Joining Zac and Ashley on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” is Jamie Baxter, Founder & CEO of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, asceticism and fraternity, faced some early skepticism from the Church—and the Jesuitical team—that led to valuable innovation. 

Zac, Ashley and Jamie discuss: 

Jamie’s conversion story, going to seminary and ultimately discerning out

How the idea for Exodus 90 originated and the challenge of being an entrepreneur in the Catholic Church

What asceticism can teach men about life, sacrifice, community and finding God

Healthy (and unhealthy) “Catholic masculinity” and men’s spiritual formation 

BE PART OF THE FIRST-EVER JESUITICAL RETREAT!

Join us at the studio and headquarters of America Media in New York City for two days of community, prayer and sharing stories of faith. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we make the podcast, meet fellow young Catholics, pray with America staff and editor-in-chief Sam Sawyer, S.J., share meals and craft your own faith story with accompaniment from our team. Sign up here! We can’t wait to meet you.

Jesuitical Young Adult Retreat: What’s Your Story?

Open to ages 21-39

Friday, June 27th (evening) + Saturday, June 28th (all day)

New York, NY

Friday: America Media Office – 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036

Saturday: Jesuits USA East Province – 39 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028

Cost: $100 

Housing: Participants are responsible for their own lodging in NYC

Capacity: The retreat will be capped at 30 participants. First come, first served.

Links for further reading: 

Jesuitical Storytelling Retreat

Exodus 90 

Jamie Baxter’s life and conversion story 

Do I really have to give up the big game during Exodus 90?!

Fasting, praying and working out: What ‘Exodus 90’ gets right—and wrong—about asceticism for men

Podcast: Prayer, fasting and...working out? What is Exodus 90?

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

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On this week’s episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac are joined by Mark Francis, C.S.V., who was a seminary classmate of Pope Leo (then known as Bob Prevost) at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in the late 1970s. Father Mark is the provincial of the Chicago province of the Viatorian community, and he describes Pope Leo as a thoughtful and sensitive leader—even in their seminary days.

Zac, Ashley, and Fr. Mark discuss: 

Pope Leo’s formation at C.T.U., where he learned alongside women and engaged with social justice issues

How Pope Leo’s language skills, governing experience and global perspective will be key assets in his papacy 

Why efforts to put Pope Leo in a box are doomed to fail

Links for further reading: 

Jesuitical Storytelling Retreat

Podcast: Inside Pope Leo XIV’s first week

Pope Leo XIV, in first U.S. appointment, names San Diego’s new bishop

Pope Leo’s first audience: God’s love is generous, not calculating

Pope Leo’s Chicago roots: a conversation with Cardinal Cupich

Leo XIV: An American pope for the end of American empire?

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 Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the first days of Leo XIV’s historic papacy.

Today, Pope Leo met with members of the Vatican press corps and the thousands of other media in Rome covering his election, telling them to be peacemakers and calling for the release of all imprisoned journalists. 

On our final episode recorded in Rome, the team discusses:

How Pope Leo related to the media, and the importance of his message of peace and truth in a world threatened by war and the rise of A.I.

Pope Leo’s meeting with the College of Cardinals on Saturday, in which he signaled that he would continue the work started by Pope Francis

Pope Leo’s “honeymoon” period—and the opposition he will inevitably face

This episode features:

Sebastian Gomes, America’s executive editor of audio and video

Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent 

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast

Links from the show:

Pope Leo XIV calls for the release of imprisoned journalists, tells media to be peacemakers

Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s address to the media

Pope Leo XIV’s message to the cardinals: Vatican II and Pope Francis are here to stay

Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first formal address to the College of Cardinals

Interview: Chicago’s Cardinal Cupich on why the cardinals chose Pope Leo XIV

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Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, the team discusses the Augustinian (and American) roots of Pope Leo XIV.

They discuss:

Pope Leo XIV is an alum of Villanova University. What’s the atmosphere is like on campus right now?

