Podcasts about Pope Francis

isten to current week's news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 to 15 minutes. This week, China accelerates its severe crackdown on unregistered churches, while a deadly prison riot in Sri Lanka claims multiple lives. Plus, Pakistan delivers a rare mob conviction, and devastating monsoon floods ravage southeastern Bangladesh. All these stories and more. Tune in for the latest developments from Asia. Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, presented by Joe Mathews, Cover photo by AFP, background score by Andre Louis, edited and produced by Binu Alex for Union of Catholic Asian News. For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 15, 2026. We open with the biggest election integrity news in years — the House passed the SAVE Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, 217 to 209, with Speaker Mike Johnson delivering exactly what he promised us two weeks ago when he sat down with American Ground Radio. We explain what the SAVE Act actually does — and what it doesn't. It doesn't change who is eligible to vote. It doesn't alter the Constitution. It simply requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. We point out that we verify identity to board a plane, open a bank account, and buy a beer — and that the only people who benefit from not verifying citizenship at voter registration are people who aren't citizens. We also note that Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin's claim that no Democrat will ever win again if the SAVE Act passes raises an obvious question about how many non-citizens have been voting for her party. The bill now goes to the Senate, where John Thune needs to do his job — or be voted out at the first opportunity. In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch testified before the Senate in his confirmation hearing — telling senators that his client is not the president but the American people, while more than 1,200 former DOJ employees signed a letter opposing his confirmation, which may be the best endorsement he could have received. Then the House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent year-round — meaning darker mornings in winter and lighter evenings, with states currently on permanent standard time allowed to stay there. And Senate Democrats boycotted a hearing on government fraud, with only one Democrat showing up before leaving after his opening statement — even as investigative journalists Nick Shirley, James O'Keefe, and Dylan Heder-Gaudette presented documented findings on billions in fraudulent benefits claims. As Nick Shirley said, no dollar says Republican or Democrat on it. We also tackle the question of whether a New Hampshire state representative can drive 102 miles per hour on her way to the legislature and claim constitutional immunity from arrest under a provision dating back to the era of kings arresting parliamentarians on their way to inconvenient votes. We acknowledge the historical purpose of the law. We reject the application of it to someone who simply didn't plan her schedule well enough. Rules for thee but not for me is not a constitutional principle — and if you don't care about the safety of the people on the road, why would you care about the safety of the people you represent? Our American Mama Teri Netterville weighs in on the Emmy nominations — and the conversation becomes a broader indictment of an awards system that has completely lost touch with what Americans are actually watching. Greg Gutfeld hosts the number one late night show in the country. Not nominated. Taylor Sheridan has produced Yellowstone, Landman, 1923, and The Madison — all massive hits with critics and audiences alike. Not nominated. Meghan Markle's show As Ever received a 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, was called the sweet spot between irrelevant and intolerable by the Times of London, and was canceled. Emmy nominated. The awards don't reflect excellence anymore. They reflect ideology. In our Digging Deep segment, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced that the Army has already met its 2026 recruiting goals — with 61,500 new recruits — eight and a half months before the year ends. Compare that to 2022, when the military missed its goals by 25%, and 2023, when it missed by 10%. Nothing changed except the administration and with it the clarity of purpose. We play Simon Sinek's story about a Marine recruiter who told a high school auditorium full of teenagers that not a single one of them was good enough to be a Marine — and walked out with the longest line of any recruiter in the room. People don't want to be told service is easy. They want to be challenged to be worthy of it. Trump and Hegseth figured that out. The numbers prove it. We also cover France's assisted suicide legislation — which has passed the lower house and would allow physicians and nurses to end the lives of patients who cannot do so themselves. The Catholic Church in France has threatened excommunication for any legislator who votes for it, and Pope Francis personally asked Macron not to sign it. We make the pro-life case plainly — compassion means walking with those who suffer, not eliminating the one who is suffering. A society's worth is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable, not by how conveniently it removes them. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has now threatened to shut down all Middle Eastern oil exports if Iran cannot export its own — using energy as a weapon exactly as both Iran and Iraq did during the 1980s war. We note that this is exactly why the Iraq oil pipeline deal through Turkey matters, why the Strait of Hormuz matters, and why at some point the president may have to say what needs to be said about ground troops. For our Bright Spot, a Spanish conservation group called El Burrito Feliz — the Happy Little Donkey — has deployed 18 donkeys around Doñana National Park on Spain's Atlantic coast, an area with the same fire-prone Mediterranean climate as Southern California. Since the donkeys were introduced, there has not been a single wildfire in the park in nine years. The donkeys eat the dry scrub and tall grasses that fuel fires, reach terrain that vehicles cannot, and cost a fraction of what California spends on fire suppression after the fact. We suggest California try it. What have they got to lose? And we close with Jenny Stepien, who walked down the aisle on her wedding day wishing her father could be there. Her father Michael had passed away ten years earlier — but he was an organ donor, and his heart had saved the life of a man named Tom Thomas, who became Jenny's pen pal out of gratitude. On her wedding day, Tom was there in person for the first time — to walk her down the aisle in her father's place. At the end of the aisle, Jenny placed her hand on Tom's chest and felt her father's heart beating one more time, just before she said I do. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deacon Patrick Jones, Professor Lucas Pollice and Veronica Ambuul discuss the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly instituted by Pope Francis in 2021. Why is it so important for children to have a close relationship with grandparents?

