At the conclave, politics and prayer come together. Is that a problem?

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.

In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses:

• The latest conclave news, including the installation of the chimney of the roof of the Sistine Chapel and how many cardinals have arrived in Rome
• The cardinals have asked Catholics to pray for them and the conclave. What exactly should we be praying for? And should we be scandalized by the intermingling of politics and spirituality?

This episode features:

• James Martin, S.J., America’s editor at large and founder of Outreach
• Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast
• Zac Davis, director of digital strategy and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
• J.D. Long García, senior editor at America

Sign up for America’s subscriber-exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: AmericaMagazine.org/Subscribe

Links from the show:

• Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the conclave
• With five days before the conclave, all but four cardinal electors are in Rome
• The prayer Rome needs right now: Come, Holy Spirit.