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The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

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Latest episodes

Building a Custom Papal Tiara for Pope Leo XIV

October 9, 2026 · 44 min

We're joined this week by Isaac Smith, Director of Amici Vaticani, a non-profit cultural association that's designing and commissioning a custom papal tiara for our first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Click here to learn more and donate…
A Real Person Reads Pope Leo XIV's Entire Encyclical | Magnifica Humanitas Audiobook

May 30, 2026 · 3 hr 52 min

Enough with the AI audio versions of the pope's new encyclical. Those all seemed to rather largely miss the point, so here's a fully human read-through of Pope Leo XIV's brand new encyclical on artificial intelligence, human dignity…
Unpacking Pope Leo XIV's New Encyclical | Katie McGrady

May 27, 2026 · 50 min

Katie McGrady – an author, podcaster, radio host, and Vatican Analyst for CNN – joins the show once again, this time to unpack Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. We get into everything from The Masters to the pontiff…
Pope Leo in Peru: If He Wasn't a Priest, He Would Have Been a Racecar Driver | Jonathan Liedl

May 23, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min

Jonathan Liedl, Managing Editor of the National Catholic Register, joins the show to talk about his on-location documentary about how Pope Leo XIV's nearly two decades in Peru shaped his priesthood, and now his papacy. WATCH THE…
Where were you when Pope Leo XIV was elected?

May 8, 2026 · 33 min

On his first anniversary, a reflection on Pope Leo XIV's election as Bishop of Rome. Where were you on that day? What do you remember? -- Where to find The Popecast: SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YOUTUBE…

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Lifelong Friends of the First American Pope | John & Polly Snider

April 2, 2026 · 53 min

Joining the show this week are John and Polly Snider, a Lutheran pastor and wife from Minnesota, who have been friends with Bob Prevost – now known to us as Pope Leo XIV – for over 40 years. Don't miss this episode that's chock full of…
Rare Treasures of the Papal Household | Fr. Richard Kunst

March 24, 2026 · 39 min

Returning once again to the show is Fr. Richard Kunst, curator of the largest private collection of papal artifacts anywhere in the world outside of Rome. We talk all about his huge exhibit at the Mall of America, a signed baseball from…
A Widower Who Became Pope (Clement IV)

February 5, 2026 · 11 min

It’s safe to say that here in the 21st Century, we’re used to our popes having somewhat predictable backstories: entered the seminary at a young age, slowly rose through the ranks from priest to bishop to cardinal and so on. But centuries…
History Lessons with a Medievalist Memelord | Dr. Matt Ponesse

January 10, 2026 · 1 hr 40 min

Dr. Matt Ponesse – or @medievalistmatt as he's known by so many – is a medieval history professor by day and a world-class memelord over on Instagram by…earlier in the day, as you'll learn in this episode. His calling card is using the…
Interviewing the Pope | Elise Ann Allen

December 14, 2025 · 58 min

A very special guest indeed on this week’s show. I’m joined by Elise Ann Allen, Senior Correspondent for Crux in Rome, who recently conducted the first exclusive, extensive papal interviews of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. Those…
Can You Ask the Pope to Sign a Baseball? (w/ Fr. Rich Kunst)

December 3, 2025 · 35 min

Our favorite fellow papal history buff is back with us this week, Fr. Richard Kunst from the Diocese of Duluth Minnesota, here to talk about meeting Pope Leo XIV, his huge upcoming exhibit at the Mall of America, and some other little…
The Pope Who Put a Corpse on Trial (Stephen VI)

November 19, 2025 · 13 min

Imagine: A corpse that’s nine months dead is propped on a throne in full papal vestments, and placed on trial for various alleged offenses. A teenage deacon is assigned to answer questions on its behalf. And the present pope is screaming…

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About the show

The unvarnished, non-boring history of the popes of the Roman Catholic Church – told in a way to remind us that the world and the Church’s problems today have happened plenty of times before. Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/thepopecast/subscribe