Ralph speaks to historian Omer Bartov about his new book “Israel: What Went Wrong?” with special guest, international law expert Bruce FeinBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.Many of the things that you describe in Israel apply in spades in the United States. We also have an administration that says we're being invaded militarily by Venezuela gangs, so we have to go kidnap their president and annex Venezuela. We've stated that Iran is an existential threat to the United States because at some future time, it's conceivable they may get one nuclear weapon. We have 5,000, Israel probably has 300 or 400. Or make the argument that we are being invaded by defenseless immigrants across the southern border. And it does seem to me that all countries—I don't think it's unique anyway to the United States or Israel, but it's generally true those in power are there to manufacture fear, to inflate fleas into elephants and say “My gosh, tomorrow the sky is falling down. We need to have national emergencies, rule by decree.” Everything is “an imminent danger”, the Communist domino theory. It's a very challenging issue. I say what you've described in Israel is not unique to Israel. We confront it every day right in the United States. And it works.Bruce FeinOmer Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. A historian, Professor Bartov was born on a kibbutz, grew up in Tel Aviv, and served in the Israel Defense Forces during the Yom Kippur War. He went on to become a leading scholar of the German army and the Holocaust, before turning his attention to his native country. His early research concerned the Nazi indoctrination of the Wehrmacht and the crimes it committed in World War II. He then turned to the links between total war and genocide and interethnic relations in the borderlands of Eastern Europe. His current interest is reflected in his recent books, Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine: First-Person History in Times of Crisis, Israel: What Went Wrong?, and the forthcoming The Broken Promise: A Personal Political History of Israel and Palestine. The whole idea of creating a Jewish state (and it says so in the Proclamation of the State from May 1948) is that it would be a state for Jews—that it would be both Jewish and democratic. And that has proven to be not possible. A Jewish state can be both Jewish and democratic only if the overwhelming majority (if not all) of its citizens are Jews.Omer Bartov[Zionist zealots] believe that history is on their side—so in that sense, they are similar to Communists they're similar to Fascists they're similar to Nazis in that they believe that they can see the way forward, they know the logic of history, and the logic of history as they see it is on their side.Omer BartovIn Israel, since the 1980s (really since after the War of 1973, with the rise of the right wing in Israel in particular) the Holocaust has come to serve a particular purpose. Instead of being commemorated as an event that happened in the past that we should remember and commemorate and research, it's become a kind of image of an imminent danger to Israel. And the farther Israel has moved from the actual event of the Holocaust, and the more the Israeli army has become the military hegemon in its region, the more this alleged threat of an “Auschwitz around the corner” has been used by Israeli governments. Why has it been used? Because Israel actually needs to explain to itself and to its citizens: Why is it bossing it over millions of Palestinians? Half of the population under Israeli control are Palestinians. Two million are citizens, but they don't have equal rights, and the others have no rights at all (they're simply under arbitrary military rule). So how do you explain that? You explain that by telling your population and the rest of the world that those Palestinians—who have no power, who can never pose a threat to you—are an existential threat. And in Israel, that has worked quite well.Omer BartovBecause of the focus on Hebrew—to create Hebrew as a mother tongue for children whose mothers didn't speak Hebrew—because of that, there was a great antagonism towards speaking any other language. And the notion of having bilingual schools (that is, of having schools in Palestine where people would learn both Hebrew and Arabic, the language of the place) is not entertained by the vast majority of educators. Now, if you think about what would have been the result of having bilingual schools already in the 1920s and 30s, that children could speak each other's language and recognize each other's culture—that could have had a huge effect on how Zionism developed and how the state would have developed. But in today's Israel, the only bilingual population are the Palestinians. Palestinian citizens of Israel speak Arabic and Hebrew. Most Israelis don't speak Arabic. And most Israelis who trace themselves (quite large numbers) not to Europe, but to North Africa and the Middle East, where their parents and grandparents spoke Arabic (this was their language) have forgotten that language and were ashamed of their parents speaking it because it associated them with the Arabs. So the loss in this kind of creation of a nation around one language was the ability to imagine yourself as sharing the space with another group.Omer Bartov * Our top story concerns a progressive insurgent running in a must-win Senate race – and not the one you're thinking of. Late last week, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the endorsement of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Times notes that this is AOC's first Senate endorsement of this cycle, coming just about a month ahead of the August 4th Michigan primary. El-Sayed is quoted saying that he is “honored for what her support says about what this campaign is building and what we're fighting for,” adding that he thinks that “too many establishment Democrats are…afraid that I will win.” He pointedly attacked Senator Chuck Schumer, charging that the Minority Leader “doesn't want to see me on the inside of the U.S. Senate,” because El-Sayed would “call out the kind of politics where we take money from corporations and AIPAC to run milquetoast campaigns and don't say anything about the problems that everyday people are facing.” El-Sayed has announced that he will campaign with AOC and Senator Bernie Sanders in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids on July 18th and 19th, per MLive.* Another earthquake occurred in the Michigan Senate race on July 5th, when State Senator Mallory McMorrow announced that she would be withdrawing from the race – turning what was a competitive three-way race into a head-to-head between El-Sayed and the Democratic establishment pick, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The Detroit Free Press notes that this announcement “comes after absentee ballots have already been mailed out to some voters and too late to remove her name from the primary ballot,” though voters are able to rescind their absentee votes and submit new ones up through Friday, July 24th. In a video statement, McMorrow maintained that “People are crying out for change and we need to listen.” McMorrow once led her opponents in this race but saw her support collapse and was trailing in a distant third place in recent polls. Rumor also had it that outgoing Senator Gary Peters was privately calling for her to exit the race so centrists could consolidate around Stevens. While many of her supporters are expected to go to Stevens, El-Sayed is energetically courting McMorrow's voters as well. The Detroit News reports McMorrow herself has announced that she will remain neutral in the remaining days of the primary, leaving her voters to vote their own consciences.* In more Michigan news, DSA-backed congressional candidate Donavan McKinney is running strong in his primary campaign against incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar, whom McKinney has labeled “​​Detroit's own Elon Musk,” according to the New York Post. If McKinney pulls it off, he will join the growing group of DSA members in the House, along with Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and AOC from New York, Chris Rabb and Melat Kiros from Pennsylvania and Colorado respectively, and Rashida Tlaib from Michigan. Another candidate endorsed by his local DSA chapter, Kyle Blomquist, is running for Congress in Michigan but even if he wins his primary he is not expected to flip the deep red 1st congressional district.* In Missouri, Cori Bush has also won the support of DSA for her comeback congressional run against Wesley Bell, who defeated her in the 2024 primary, Andrew Solender reports. Bush had already won the support of her local DSA chapter, along with many other progressive organizations, and has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and former Congressman Jamaal Bowman. This week though, she won the support of the national DSA. In a statement, Bush wrote “I am honored to be once again endorsed by the Democratic [Socialists] of America as I campaign to return to Congress and keep building our movement to fight for economic justice, Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and a world where everyday people have a real voice in our workplace's neighborhoods and society.” Bush also praised DSA for its “decades of organizing…[mobilizing] thousands of people across the country to demand an economy that works for all of us…[and] take on war profiteers, the for-profit healthcare industry, and the billionaire funded lobbies that subvert our democracy.” There has been little polling of this race, but what there has been appears to show the race in a statistical dead heat. One sign that Bush is being taken seriously is the new $865,000 ad buy taken out by the United Democracy Project, an AIPAC cutout.* Ironically, it would seem that American Jews have a more favorable view of the progressive left than Israel. According to the Forward, a new AP poll found that “44% of American Jews hold a favorable opinion of Zohran Mamdani, compared with 39% who view him unfavorably.” This is in contrast to the 32% of respondents who said they have a favorable opinion of Netanyahu and 59% who said they have a negative view of the Israeli PM. Perhaps more surprisingly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a “staunch supporter of Israel,” garnered only a 41% favorability rating, though far more respondents said they don't know enough about him to have an opinion than said they have a negative view.* Turning back to the Senate, the other major story this week of course is the fall of Graham Platner. Accusations of sexual assault, detailed in a POLITICO article, resulted in a deluge of opprobrium that cascaded upwards culminating in Platner's earliest and highest profile supporter, Senator Bernie Sanders, calling on him to drop out of the Senate race in Maine. In a video message released Wednesday, Platner stated that he would be suspending his campaign effective immediately, later telling staff that he plans to wait until Monday, the final possible day, to formally withdraw from the race, Axios reports. In the same video, Platner categorically denied the accusations calling them “all false,” and maintaining that the “things that have been claimed did not happen.” He implied that the scandal was orchestrated by “those in power“ who would “rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next Senator from Maine.”* Platner's impending, late-stage withdrawal from the race has set off a chaotic blitz primary to replace him as the Democratic nominee. Numerous candidates have announced they are running including former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson, former Director of Maine's Center for Disease, Control and Prevention Nirav Shah, co-founder of Maine beer company Dan Kleban, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and state lawmaker Valli Geiger, along with Jordan Wood and Paige Loud, both of whom ran in the Maine second congressional district Democratic primary. The actual process for selecting a nominee has been the subject of debate – with many progressives arguing for caucuses – but POLITICO reports that by July 27th, “600 delegates must be selected,” including 500 from the state's 16 county parties, and these delegates will decide on a candidate to replace Platner via “an unprecedented nominating convention,” wherein all delegates come in unpledged to any candidate setting the stage for “what could be a raucous and unpredictable free-for-all.” It remains to be seen how this will all shake out, but it is notable that almost all of these candidates poll very strongly against Senator Susan Collins, with many polling higher than Platner ever did, while the Democratic Party's handpicked primary candidate, sitting Governor Janet Mills, still polls lower than Platner even since the scandal broke.* For our final Senate story, we turn to the senior Senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell. McConnell was recently found unconscious in his Washington, DC home and has been hospitalized since, and while Republican Senators and media figures like Scott Jennings claim to have spoken with him directly, his being sequestered away from the public has fueled rampant speculation about the severity of his condition and why it is being kept so secretive. Forbes reports that some figures on the right, including Steve Bannon, are “suggesting the Republican establishment is shielding the state of McConnell's health from the public to allow him to remain in office long enough to avoid [Kentucky Congressman Thomas] Massie running for his seat.” Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene told TMZ, “Thomas Massie would make a great senator.” The Hill reports that Andy Beshear, the Democratic Governor of Kentucky, sent a letter to McConnell's Senate office strongly requesting an update on the Senator's health, noting that “Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell,” and that “Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source.”* In more positive news, AP reports former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who helped an immigrant escape ICE by ushering him through her jury room door was spared prison time in her sentencing this week. After the incident in her court room, Dugan was convicted of felony obstruction in what was widely seen as a political trial designed to exact retribution on behalf of the Trump administration. Dugan resigned her circuit judgeship under this assault; in her resignation letter, she warned that this prosecution threatened “the independence of our judiciary.” Dugan was fined $5,000.* Finally, in spiritual news, a story in the National Catholic Reporter recounts how Pope Leo XIV excommunicated thousands of clergy and followers of the far right, schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X. While bishops and priests are judged prima facie schismatic for their consecration in the Society, lay followers of the sect will be judged schismatic if they consciously choose “adherence to the society over obedience to the pope,” and “exclusive participation in Lefebvrian ‘ecclesial' acts, without taking part in the acts of the Catholic Church,” a reference to the group's founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The proximate cause of this excommunication was the Society creating four new bishops in open defiance of Pope Leo, essentially daring the Church to act. This piece notes that the Society “has long been a thorn in the side of Rome,” and notes that the new papal decree rolls back privileges granted to the sect under Pope Francis, including administering the sacrament of penance and solemnizing marriages.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

WarRoom Battleground EP 1045: When Pope Francis Shook Hands And Welcomed INVADER Who Then Murdered Priest And Burnt Down Cathedral

Listen to current week's news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 to 15 minutes. India pushes divorce reform, Indonesia faces a rights backlash, a Pakistani blasphemy acquittal, South Korea's ex-president remains jailed, Sri Lankans seek shrine access, plus border tensions in Cambodia and Taiwan. All these stories and more. Tune in for the latest developments from Asia. Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, presented by Joe Mathews, Cover photo by AFP, background score by Andre Louis, edited and produced by Binu Alex for Union of Catholic Asian News. For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