The Augustinian roots of Pope Leo: the intellectual, spiritual and social principles that will lead his ministry

How poverty, chastity and obedience are a path to freedom and joy

Subscribe to America to get our extensive coverage of the historic election of Pope Leo XIV at: ⁠⁠https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe⁠⁠

Links from the show:

⁠Pope Leo XIV’s first Sunday blessing: Appeals for peace, vocations and happy Mother’s Day.⁠

⁠Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first formal address to the College of Cardinals⁠

⁠Pope Leo XIV’s message to the cardinals: Vatican II and Pope Francis are here to stay⁠

⁠⁠Pope Leo XIV: What to expect in the coming days⁠⁠

⁠⁠Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first homily⁠⁠

⁠⁠Who was Pope Leo XIII?⁠⁠

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Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O'Connell speaks to Colleen Dulle and Sam Sawyer, SJ about the unexpectedly quick election of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on the fourth ballot in the conclave.

They discuss:

What the speedy election tell us about the conclave?

Why a pope from the U.S. was thought to be "impossible", and why it happened anyway.

Analyzing Leo XIV's first address to the world and homily to the cardinals.

Who was Leo XIII? Who is Leo XIV in light of his legacy?

Leo XIV was once a poor missionary in Peru and a capable administrator on a global stage

Subscribe to America to get our extensive coverage of the historic election of Pope Leo XIV at: https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe

Links from the show:

Pope Leo XIV: What to expect in the coming days

Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first homily

Who was Pope Leo XIII?

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Welcome to the America magazine conclave podcast. We are thrilled to join the church in welcoming Pope Leo XIV!

Our team was just in St. Peter’s Square for the historic election, and we’re here with first reactions and some important details about the life and ministry of the missionary Augustinian friar turned pope: the now former-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost.

Links from the show:

Robert Francis Prevost elected first American pope

Peru rejoices for their former bishop: Pope Leo XIV

Prepare to be surprised by the next pope

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

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Do we really trust the Holy Spirit to guide the election of a pope? What does that trust feel like? Are we hopeful or fearful for what is to come? Why does it feel so hard to pray in Rome sometimes? 

The cardinals have asked for our prayers repeatedly in the run-up to the conclave. While they are sequestered away on the second day of conclave, Sebastian Gomes, Ashley McKinless, Zac Davis and J.D. Long García talk about what their prayer has been like while covering the lead-up to the conclave.

Read more:

⁠Conclave watch: Which cardinals are likely contenders?⁠

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

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

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

The protocols being followed by the cardinals in conclave

The “habemus papam” moment, what the pope wears and other telling symbolic gestures 

What happens in the days immediately following the election of a pope?

This episode features:

Sam Sawyer, S.J., America’s editor in chief

Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast

David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center for Religion and Culture

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

Links from the show: 

Cardinal Re’s pre-conclave homily: ‘Love is the only force capable of changing the world.’

Conclave: Everything you need to know about electing a new pope

What time will we see black or white smoke? Past conclaves give clues.

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Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In today’s episode from Rome, the team discusses the frontrunners entering the conclave, and explains how the voting could quickly confirm papabile lists or pivot to an unexpected candidate.

Featuring:

Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History

Colleen Dulle, co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast

Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor in chief of America

Read more at: https://www.americamagazine.org

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

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

Final preparations for the conclave, including additional meetings for the cardinals

President Trump’s A.I. pope image

Covering the conclave for secular media, with NPR’s Scott Detrow

The quirky procedures and protocols of the conclave, with Religion News Service’s Thomas Reese, S.J.

This episode features:

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast

Zac Davis, director of digital strategy and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast

Scott Detrow, weekend host of “All Things Considered,” and a co-host of the “Consider This” podcast.

Thomas Reese, S.J., senior analyst at Religion News Service

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

Links from the show:

⁠Conclave: Everything you need to know about electing a new pope⁠

⁠‘God is not mocked’: US Catholic leaders criticize Trump’s AI pope meme⁠

⁠The conclave is a referendum on synodality⁠

⁠Interview: Cardinal Müller on if Pope Francis was a heretic and what he wants in the next pope⁠

⁠The pope is not the point⁠

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