In March 2026, the Vatican’s doctrine office released its final report on women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Catholic Church. The report brings to a close the two-year work of Study Group 5, which, as part of the Synod on Synodality, was tasked with studying women’s ministries and leadership. In this special roundtable conversation, editors at America magazine discuss the report’s content and proposals, and ask if the document changes the status quo for women in the Catholic Church.

Featuring:

Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of the “Jesuitical” podcast

Kerry Weber, executive editor

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

Molly Cahill, associate editor

0:00 The Vatican’s final report on women and ministry

4:23 Women’s reactions to the report

11:28 New ministries for women?

20:05 The horizons and limits of women’s authority

30:30 Will women be involved in decision-making?

Links:

⁠The final synod report on women: what it says, what it means and what’s next⁠

⁠Where the women deacons question stands at the Vatican⁠

⁠Full Report of Study Group 5 on “The Participation of Women in the Life and Leadership of the Church⁠”

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Bishop Michael Martin, O.F.M. Conv., of the Diocese of Charlotte. Bishop Martin sparked headlines in 2025 when a document leaked with plans to restrict the Latin Mass and other liturgical practices in his diocese.

Ashley, Zac and Bishop Martin discuss:

- His pastoral priorities as bishop of Charlotte

- Changes to the celebration of the Latin Mass in his diocese

- How he approaches his outspoken critics within his community—and online

In “Signs of the Times,” Ashley and Zac discuss the recent sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez; Pope Leo’s call for bishops to come to Rome for a meeting on the family in October 2026; and a Belgian bishop who said he will “make every effort” to ordain married men as priests by the year 2028. Finally, in light of Easter coming up, Zac and Ashley talk about the pope’s favorite candy, Peeps!

Finally, in “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley talks about her experience inadvertently unplugging on a recent trip and the spiritual freedom found from it.

 Links for further reading: 

How the cover-up of Cesar Chavez’s abuse mirrored the clergy sex abuse crisis

What you need to know about Pope Leo’s October meeting on marriage and family

Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028

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This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley, Zac and Jesuitical producer Sebastian have a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism. Jim is a clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation where he teaches and writes on the Christian mystical tradition. He’s also the host of the podcast, ‘Turning to the Mystics.’

0:00 A special episode on mysticism

3:00 How Jim Finley discovered monasteries

12:00 An introduction to interior prayer

22:48 Where to start

24:30 How to stay patient

28:40 When life gets busy

34:48 Cultivating silence in your life

39:50 Finding God in trauma

41:45 Trusting your own experiences of God

48:00 Is God really inside of us?

51:00 Where mysticism and formal religion intersect

56:15 Does mystical experience relativize religion?

Links for further reading: 

Jim’s podcast, “Turning to the Mystics with James Finley”

The Center for Action and Contemplation

Merton's Palace of Nowhere

The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse.

0:00 Welcome back Zac Davis!

2:35 A new papal nuncio to the U.S.A.

6:27 Cardinals respond to Iran war

9:04 Synod report on women released

10:27 Tim Shriver's holy family

13:04 What is the dignity index?

18:57 Contempt is the problem

24:00 What's your dignity score?

30:52 What dignity really means

38:20 Responding to contempt with dignity

46:00 How to do it

51:48 Is the Catholic Church a model?

54:32 Influence of Pope Leo XIV

58:50 Updates and faith sharing

 Links for further reading: 

Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Caccia as nuncio to the United States

Iran’s Cardinal Mathieu evacuated to Rome

Pope Leo expresses ‘deep sorrow’ for Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire

Final synod report on women’s leadership does not address female diaconate

The Dignity Index

Need a Lift? With Tim Shriver

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory.

Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from last year: a conversation with Jamie Baxter, the founder & C.E.O. of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, asceticism and fraternity, faced some early skepticism from some in the church—and the “Jesuitical” team—that gave way to greater understanding and valuable innovation. 

 Links for further reading: 

Against Unjust and Unjustified War with Iran

I regret supporting the Iraq War. We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes in Iran now.