We are called to bring Christ's love and peace to all whom we meet in every situation. The Pallottine Fathers and brothers dedicate themselves, under the inspiration of St. Vincent Pallotti, to work for greater peace and charity in our world. This blogcast explores “Instruments of Peace and Love" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. and read by Jonathan Harrison.Homily for July 10, 2024“Grant us to be instruments of peace and love, reflecting the love of Christ in every situation” The theme for our reflection and prayer today is, once again, taken from the Prayer in Preparation for the UAC General Congress. It is a very sincere prayer from our hearts: “Grant us to be instruments of peace and love, reflecting the love of Christ in every situation.” Every Pallottine is called to be an instrument of peace and love, by reflecting the love of Christ in every possible situation.This prayer reminds of the famous prayer of the great Saint Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” It is a timeless expression of humility, love, and service to others. The prayer captures St. Francis's commitment to peace, love and compassion, emphasizing virtues like forgiveness, understanding, and selflessness. It is also a reminder for all the members of the Union that they have to be genuinely involved in the affairs of the world. They have to be instruments of peace and love, fraternal communion and solidarity, through the exercise of forgiveness and compassion. They have to be healers and protectors of the widows and orphans. But all these things are to be done not on their own merit; they have to only reflect the love of Christ in every situation.The first reading from the book of Hosea reminds us that we can cease to be instruments of peace and love. Israel became like a luxuriant vine producing a lot of fruit. “The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred pillars. Theirs is a divided heart; now they will have to pay for it. He himself will hack down their altars and wreck their sacred pillars.” (Hosea 10:1-2) God destroyed the arrogance and the symbols of immortality.“Sow saving justice for yourselves, reap a harvest of faithful love; break up your fallow ground: it is time to seek out Yahweh until he comes to rain saving justice down on you.” (Hosea 10:12) Hence the invitation is to reap a harvest of love. In the Gospel passage of today, we see Jesus empowering the twelve disciples to reap the harvest of love, and proclaim the Kingdom of justice and love. “He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.” (Matthew 10: 1-7) Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, the source of division and conflicts. The Kingdom of God will be marked by the values of communion, justice and peace. In this context the words of Saint Pope VI in Populorum Progressio (n.76) are very appropriate:“When we fight poverty and oppose the unfair conditions of the present, we are not just promoting human well-being; we are also furthering man's spiritual and moral development, and hence we are benefiting the whole human race. For peace is not simply the absence of warfare, based on a precarious balance of power; it is fashioned by efforts directed day after day toward the establishment of the ordered universe willed by God, with a more perfect form of justice among men.”Speaking of the mission of the Union of Catholic Apostolate in cooperation with all people of good will, living images of charity itself, n.16 of the General Statute identifies a number of areas for our engagement with the world, such as: protecting the values of human life and the family, working for the promotion of justice, solidarity, peace and protection of creation, encouraging inter-religious dialogue, and caring for the poor and needy. We have innumerable examples of our commitment to the needs of the people of God in our Pallottine Family. What we do for the poor and needy will be most meritorious before God. Without genuine commitment to acts of fraternal charity, the Union will always remain just a concept without flesh and blood. I conclude with these words of hope expressed by Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti: “I invite everyone to renewed hope, for hope 'speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances and historical conditioning. Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love… Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal convenience, the petty securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile.' Let us continue, then, to advance along the paths of hope.” (n.55) Amen. Author:Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. is the UAC President Resources:Listen to On Mission: Pallottine Fathers and BrothersRead and learn about Fratelli TuttiRead the Ad Infinitum blogLearn about St. Vincent Pallotti Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Unlocked after 1 year for patrons only: We follow the tribulations of the Papacy through the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, as the Pope's loyal soldiers in the Jesuit order are expelled from Catholic states and empires, the Church comes under attack in the French Reovlution, and Napoleon takes the Pope prisoner. We then follow the Papacy's gradual recovery of prestige -- through the reactionary rigorism of Pius IX and the 1st Vatican Council; the creation of Catholic social teaching and the intervention of the Church in the class struggle between capital and labor under Leo XIII; and the dramatic reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. We consider the controversies and scandals of the modern church relating to fascism, the Nazi Holocaust, the Vatican Bank, and the suppression of Liberation Theology, and finally, examine the recent shakeup of the Vatican under Pope Francis, the momentous implications of the Synod on Synodality, and the clues presaging a new political assertiveness of the Church under the first American pope, Leo XIV. Please support this podcast to hear all patron-only lectures when they are posted: https://www.patreon.com/c/u5530632 Image: Print showing Pope Pius IX presiding over the First Vatican Council in St. Peter's Basilica, 1869.

Send us a voice noteIn this engaging interview, Bill McKibben shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. Discover practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. McKibben's writing has appeared in countless publications like The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and he has written many books over the last few decades. In this perspective-broadening interview, Bill shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. This conversation covers practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. In particular, he claims that now more than ever we need creative thinking about implementing renewable energy strategies. And faith communities, he says, do have a special role to play. This episode, cocreated by Circlewood and our partner organization A Rocha USA, is cohosted by James Amadon, executive director of Circlewood, and by Deb Rienstra, a writer, speaker, and professor who serves on A Rocha USA's advisory board. Links Bill McKibben's website Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben A Rocha USA Deb Rienstra's website Earthkeepers Episode 85: Becoming Hope: Debra Rienstra on Her Book Refugia Faith The Vatican's solar project Third Act: Harnessing generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy. 350.org: Fighting climate change for people and planet A Rocha USA: Ways to get involved TEND: Cultivating faith-based, creation-focused community Advocating for plug-in solar   Key  Topics The economic shift towards renewable energy The spiritual and cultural role in environmental change Practical steps for individuals and communities Older generations and their special capacities Churches who choose to pursue renewables as acts of love  Keywords climate change, renewable energy, faith communities, cultural change, environmental activism, solar power, policy, spirituality, sustainability, environmental justice; Laudato Si, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, plug-in solar, agrovoltaics, solar farms and ecological diversity, wind turbines as ocean reefs, Think Global Do Justice Podcast  Find us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple 

“Can you explain the Assumption?” This question opens a discussion on the Marian dogmas, addressing common struggles with understanding them. The episode also touches on discerning the differences between Orthodox and Catholic beliefs regarding Peter’s role, as well as the Catholic teaching on the death penalty and its evolution under Pope Francis. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 05:25 – I have been looking into the Catholic Faith for a while. I have struggled with the Marian dogmas, especially the Assumption. 17:34 – How do you discern whether or not the Orthodox or Catholics are correct, specifically whether or not Peter is first among equals or infallible? 29:55 – Why is it that Catholics say you can't spread ashes, but when it comes to saints you divide up their body parts? 35:37 – Can you explain the Catholic teaching on the death penalty? Did it change with Pope Francis? 41:35 – I am sympathetic to Catholic traditions and have tried to go through OCIA. But my husband has decided that our family is not going to be Catholic. I want to be a respectful spouse. 50:58 – I'm trying to love my wife back into the faith. She was raised Catholic but stopped practicing. She goes to a Protestant church where the sermons are peppered with anti-Catholic remarks. I think this creates a major barrier for a lot of people to become Catholic.

Sources:https://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Full Text of Readings Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 379 The Saint of the day is Saint Junipero Serra Saint Junipero Serra's Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the seventh of nine missions established under the direction of this indomitable Spaniard. Born on Spain's island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan Order taking the name of Saint Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. Junipero's desire was to convert native peoples in the New World. Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero's left leg became infected by an insect bite and would remain a cross—sometimes life-threatening—for the rest of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there. Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadors—one military, one spiritual—began their quest. José de Galvez persuaded Junipero Serra to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the 900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero Serra and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph's day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived. Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra's death. Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero Serra sought: the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans. Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some moderns. Junipero Serra's missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was beatified in 1988. Pope Francis canonized him in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2015. Reflection The word that best describes Junipero Serra is zeal. It was a spirit that came from his deep prayer and dauntless will. “Always forward, never back” was his motto. His work bore fruit for 50 years after his death as the rest of the missions were founded in a kind of Christian communal living by the Indians. When both Mexican and American greed caused the secularization of the missions, the Chumash people went back to what they had been—God again writing straight with crooked lines.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of Readings Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 97 The Saint of the day is Saint Irenaeus Saint Irenaeus' Story The Church is fortunate that Saint Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, well trained no doubt, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a desire to win over his opponents than to prove them in error. As bishop of Lyons he was especially concerned with the Gnostics, who took their name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Claiming access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples, their teaching was attracting and confusing many Christians. After thoroughly investigating the various Gnostic sects and their “secret,” Saint Irenaeus showed to what logical conclusions their tenets led. These he contrasted with the teaching of the apostles and the text of Holy Scripture, giving us, in five books, a system of theology of great importance to subsequent times. Moreover, his work, widely used and translated into Latin and Armenian, gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics. The circumstances and details about his death, like those of his birth and early life in Asia Minor, are not at all clear. However in 2022, Pope Francis named Saint Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church. Reflection A deep and genuine concern for other people will remind us that the discovery of truth is not to be a victory for some and a defeat for others. Unless all can claim a share in that victory, truth itself will continue to be rejected by the losers, because it will be regarded as inseparable from the yoke of defeat. And so, confrontation, controversy and the like might yield to a genuine united search for God's truth and how it can best be served.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Even as Donald Trump's approval ratings continue to plummet across the country, voters in the deep-red state of Wyoming, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than six to one, remain solidly in support of the president. So it took real courage for Bishop Steven Biegler—appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 to lead the Diocese of Cheyenne, encompassing all of Wyoming—to promulgate a pastoral letter on migration just a few months ago.  Bishop Biegler is keen to point out that Be a Merciful Neighbor is not a political document.  Instead it asks Catholics to evaluate policies of mass deportation in light of the values of the Gospel—especially Christ's unequivocal call to welcome the stranger. On this episode, Bishop Biegler speaks about the letter, and its surprising reception by Wyoming Catholics, with Commonweal Senior Correspondent Heidi Schlumpf.  Before their interview, Schlumpf also updates listeners on recent news affecting American Catholics. For further reading:  Heidi Schlumpf on the Church's continued fight on behalf of migrants Pablo Christian Soenen on moral ambiguity in the borderlands Paul Moses on the evils of immigration enforcement under Tom Homan

