubble” from 7-9 p.m. Student Mass to follow at 9pm (Note: This event has limited capacity. Please RSVP to jesuitical@americamedia.org)

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va., Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the Show

What’s on Tap?
New Fangled: Bourbon, fernet branca, simple syrup, bitters, orange peel for garnish

The latest from america

First-grade students finish an assignment at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Tucson, Ariz., in this 2014 photo. Arizona has one of the nation’s strongest school choice programs, with vouchers available to every child in the state. (CNS file photo/Nancy Wiechec)
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling denying state funds to a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma. What should American Catholics be asking about public funding for school choice?
Beth BlaufussMay 23, 2025
Catholics should remember to build upon the growth we’ve experienced in Lent, both humanly and spiritually, throughout the Easter season
Jamie BaxterMay 23, 2025
Andor (Diego Luna) in Andor on Disney+ (©2024 Lucasfilm)
‘Andor’ is a piece of art that is both thrilling to watch and spiritually enriching.
A close-up of a young person holding an older person’s hands
When people face incurable illness, fear of the unknown is a major force that can drive their thinking. The task of physicians is to help calm people and correct their misunderstandings.