On Aug. 19, 2014, the world watched in horror as the American journalist James Foley read a script prepared for him by ISIS terrorists, who filmed him from an unknown location in the Syrian desert. Mr. Foley, who had been in ISIS captivity for almost two years, was then beheaded by his captors. That is how Diane Foley learned that her son, who had been kidnapped in Libya on a previous reporting trip, would not be coming home this time.

In the new book, American Mother, Diane teams up with Colum McCann, an award-winning and international best-selling author, to tell her and her son’s story. Both authors join Zac and Ashley this week for a powerful conversation about grief, forgiveness and perseverance.

They discuss:

How Diane’s son James discovered his vocation as a journalist 

Why Diane decided to meet with one of her son’s killers 

How her Catholic faith sustained her through James’s years of captivity and after his death

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new book of interviews with Pope Francis, in which he discusses his relationship with Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave that elected him and his predecessor. Plus, Cardinal Wilton Gregory calls President Biden a “cafeteria Catholic” during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Easter Sunday, and the Society of Jesus releases a strongly worded statement on the war in Gaza.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis opens up about Benedict XVI, past conclaves and more in new book

Important U.S. cardinal says Biden is a ‘cafeteria Catholic’

‘We cannot be silent’: A statement from the Jesuits on Gaza

American Mother, by Colum McCann with Diane Foley

Bonus episodes available now through Patreon:

​​The quirky history of papal conclaves

Cardinal Gregory on young people, politics and becoming a listening church

Live show!

If you live in the Cincinnati area, you’re invited to join Zac, Ashley and Father Eric Sundrup (Jesuitical’s spiritual director) for a live show at Xavier University, on Tuesday, April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm. The event will be held in the Conatan Board Room in Schmidt Hall and will be followed by Mass. 

What’s on tap?

Cielo prosecco, a.k.a, Easter Bubbly

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