As you probably heard, Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical letter in May. Titled Magnifica humanitas, the document is a 42,000-word reflection on what it means to be human in our technology-obsessed age of generative artificial intelligence. The Pope officially released the document during a press conference at the Vatican, which the Holy Father himself attended — an unusual move for pontiffs. Sitting at one end of the dais was Christopher Olah, one of the founders of Anthropic, one of the largest AI companies in the world. His presence made a lot of headlines, too. Right next to Olah was a theologian named Anna Rowlands, and she's our guest today. Professor Rowlands is the St Hilda Professor of Catholic Social Thought & Practice at Durham University in the United Kingdom. At the press conference, she delivered a stirring 10-minute address on how the encyclical offers the church and the world valuable insights into protecting human dignity and the common good in these uncertain times. Professor Rowlands is no stranger to the Vatican. In fact, she was involved in one of these press conference panels for the release of Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli tutti, and she has been involved in leading the Synod on Synodality process since 2023. Host Mike Jordan Laskey asked her about the press conference itself and how she decided on what she wanted to say in her address. They also talked about how the encyclical has been received and the material in the letter she finds most compelling. Mike also asked her to respond to one of his favorite critiques of the encyclical and of what generative AI is doing to our brains and souls. It was a wide-ranging conversation and we're sure you'll see why we think Professor Rowlands is one of the deepest and most brilliant thinkers you could ever hope to meet. Professor Anna Rowlands: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/anna-rowlands/ Her full speech at the encyclical launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqapjl7m7V8 The encyclical critique discussed: https://hedgehogreview.com/web-features/thr/posts/should-the-lion-lie-down-with-the-electric-lamb AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Access Collaboration in Ministry resources On Mission: Collaboration and Co-Responsibility More episodes about Living as Missionary Disciples From the Ad Infinitum blog: Laborers in the Vineyard Collaboration and Co-Responsibility More blogs about Collaboration Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

“If you think this is a bad deal, what is your alternative?” Critics of JD Vance think that his key role in the Iran negotiations may end up being an albatross around his neck. (“If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD,” President Trump said in France this week.) But in our conversation, the vice president seemed buoyant and eager to play the salesman, insisting that the deal is better than the pact President Barack Obama sealed in 2015. I asked him about his initial opposition to the war, his conflict with the pope and whether his political future is riding on the success of the Iran agreement. We also discussed Vance's new book, “Communion,” about the vice president's return to faith, and whether or not the Trump administration's policies embody Christian values. 0:00 - Intro 01:06 - The implications of the US - Iran Peace deal 07:04 - Will Iran's internal politics transform? 17:30 - The US - Israel Relationship 22:19 - Vance's Protestant Christian upbringing 28:22 - From non-believer to rediscovering faith 35:18 - Christianity in Vance's life and in the Trump administration 47:07 - Tensions with Pope Francis 54:10 - The future of the Iran deal and a message to Republican critics (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Preaching for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nicolete Burbach offers a reflection on a God who sees and cares for us - even when society or the Church doesn't: "Even when others do not see you in the Gospel's consolations—even when you can't see yourself—God still sees you. God still cares."Nicolete Burbach is a theologian whose work aims to help the Catholic Church to navigate its difficult encounter with transness. Her edited collection with Lisa Sowle Cahill, Trans Life and the Catholic Church Today, was published by Bloomsbury in 2024. Nicolete earned a BA (hons) in Philosophy and Theology, an MA in Catholic Studies, and completed a PhD on Pope Francis' hermeneutics of uncertainty, all at Durham University. She now lives in London with her wife. In her spare time she plays guitar in multiple bands.Visit https://futurechurch.org/preaching/06212026 to learn more about Nicolete, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

We're only a quarter of the way through 2023, and already we've seen a number of unexpected images go viral. Examples include Pope Francis wearing a white Balenciaga puffer jacket, Donald Trump being arrested at the foot of the Trump Tower in New York, and Barack Obama and Angela Merkel sharing an ice cream on the beach.  So what do these viral images all have in common? Well of course they weren't real! They were all generated by AI apps, which as you may know are now able to create images based on text prompts in a matter of seconds. So how can I tell fake from real then? What about clues in the images themselves? What about clues in the images themselves? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠Why is sugar bad for our memory?⁠ ⁠Does the law of attraction really work?⁠ ⁠How can I stay trendy buying only second hand clothes?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 17/04/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Access Collaboration in Ministry resources On Mission: Collaboration and Co-Responsibility More episodes about Living as Missionary Disciples From the Ad Infinitum blog: Laborers in the Vineyard Collaboration and Co-Responsibility More blogs about Collaboration Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

A US federal court just ruled the IRS acted in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner on solar and wind safe harbor rules, shaking up project timelines for developers racing toward the July 4, 2026 deadline. Meanwhile, at the Shanghai Solar Show (SNEC), energy storage claimed more floor space than solar panels for the first time, signaling a major shift in where the industry is placing its bets. Tim and John dig into safe harbor court rulings, vertical integration in US module manufacturing, battery technology milestones, and agrivoltaics at the Vatican. Viewers get first-hand reporting from the Shanghai Solar Show floor alongside detailed discussion of what these stories mean for developers, installers, and investors. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSIRS Safe Harbor Court Ruling (PV Magazine): A US federal court in DC ruled the IRS acted arbitrarily in requiring wind and solar projects above 1.5 MW AC to meet a continuous physical work test to qualify for safe harbor. The ruling opens a potential 5% spend pathway for developers who could not meet construction requirements. Shanghai Solar Show 2026(BSKY): John Weaver returned from his first visit to the Shanghai solar show and reported that battery storage occupied more floor space than solar panels. Module efficiencies of 25% were common across exhibitors, and one solar module clocked in at 27%. BYD's 2,710 Amp-Hour Battery Cell: BYD showcased a single battery cell rated at 2,710 amp-hours, roughly double the largest cell previously available. BYD's press materials claimed a levelized cost of storage of 1.4 cents per kilowatt-hour over 10,000 cycles, compared to the 3 to 4 cent range seen elsewhere. Q Cells Full Vertical Integration in Georgia: Q Cells announced a 3-gigawatt fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Georgia, covering polysilicon through module assembly. The announcement means US-made solar modules are now available from a single domestic supply chain. Australia's First 8-Hour Battery, New South Wales (PV Magazine): Australia's first 8-hour battery storage system reached full operations in New South Wales, using Tesla Megapack units configured to charge at 100 MW and discharge at 50 MW. C&I Battery Storage Playbook for 2026: Tim published a story in Solar Builder on the Earn, Save, Protect framework from Intelligent Generation, a three-part guide to battery value stacking for commercial and industrial installers. (Solar Builder) Vatican Agrivoltaic Project: Pope Leo XIV established the Fratello Sole Foundation to implement an agrivoltaic installation at the Vatican, aligned with Pope Francis's 2024 sustainability directive. The project will supply power to Vatican Radio's transmission center and Vatican City State. (Vatican News)This episode is built for solar developers, commercial installers, battery storage professionals, and clean energy investors tracking policy and technology in 2026. The safe harbor ruling alone could affect capital decisions on projects above 1.5 MW AC before the July 3 deadline. Between the Shanghai show floor, the QCells factory update, and Australia's 8-hour battery milestone, this episode covers the week's most consequential moves in clean energy.  Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.comCorporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

When Rachel Goldberg-Polin's son, Hersh, was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, she became a prominent spokesperson for the families of Israeli hostages. Throughout Hersh's captivity, and then after his murder, Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Chicago and emigrated to Israel in 2008, argued that Israel's priority should be to bring the hostages home, and that the killing of all innocents, Israeli and Palestinian, must stop. She advocated with Israeli politicians, Pope Francis, and other leaders, and she addressed the Democratic National Convention in 2024. She recently spoke with David Remnick about her new book, “When We See You Again,” and how she has continued her work as a public figure despite unending grief. “People are desperate for us to be angry . . . to feel things that I think that they assume they would feel if they were in the position that we are in. But the truth is, I'm open to feeling anything,” she reflects. “I put Hersh in the ground on September 2, 2024. After that, I'm in a completely different universe.” Further reading: “Gaza's Broken Politics,” by Mohammed R. Mhawish“The End of Israel's Hostage Ordeal,” by Ruth Margalit“Why Hamas Agreed to Release the Hostages,” by Isaac Chotiner“Hope and Grief in Israel After the Gaza Ceasefire Deal,” by Ruth MargalitThe Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When Rachel Goldberg-Polin's son, Hersh, was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, she became a prominent spokesperson for the families of Israeli hostages. Throughout Hersh's captivity, and then after his murder, Goldberg-Polin, who was born in Chicago and emigrated to Israel in 2008, argued that Israel's priority should be to bring the hostages home, and that the killing of all innocents, Israeli and Palestinian, must stop. She advocated with Israeli politicians, Pope Francis, and other leaders, and she addressed the Democratic National Convention in 2024. She recently spoke with David Remnick about her new book, “When We See You Again,” and how she has continued her work as a public figure despite unending grief. “People are desperate for us to be angry . . . to feel things that I think that they assume they would feel if they were in the position that we are in. But the truth is, I'm open to feeling anything,” she reflects. “I put Hersh in the ground on September 2, 2024. After that, I'm in a completely different universe.”  Further reading:  “Gaza's Broken Politics,” by Mohammed R. Mhawish “The End of Israel's Hostage Ordeal,” by Ruth Margalit “Why Hamas Agreed to Release the Hostages,” by Isaac Chotiner “Hope and Grief in Israel After the Gaza Ceasefire Deal,” by Ruth Margalit   New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The greatest threat facing Christians is not war. It is not political upheaval. It is not even the collapse of Western civilization. The greatest threat, John-Henry Westen warns, is the Great Apostasy, the loss of faith spreading from within the Church herself.Drawing on the warnings of Pope St. John Paul II, Padre Pio, the seers of Fatima, and a host of saints and mystics, Westen argues that modern Catholics are living through a fulfillment of prophecy. Not the kind of prophecy that predicts earthquakes and wars—those have always been with us. The prophecy that should terrify every believer is the one that foretells shepherds becoming wolves, doctrine dissolving into ambiguity, and the faithful being told that sin is not sin and truth is not truth.Westen does not mince words: Pope Francis and Pope Leo have departed from historical Catholic teaching. The synodal path, the blessing of same-sex couples, the downgrading of abortion as a priority, the attack on the Latin Mass, all of it points to a Church that has turned against itself.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now here's a little wrinkle to the new Steven Spielberg ‘Disclosure Day' movie that almost no one is talking about. Spielberg says the movie narrative takes the position of the Roman Catholic Church to prepare people to welcome UFOs and aliens into our global society. Remember that Vatican announcement some years back when Pope Francis said when aliens arrive, the Catholic Church will baptize them? Well, hello there! Steven Spielberg and the Vatican in an end times bed together, who knew? Now you know. You won't hear this on any other Podcast, so buckle up.“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJB)On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, back in 2014, Pope Francis stunningly said Rome would be open to baptizing Martians when they showed up. Now Steven Spielberg is rolling out a UFO disclosure film with a Roman Catholic nun character and theological questions about God, creation, and intelligent life beyond earth based on Roman Catholic doctrine and teachings. Hollywood and the Vatican are not accidentally walking down the same road — they are rehearsing the same end-times script. Amos asks “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” They cannot. This Friday, Steven Spielberg gives the world the gospel of the coming Antichrist as Rome gets ready to sprinkle the aliens upon their arrive. And this lost world, already primed by decades of UFO and extreterrestrial conditioning, will call it revelation while the Bible openly calls it deception, and warns us not to fall for it. Christian, you have no idea how deep this rabbit hole goes, but today, you're going to find out!

Bad Bunny has spent the past week at the center of global headlines for a viral private meeting with Pope Leo in Madrid, the runaway success of his new album DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos, and fresh hints that another project, reportedly titled Made in Puerto Rico, is already on the way. According to ABC News, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo met privately with Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and his family on Monday at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid during the pontiff's historic visit to Spain. The meeting took place away from cameras, and, as ABC notes, no official photos have been released, which has only fueled speculation and fan theories about what exactly they discussed. YouTube coverage of the encounter shows anchors calling it one of the most unexpected pop culture–faith crossovers of the year, while clips of the Pope and Bad Bunny's overlapping events in Madrid have dominated social feeds. NBC News' TikTok and other outlets highlight the surreal scene in the city: hundreds of thousands attending a youth vigil with Pope Leo while, across town, Bad Bunny plays to tens of thousands on his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour. A viral YouTube short captures Pope Leo joking that many young people might choose Bad Bunny's concert over his own appearance, acknowledging the artist as direct “competition” for Spain's attention this week. That line has been replayed endlessly on Instagram Reels and TikTok, turning into a meme about “choosing between church and perreo.” On the music side, fan groups on Facebook report that DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos has hit number one on US iTunes and Apple Music for a second straight day and climbed to number one on European Apple Music as well, while sitting top-three on global charts. Social media fan tournaments are already ranking tracks against older hits like Where She Goes, with listeners debating whether this is his most personal album since Un Verano Sin Ti. Chart-tracking sites such as Kworb show his catalog flooding Spotify's Top Songs list again as tour hype pushes streaming numbers higher. YouTube commentary videos are dissecting the album's visuals and lyrics, focusing on how Bad Bunny continues to center Puerto Rican identity and migrant stories, with one popular reactor pointing out how he highlights the contributions of Puerto Rican communities in cities like New York. That theme is echoing into politics too: a viral Instagram clip shows New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani rapping along to Bad Bunny's NUEVAYoL and Callaíta at an event, tying the artist's music to conversations about Washington Heights, the Knicks, and local Latino culture. At the same time, Instagram accounts focused on Latin music news are pushing a new headline: “Bad Bunny nears completion of Made in Puerto Rico.” These posts claim, citing unnamed insiders, that he has been finishing another studio album even while touring Europe. Fans are treating DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos as the start of a two-phase era, speculating that Made in Puerto Rico could lean even more into local sounds and collaborations with emerging Boricua artists. There's also buzz about his next move in film and branding. A TikTok reel shows a mock “casting call” for Bad Bunny, with on-screen text about summer blockbusters and “Disclosure Day,” joking that his recent wipe of older content from social media could be a prelude to a new movie role or major announcement. Comment sections are split between listeners convinced he's about to reveal a sci‑fi film project and others who think it's just part of a larger album rollout strategy. Meanwhile, he remains physically anchored in Spain. ABC News notes that his Madrid residency at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium runs through June 25 before he continues across Europe and the U.K., wrapping in Belgium next month. Local outlets describe Madrid as a “cultural fault line” this week, with Pope Leo and Bad Bunny effectively sharing the same city stage: one leading stadium vigils, the other turning tour stops into massive reggaeton pilgrimages. Through all of this, Bad Bunny's broader cultural footprint keeps expanding. From the Vatican's official acknowledgment of his influence, to political candidates using his tracks as campaign soundtrack, to fans holding chart battles on Facebook and reaction marathons on YouTube, the last seven days have reinforced him as both a hitmaker and a global symbol of Latin youth culture. Thank you for tuning in, and come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me check out Quiet Please dot A I. Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

Many of us feel the tension between wanting to use technology well and wondering if it's quietly shaping us in ways we didn't choose. This episode digs into that tension, from Pope Francis's vision for Christian humanism in the age of AI to the surprisingly spiritual discipline of embracing boredom, and why both matter for families trying to follow Jesus in a noisy world. If you've ever caught yourself doom‑scrolling, multitasking your quiet time, or avoiding stillness, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vF2iH3 

It's Monday and Lauretta has as her guest, Johnny Bertucci as they discuss the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement. Johnny Bertucci is the Chairman of the Board of Ark & Dove which is a global center for the information, promotion and missions in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Johnny chats briefly about his background in the faith and how he came to be involved with Ark & the Dove and all he is doing.  They discuss the Charismatic Renewal and their mission. They draw attention to Charis, the initiative of Pope Francis to unite the “family” focused on the Holy Spirit and the Renewal.  Then Lauretta discusses the letter writing campaign regarding the Holy Spirit, to get letters to Pope Leo XIV as Saint Elena Guerra did so many years ago to then Pope Leo XIII.  They relate the story of Johhny actually making contact with Pope Leo XIV and delivering the letters and Pixies to one of his Cardinals in Rome, it was a truly exciting moment.  They chat about others devoted in the cause as well as events both historical and current on the importance of Pentecost.  Lauretta and Johnny encourage everyone to get fired up with the Holy Spirit.  For greater information on The Ark and the Dove please visit their website.  If you're interested in donating to the cause or to help maintain the property of The Ark & the Dove please call 708-209-1199.  St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish  www.thearkandthedoveworldwide.org/daysofglory.org https://chicagorenewal.org/  

Dapat bang ipagdiwang ng mga Catholic Schools sa Pilipinas ang Pride Month?Sa video na ito, direkta akong makiki-usap sa mga Catholic school administrators, guro, at estudyante tungkol sa isang napaka-seryosong isyu: ang ilang Catholic schools sa ating bansa ay aktibong nagse-celebrate ng Pride Month.Bilang isang Catholic, hindi ko ito maaaring hayaang lumipas nang walang sinasabi.Pag-usapan natin ang:Bakit ang pagdiriwang ng Pride Month sa loob ng isang Catholic institution ay hindi lang contradiction, ito ay isang pagtataksil sa misyon ng paaralan?Ito ay hindi hateful. Ito ay katotohanan na sinasabi ng may pagmamahal, nakasandal sa Natural Law at Katolikong Katuruan.Hindi tayo pwedeng manahimik. Hindi ito ang oras para maging tahimik.Panoorin. Mag-isip. Tumayo para sa Katotohanan.Kung gusto mo ring marinig ang mas malalim na pagsusuri tungkol sa pananampalatayang Katoliko sa modernong panahon, mag-subscribe at i-click ang notification bell para hindi ka mahuli sa bagong videos.#CatholicPhilippines #PrideMonth #CatholicSchool #Apologetics #FilipinoKatoliko #LGBT #Faith #NaturalLaw #CatholicTeaching #Pilipinas00:00 - Intro01:36 - Navigating gender confusion, social transition, and preferred pronouns02:38 - Pope Francis on welcoming individuals and the danger of gender ideology03:09 - The importance of remaining charitable in internet discussionsSubscribe to our Youtube channel:http://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTheSentinelPH?sub_confirmation=1

In this thought-provoking episode of UFO Warning, we explore the controversial debate over whether UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial beings are actually demonic entities. We examine the recent removal of Catholic exorcist Monsignor Stephen Rossetti after his public claims linking UFO phenomena to demons, and revisit comments by Pope Francis suggesting he would baptize extraterrestrials if they existed. The discussion also covers statements from Vice President JD Vance, religious scholars, exorcists, and UFO researchers on the intersection of faith, UFO disclosure, demons, aliens, and the possibility of a coming "Great Deception." Join us as we investigate the connections between religion, government UFO disclosures, spiritual warfare, extraterrestrial life, Catholic doctrine, Project Blue Beam theories, and the growing debate over the true nature of non-human intelligence.

Bad Bunny has spent this past week at the center of one of the strangest and most-watched cultural crossovers of the year: his Madrid tour stop overlapping with Pope Leo XIV's high‑profile visit to Spain, and the whole world asking whether the two will actually meet. CBS News reports that Pope Leo XIV landed in Spain for a weeklong trip just as Bad Bunny's world tour brought him to Madrid, with both schedules overlapping for a couple of days in the capital. Spanish church officials have openly said that a meeting between the pontiff and the Puerto Rican superstar is “possible,” stressing that logistics are the main hurdle because both are booked solid with appearances, masses, and concerts. CBS' Chris Livesay adds that one option being floated is some kind of video link or live cross between the Pope's events and one of Bad Bunny's shows, though at this point they admit that's still conjecture rather than a confirmed plan. NBC News, through its video coverage of the Madrid visit, highlights how unusual this scenario is: the head of the Catholic Church and one of global pop's most provocative figures drawing overlapping crowds in the same city. The network notes that Spanish Catholic officials have quietly welcomed the idea, seeing Bad Bunny as a bridge to younger generations who do not normally engage with church life, while emphasizing that nothing is locked in yet. Forbes' political and religion coverage picked up the story after Pope Leo XIV was asked about the overlap. In that clip, the Pope acknowledges Bad Bunny's influence on youth culture and says he is “open” to encounters with artists if the timing and circumstances allow, framing it as part of a broader mission to listen to and understand young people rather than to judge them from afar. Social media accounts that track papal remarks have circulated that moment widely, spawning memes imagining the Pope in a Popemobile rolling through a Bad Bunny stadium show. On social platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram, fan accounts and tour update pages have been amplifying every rumor. Clips from Bad Bunny's Madrid rehearsals and fan-captured videos outside the venue show signs and chants urging him to “meet the Pope.” Some Spanish fans outside the stadium have been joking that Madrid is “the crossover episode we didn't know we needed,” while others argue that a meeting would be a powerful image for Latino culture and for LGBTQ+ fans who have rallied around Bad Bunny's gender‑bending performances in the past. Music blogs and Latin pop news pages this week have mostly focused on how such a meeting, if it happens, could signal Bad Bunny's next phase. Commentators note that after several years of dominating charts and pushing boundaries with explicit lyrics and visuals, stepping into a public, respectful conversation with the Pope could mark a turn toward broader cultural statesmanship, without necessarily changing his politics or aesthetic. At the same time, some fans in comment sections are wary, wondering if proximity to church hierarchy might dilute his rebellious aura; others counter that Bad Bunny has always mixed contradictions, from wrestling appearances to haute couture fashion, and that this would just be the latest example. Industry watchers on social media have also speculated that even a short greeting between the two could become one of the defining viral images of the year, potentially influencing how future tours in heavily Catholic regions frame their outreach, charity tie‑ins, or messaging around social issues. For now, though, the only solid fact is that both men are in Spain, both in Madrid for part of the week, and Vatican and Spanish church officials keep saying a meeting “could” happen without confirming when or how. As of the latest TV hits from CBS News and NBC News, and the papal reaction clip carried by Forbes' video team, the story remains in active “will they or won't they” territory, with fans tracking every move on social media and hoping for a surprise moment either onstage or behind closed doors that later surfaces in photos. Thanks for tuning in, and come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me check out QuietPlease dot A I. Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O'Connell discuss EWTN News President and COO Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican's dicastery for communications. They unpack some of the challenges currently facing the dicastery and analyze the appointment in light of the Vatican's previously strained relationship with EWTN. In the second half of the show, Gerry gives a preview of Pope Leo's trip to Spain next week. 0:00 Intro 0:48 The dicastery for communications' challenges 3:32 Montse Alvarado's appointment and experience 6:38 First lay woman to head a Vatican dicastery 11:08 Significance of an American as head of communications 13:49 Alvarado steered EWTN away from conflict with Francis 17:19 Pope Leo's vision for communications 21:38 Pope Leo to address Spanish parliament in Madrid 24:29 Pope Leo's visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona 26:20 Pope Leo to highlight migration in Canary Islands 28:04 Other possible events for pope's Spain trip 31:34 Outro and credits Links: Pope Leo appoints president of EWTN News as head of Vatican communications Pope Francis responds to attacks from EWTN, other church critics: ‘They are the work of the devil.' Explainer: The story behind Pope Francis' beef with EWTN Pope Leo's trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape Bad Bunny wants to meet Pope Leo XIV. In Madrid, a crossover event is in the works. Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Sedaris talks about his latest essay collection The Land and Its People. He reveals the news he'd kept from his family, that he secretly married his long-time boyfriend Hugh in 2016, and he reflects on his Duolingo obsession, his visit with Pope Francis, the aging process, and more.

Send us a voice noteOur guest is well-known author, journalist and environmentalist, Bill McKibben. His writing has appeared in countless publications like The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and he has written many books over the last few decades. In this engaging interview, Bill shares insights on climate change, renewable energy, and the role of faith communities in fostering cultural and technological change. This conversation covers practical solutions, spiritual perspectives, and inspiring stories that motivate collective action for a sustainable future. This episode, cocreated by Circlewood and our partner organization A Rocha USA, is cohosted by James Amadon, executive director of Circlewood, and by Deb Rienstra, a writer, speaker, and professor who serves on A Rocha USA's advisory board.LinksBill McKibben's websiteHere Comes the Sun by Bill McKibbenA Rocha USADeb Rienstra's websiteEarthkeepers Episode 85: Becoming Hope: Debra Rienstra on Her Book Refugia FaithThe Vatican's solar projectThird Act: Harnessing generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy.350.org: Fighting climate change for people and planetA Rocha USA: Ways to get involvedTEND: Cultivating faith-based, creation-focused communityAdvocating for plug-in solarKey  TopicsThe economic shift towards renewable energyThe spiritual and cultural role in environmental changePractical steps for individuals and communities Keywordsclimate change, renewable energy, faith communities, cultural change, environmental activism, solar power, policy, spirituality, sustainability, environmental justice; Laudato Si, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, plug-in solarFind us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple 

Send us Fan MailDr Paolo Macchiarini was considered to be a superstar in the world of thoracic surgery.  He was responsible for the ground breaking invention of a synthetic trachea, which would be bathed in the patients own cells, and had the potential to save so many lives.Paolo would travel the world performing these surgeries, and while working with a 2 year old child who had been born without a windpipe, he would meet award winning journalist; Benita Alexander.  The two fell madly in love, got engaged, Paolo was even able to secure Pope Francis to marry them, despite Benita not being Catholic, and even though they had both been divorced previously......... but was everything as it was being presented?This is the case of Dr. Paolo MacchiariniSupport the showIf you're interested in receiving bonus episodes, early release dates,  an everything scary sticker and ‘thank you' as well as a shout out on our regular feed! Please join at  Patreon//everythingscarypod571

During the First Friday gathering in Saginaw on May 1, Bishop Gruss quoted Pope Francis and reminded listeners that every baptized person is called to be a missionary disciple.“A missionary disciple is someone who knows Jesus personally, loves Him deeply, follows Him faithfully, and shares Him boldly,” he said in his talk. (View the video below or watch it HERE.)He stressed that evangelization is not about having all the answers, but about sharing one's encounter with Christ.“A witness is someone who says, ‘I have met the Lord and He has changed my life,'” Bishop Gruss said.Bishop Gruss reflected on the Sacrament of Confirmation and missionary discipleship, and encouraged Catholics to rediscover the power of the Holy Spirit already at work within them through the Sacraments. He emphasized that Confirmation is inseparable from missionary discipleship. “The Spirit was poured upon the Church for one reason,” he said. “To evangelize.”“Wake Up the Sleeping Giant”Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and rely less on self-sufficiency. “The Holy Spirit is already in you,” he said. “But perhaps He's dormant. Wake up the sleeping giant in your life. You have everything you need to live as a disciple of Jesus in the world today.”First Friday attendees were encouraged to pray simple prayers each day asking the Holy Spirit to become more active in their lives.He also encouraged young people preparing for Confirmation to approach the Sacrament with openness and courage. The Sacrament of Confirmation is meant to be a life-changing moment in one's life and call to discipleship, as it was for the disciples of the early church."“Don't be afraid to live an extraordinary life in Christ,” he said. “Christ is calling all of us to be saints.”Speaking during the Diocese's confirmation season, Bishop Gruss reflected on visiting parishes across the Diocese to celebrate Confirmation with young people. “Confirmation is not an ending. It doesn't complete anything. It's a beginning,” Bishop Gruss said.He explained that Catholics often reduce the Sacraments to events they attend rather than encounters with Jesus Christ himself. “When we look at the Sacramental life merely as events, then we have diminished them by 99.9%,” he said.Instead of saying, “I'm going to Mass,” Bishop Gruss suggested Catholics think differently: “I'm going for an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.”Jesus Is the One Who ConfirmsBishop Gruss reminded attendees that Jesus himself is the minister of every Sacrament. “Jesus baptized you. He confirmed you. He gave himself to you in Holy Communion,” he said. “In the Sacrament of Confirmation, he uses my thumb.”Reflecting on his own Confirmation and Baptism dates, Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to learn and celebrate those dates as important milestones in their lives of faith. “These are two of the most important dates,” he said, “more important than your birthday.”He urged Catholics to contact the parish where they were baptized to obtain their Sacramental records and reflect more intentionally on those moments of grace.Confirmation and the Holy SpiritDrawing from the Acts of the Apostles, Bishop Gruss compared Confirmation to the transformation experienced by the apostles at Pentecost. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles hid in fear. Afterward, they boldly proclaimed the Gospel.“Peter went from fear and denial of Jesus to being a strong, faithful witness of the Gospel,” Bishop Gruss said. “Everything changed.”"That same Holy Spirit is given to the disciples is given to each person in the Sacrament of Confirmation, not diminished in any way. This is why it should be a profound life-changing experience."Bishop Gruss encouraged Catholics to ask the Lord to “bring alive the grace” of Confirmation again in their lives.“The Spirit is never dead,” he said. “Ask the Holy Spirit to ignite your faith.”

Jonathan Pageau (  @JonathanPageau  ) and Dr. John Vervaeke (  @johnvervaeke  ) talk about the current state of Artificial Intelligence.Midwestuary Conference Video Repository -  @Midwestuary2025  We mention Tiago Faleiro, Larry Ellison, artificial intelligence, large language models, AI plateau, model collapse, technical debt, cognitive debt, relevance realization, Moloch problem, human wisdom, classical education, automated bureaucracy, vice quantification, Flynn effect, IQ decline, AI alignment, silicon sage, Golem narrative, technology ethics, media psychology, digital degradation, data cleaning, automated agents, cognitive science, philosophy of technology, Transfigured podcast, Sam, John Vervaeke, Jonathan Pageau, Thiago Felierro, Larry Ellison, Pope Francis, Joseph Tainter and more. 00:00:00 - Introduction & Setting the Table00:01:46 - John's Opening: The Plateau & Disconnection of LLMs00:07:25 - Jonathan's Opening: The Threat to Gen Z & Career Paths00:09:43 - The Moloch Trap & Geopolitical Hyper-Competition00:13:55 - What is AI Decadence? (Model Collapse Explained)00:16:45 - The Superhuman Coding Illusion & Real-World Feedback Loops00:25:36 - Ontological Fumbling: Is AI a Tool or an Agent?00:33:47 - Civilizational Collapse & Automated Bureaucracy00:43:06 - The Rise of Sex Robots: Why Vice is Quantifiable and Virtue is Not00:51:56 - The Pope's Encyclical: Tower of Babel vs. Walls of Jerusalem01:04:33 - Can a Spirit Get Inside Silicon? AI as an Oracle01:14:05 - Reversing the Flynn Effect: Restoring Wisdom Through Classical Education

Frank Schaeffer talks with Vatican journalist Elise Ann Allen about her new biography of Pope Leo XIV and why the new pope has already become such an important moral figure for many people around the world.Elise was the first journalist to interview Pope Leo after his election and shares personal stories about their friendship, his years serving the poor in Peru, and the humility that continues to shape him even now.The conversation also explores faith, politics, AI, immigration, polarization, and what happens when human dignity is forgotten.A thoughtful and deeply human conversation about leadership, conscience, and hope._____LINKShttps://cruxnow.com/author/elise-ann-allenOur May It Has to Be Read. offering,Pope Leo XIV on Bookshop_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip.Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTubeIn Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast

On today's reflection Fr. Kubicki shares a prayer written by Pope Francis to Our Lady Untier of Knots.

The News Is Broken—And It's Breaking Your Brain BREAKING NEWS!” Every alert is urgent. Every headline is a crisis. Every story is supposedly the end of the world. But what if the real problem isn't the news… it's the way the news is built? Today on The Karel Show, we dive into the nonstop outrage machine that modern media has become. Fear, anger, panic, urgency—it's all engineered to keep you watching, clicking, doom-scrolling and emotionally exhausted. Are we finally tuning out because the news itself is broken? We'll look at today's biggest headlines and ask: * Which stories truly matter? * Which are manufactured outrage? * And how much of “breaking news” is actually broken journalism? Also: Primm, Nevada—the once-iconic stop between Las Vegas and California—is becoming a modern ghost town. So what killed it? Bad planning? Changing travel habits? Corporate greed? We'll break down the slow collapse of a desert landmark. And the Pope issues a massive warning about Artificial Intelligence in a 43,000-word address—and the tech world immediately shrugs it off. Is the Vatican overreacting… or seeing something Silicon Valley refuses to admit? The Karel Show streams live Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PST. Support the show at patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, TikTok and Instagram. #BreakingNews, #MediaBias, #NewsMedia, #DoomScrolling, #MainstreamMedia, #KarelShow, #TheKarelShow, #NewsCommentary, #CurrentEvents, #PoliticalCommentary, #PrimmNevada, #LasVegas, #GhostTown, #AI, #ArtificialIntelligence, #PopeFrancis, #TechNews, #MediaCulture, #CableNews, #Journalism, #ModernMedia, #FearMongering, #YouTubeNews, #IndependentMedia, #ViralNews, #TrendingNews, #NewsAnalysis, #DigitalCulture, #PodcastShow, #EntertainmentNews, #LGBTQ, #Vegan, #LasVegas https://youtube.com/live/B7hgi4oK08s

Pope Francis and Vatican 2 are cited more than anything else, and no other council of the Church is cited at all.Sponsored by Nelson Insurance Advisorshttps://www.nelsonplan.comSources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

James Golden aka Bo Snerdley and historian Dean Karayanis explore the solemn origins and cultural significance of Memorial Day, moving from its post-Civil War roots as Decoration Day to its current status as a time for national reverence. The conversation transitions into a critical analysis of contemporary leadership, featuring skepticism toward Pope Francis's recent apologies regarding historical slavery and his warnings about artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the participants dissect Donald Trump's diplomatic approach to Iran and the internal friction within the Democratic Party following a disappointing election autopsy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,Today, May 25, is Memorial Day in the U.S., the day after Pentecost. Pentecost, we celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.In today's Gospel (John 19:25-34), we read,"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his ­mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home."Christ the Lord, in entrusting his Mother Mary to the Beloved Disciple from the cross, established a relationship between his holy Mother and all who are united to him, that is, the Church.In 2018, Pope Francis decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar."This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God," stated the decree.By issuing the Decree on the celebration of the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, Pope Francis wished to promote this devotion in order to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety."Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠May 25, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The world's okayest morning radio show offers you the entire broadcast from today with none of the music and limited commercials. Try to enjoy!

Indian paintbrush showed up at Porter Prairie Family Farm this week — native Oklahoma wildflower, first time Adam's seen it on his property. He didn't plant it. Nobody did. The seed bank was just dormant, waiting for the soil to be right. Two years of cattle grazing in the back pasture, no mowing, better land management — and something long dormant finally decided it was safe to bloom. Joel Salatin talks about this: when the practices change, when a property gets new stewardship, the land seems to know it. So does grace.David's been busy in a different direction. He wired up an automatic door for the chicken coop — actuator, relay, battery, timer — a sliding gate that covers the nesting boxes so the younger chickens stop sleeping in them and fouling the eggs. Under $150 total, including an actuator that lifts 300 pounds for thirty bucks. When he asked Lady Pamela what she wanted it to look like, she said: prison bars coming down. "We'll call it the Henna Tincture." David said say no more. The Henna Tincture it is.This week we're sipping Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 7 years — same distillery as Elijah Craig and Evan Williams. No gimmicks, under fifty bucks, smooth finish with a peanut butter quality that works. Bottled in bond since the Act of 1897. Very solid.Quick update on baby Mary: she's still having good days. Praise God. Keep her and Lady Haylee in your prayers. Adam also headed out to Arkansas over Mother's Day weekend to be with his goddaughter JoJo Kleine for her First Holy Communion — and got to watch nephew Danny Kleine go two-for-two at the plate with at least one RBI. After months of watching a daughter fight for her life in a NICU, sometimes what a soul needs is family, a Mass, and a kid absolutely cranking baseballs.Then we get into it: the papacy. A year in with Pope Leo XIV — the first American pope, the man who took the name knowing exactly whose shoes he was stepping into — and what does all of it mean? Where does that authority come from, and what's it actually for?Dave traces it back to the Davidic kingdom. When the king left for war, he handed the keys to his steward, who operated with full royal authority until the king returned. Matthew 16 isn't symbolism. "What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven" — the Jews at the time knew exactly what that meant. That's why Peter is listed first among the apostles almost every time. He was their leader. He had the keys. Two thousand years of unbroken succession later, here we are.But then the conversation goes somewhere unexpected. Authority is given to you so that you might serve those over whom you have authority. Not for your own glory. Not so people owe you. The pope is literally titled Servant of the Servants of God. The same authority Christ handed to Peter is the same authority He described in the upper room — the pagans lord it over their subjects, but not so among you. You will be the one who serves.For fathers, that cuts. Pope John Paul II stood up against governments, even after taking a bullet. He kept going out. What does that courage look like in an ordinary household? Probably not a wound in the square. More likely a different kind of martyrdom — the kind where you make a decision for your family that nobody else understands, that your kids resent for a season, that costs you something in your social circle. You make it anyway. Because you've prayed about it, talked it through with your wife, and you know in your gut it's the right thing for your people. You stand on the island by yourself if you have to.Dave closes with something worth trying: he prays specifically to the Holy Spirit to give Lady Pamela strong motherly intuition into the inner lives of their children. When she says something feels off, he pays close attention. That's him exercising his authority — his fatherly papacy — to draw more grace into his household. Not to control everything himself. To pray for the right graces for the right people.The fatherly papacy, if you will.Raise your glass.TOPICS COVEREDIndian paintbrush flowers appearing at Porter Prairie — and why the land responds to new stewardshipJoel Salatin and the School of Traditional Skills on how cattle and management change soil biologyDavid's automatic chicken coop door: actuator, relay, timer, and the Henna TinctureDavid's wheat harvest coming up — 12,000 square feet, building a grain cradle for the scytheBourbon of the week: Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, 7-year Kentucky Straight BourbonJoJo Klein's First Holy Communion and nephew Danny Klein's two-for-two at the plateBaby Mary update — still having good days, keep her in your prayersPope Leo XIV's one-year anniversary — the first American pope and what it means to hear him speak in American EnglishThe modern problem of instant information and why it's harder than ever to be the popeWhy interview questions on a plane, stripped of all context, are unfair to any human beingThe name you give a child is an inheritance — a new name inherits nothingWhy Adam named Leo Thomas after Pope Leo XIII and Thomas Aquinas, and John Dominic after the Apostle and the DominicansPope Leo XIII: the Marian pope, the social doctrine pope, the first pope ever filmedThomas Aquinas on the papacy — Contra Gentiles and the SummaThe Davidic kingdom and the keys: Matthew 16 as a transfer of royal authority, not a metaphorThe question of authority — Trent Horn, Protestants, atheists, and why it always comes down to thisWhy the things closest to heaven get attacked the hardest — authority and sexuality as parallel examplesThe pope as Servant of the Servants of God — and what that actually costsPope John Paul II standing up against communist governments even after being shotWhat putting yourself in harm's way looks like for fathers: social martyrdom, not bulletsMaking decisions for your family that your kids, their friends, and their friends' parents all disagree withThe German church and what a timeout looks like at the universal levelWhy the Church has been around for 2,000 years and what that tells youPraying for your wife's specific graces — and why Dave prays for Lady Pamela's motherly intuitionAuthority as the source of efficacious prayer — a father's prayers for his childrenThe TOTUS TUUS decision and trusting a mother's intuitionPope Leo's upcoming AI encyclical — and why millennials are the generation tasked with figuring this outThe fatherly papacy — what domestic authority and universal authority shareREFERENCED IN THIS EPISODEBooks & Writings:Summa Theologiae by St. Thomas AquinasSumma Contra Gentiles by St. Thomas AquinasSaints & Historical Figures:St. Thomas AquinasPope Leo XIII (social doctrine, Marian encyclicals, first pope ever filmed)Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost, first American pope)Pope John Paul II (stood against communist governments, continued ministry after assassination attempt)Pope Francis (repose of his soul — the men still catching themselves saying the wrong name)King David / the Davidic kingdom (Old Testament typology for the papacy)St. Peter (first pope, holder of the keys)People & Guests:Joel Salatin — School of Traditional SkillsTrent Horn (Catholic apologist, debates on authority)Patrick Stephen (listener and Instagram follower who suggested the topic)JoJo Klein — Adam's goddaughter, received First Holy CommunionDanny Klein — Adam's nephew, baseballLady Haylee MinihanLady Pamela NilesLuke Minihan (Adam's oldest)Mary Minihan (in the NICU)Programs:TOTUS TUUS (Catholic youth formation program)School of Traditional Skills (online homesteading video subscription)Scripture:Matthew 16:18-19 — "I give you the keys to the kingdom"John 20:23 — binding and loosingSPONSOR BLOCKSponsor: Select International Tours — selectinternationaltours.comWhen Adam and Dave decided to lead their first pilgrimage, they asked around, and the same name came up over and over: Select International Tours. Having used them, they can tell you it's deserved. Whether you want to lead a pilgrimage or join one, Select has a tour ready for wherever the Lord is calling you. Head to selectinternationaltours.com and take a look.

Funny enough Pope Francis used this same word and it was fine, at least to the public.Sponsored by Sanctifica App:https://sanctifica.comSources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

John-Henry Westen and Patrick Coffin discuss a petition accepted by the Vatican Criminal Court challenging the validity of Pope Benedict XVI's 2013 resignation. The debate centers on whether Benedict renounced only the ministerium (active ministry) rather than the munus (papal office) required under canon law. Questions are also raised about the 2013 conclave and allegations involving the so-called “Saint Gallen group” and improper electioneering. If Benedict's resignation or the conclave were invalid, the implications for the pontificate of Pope Francis and subsequent Vatican appointments could be enormous. The discussion explores the theological and canonical consequences of one of the most controversial claims in modern Church history.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am going through a time right now, and I don't have the energy or drive to create new episodes. I will be taking my own advice and will be seeking clarity. Thanks for understanding and listening.   Revisit Setting Intentions...Pope Leo Still Kicking the Knowledge; Sun Tzu Could Not Have Imagined New Age Chinese or 50 Cent Level of Petty. Revisiting this episode because sometimes you have to repeat yourself for it to stick... If you believe God has healed you from a physical illness, mental illness, or some type of imbalance, why are you still moving the same way you did to break your body so much down to your genetic code, or in an alternate reality, or your credit score in the single digits? What if what you believe is not a true Godly revelation but your own self-centered counsel? Truth comes in many forms.   What has been draining your spirit? 5 types of people to avoid to navigate the next chapter in life in peace and freedom, and not chaos. If someone's constant complaining suffocates the joy, God is trying to nourish in you, then you must protect your inner sanctuary. The second type is the manipulator. This is the most subtle and often the most painful. Manipulation does not come with shouting. It comes wrapped in words that sound like care, like duty, like obligation. Manipulators use guilt to control. They speak of love but demand submission. God NEVER weaponizes guilt. Therefore, every person who steals your freedom is damaging the gift God placed in you.  3rd type They remind you of old mistakes, not to heal you, but to diminish you. They keep you fixed in an outdated portrait of who you once were, refusing to see the grace God has formed in you.  Your past is not a weapon for others to wield. 4th Darkness Bearers one who carries darkness. Not always in obvious ways, not always with dramatic sins, but with a presence that pulls the soul away from the light. These are the people who normalize what leads you away from God, who diminish the seriousness of sin, who feed resentment, who speak lightly of what wounds the conscience, who invite you into anger, division, or habits that cloud the clarity of prayer. A neighbor arrives not with warmth but with gossip that stains the mind. A relative comes not with compassion but with burdensome anger that pulls the spirit into old conflicts.  5th Silent but just as deadly This cold silence is not the silence of contemplation. It is the silence of indifference. It is the silence that neither builds nor comforts. A relative who shows no interest in your well-being. A friend who never asks how your heart is. A companion who takes but never gives.  Your soul is too close to eternity to be entangled in the shadows of others. Rise above the storms of others. You will live the later years as God intended, not in confusion, but in clarity, not in exhaustion, but in grace.  Pope Leo is still kicking the knowledge.  Navigate to Pope Leo Speaks on 5 Types of People to Avoid that are Peace Wreckers to view the video in its entirety. No, I am not Catholic. But, this Pope Leo XIV is literally a "cousin". And has emphatically stated he is not MAGA. As the first American-born pope, has said that his nationality means that people cannot say he "doesn't understand the United States," as they did with Pope Francis. This statement indicates that he feels his perspective is uniquely informed and that he will be more effective in his engagement with the US government. He has expressed support for US bishops who took a stance against the Trump administration's deportation policies. By doing so, he is indirectly criticizing the administration while also encouraging other bishops to follow suit. While Pope Leo XIV has stated that he wants to avoid "partisan politics," he has also said that he is not afraid to "raise issues" that are related to the Gospel. This creates a fine line that he seems willing to cross, and his comments on human dignity, immigration, and wealth inequality can be interpreted as a moral and religious critique of the administration's policies. I am not a Communist nor a sympathizer of the autocratic regime in power in China. But, I admire the shade. Leaving this felon administration on hold listening to #Obama speeches is classic!! Even Sun Tzu could have anticipate the level of shade of the new age Chinese nor 50 cent for that matter. #pettylujah  Seasonal Affective Disorder Is Treatable and all of us should be about fixing our mental health always.... If you are searching for help and direction in your struggles with depression and addiction Call 1-800-273-8255 Available 24 hours everyday   There is also an online chat feature https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/   And if Vodka is the problem, call  1-800-662-HELP (4357) for 24/7 help. Please reach out to find joy in this season! Don't forget to navigate to www.dalesangelsinc.com for all special offers and updates on nerd news. So much to buy so little time!!

The podcast kicks off by honoring the one year anniversary of Pope Francis' death with stories and even a DJ. After that, Lino goes back to his old high school to emcee an event. After that, Lino and Jill celebrate 10 years of marriage with a road trip. And the podcast wraps up with Saint Teasers!

Jesuitical's co-host Zac Davis is joined by America's Vatican correspondent, Colleen Dulle, and executive editor Sebastian Gomes to assess the first year of Pope Leo XIV's ministry as Bishop of Rome. They discuss Leo's style, priorities and to what degree is continuing Pope Francis' reforming agenda. 00:00 Pope Leo's first year 1:56 Can Pope Leo be claimed by the left or the right? 5:45 Is Pope Leo continuing Pope Francis' agenda? 13:30 Pope Leo's style 19:42 Women and sexuality 23:18 Is church unity the priority? 27:45 Pope Leo's appeals for peace Links: Pope Leo at year one: The progress of an American pope Pope Leo's powerful lesson in vulnerable leadership Trump, Pope Leo, William F. Buckley and John XXIII: An overview of Popes and Politics in America Pope Leo remembers ‘the great gift' of Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death Pope Leo denounces those who use the name God for military gain 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