Cardinal Parolin on Iran war: ‘The force of law has been replaced by the law of force’

Lebanese archbishop: Innocents are ‘paying the price’ of Middle East war

Pope Leo urges a halt to ‘spiral of violence’ across Iran and Middle East

Sorrow, shock for Catholics in Middle East as US and Israel strike Iran amid negotiations

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This week on a special, interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian talk with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, about his new memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest. 

Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jim discuss:

The differences in writing an autobiography vs. a book on prayer

Balancing ambition and meaning

Jim’s eventual decision to choose a life and career in the Jesuits

 Links for further reading: 

Buy Father Jim’s book here

Father James Martin: Lessons from mowing lawns, riding bikes and a fateful walk to school

Check out the book’s Spotify playlist here

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Timecodes

0:00 Jim Martin has a new book: “Work in Progress”

2:13 Why Jim decided to write an autobiography on his jobs

8:19 The importance of menial labor and service 

11:45 Getting free of our desire to be liked and popular

16:36 How Jim learned to distinguish ambition v. meaning

21:14 The impact of Thomas Merton on Jim’s spiritual life

25:30 Jim’s first mystical experience in the beauty of nature

35:36 Called to the Jesuits

42:15 Jim would canonize Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Kristen Gilger, author of My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith and her son, Patrick Gilger, S.J., to discuss their interwoven journeys of faith.

0:00 Critiquing our ashes

3:00 Pope Leo's first Ash Wednesday

4:35 Vatican won't join "Board of Peace"

5:50 St. Peter's has a new snack bar!

8:10 Kristin's shock when Paddy joined the Jesuits

16:58 The challenges of poverty, chastity and obedience

22:00 Giving up marriage and a family

34:45 Cafeteria Catholicism

38:35 Reconciliation without agreement

45:10 Being open to change

50:22 Catholicism's lingering appeal

1:04:25 Faith sharing: love your enemies

 Links for further reading: 

My son became a priest. I still felt conflicted about God and religion.

Buy Kristen’s Book: My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith

Pope Leo on Ash Wednesday: It’s ‘rare to find adults who repent’

Vatican will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says

Vatican expands visitor experience at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark 400th anniversary

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This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras.

0:00 Mardi Gras!

4:00 New York City has a new bishop

10:17 Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified

11:44 Catholic leaders respond to racist post

13:50 Villanova and Notre Dame bball in Rome!

15:14 History of Black masking culture

21:24 African Americans made Catholicism their own

24:02 Mardi Gras as sacred ritual

27:00 Tribal competition

29:10 Black and Indian cultural encounter

31:30 Hurricane Katrina is an open wound

34:04 The art of feasting

37:32 Diversity ministry is a challenge

45:24 Lenten resources and practices for 2026!

Links for further reading: 

CRS Rice Bowl Website

Development and Peace – Caritas Canada Solidarity Calendar 2026 

101 Things To Give Up For Lent

On Mardi Gras, Catholics should celebrate the faith and resilience of the New Orleans Black Masking Indians

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Bishop Kevin Kenney was born in Minneapolis and has ministered to Latino communities there for years. Now an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he speaks to America about the realities facing Latino Catholics on the ground and what the Catholic Church is doing to support them.

0:00 ICE outside churches and schools

4:45 How the Catholic Church is responding

10:00 Targeting criminals only?

11:45 Preaching during the crisis

15:12 Ministering to ICE

16:45 Latinos have enriched Minneapolis

18:53 Longterm effects

23:45 Pope Leo and prioritizing immigration

34:00 What Bishop Kenney is praying for

Links for further reading: 

⁠Twin Cities pastors preach on the killing of Alex Pretti: ‘We are walking in darkness and living in fear’ ⁠

⁠I’m a Minnesota Catholic mom. Here’s what my neighbors are saying about ICE⁠

⁠No more funding for ICE without reform. Congress must act⁠

⁠Bishop Tyson: Not all are called to be martyrs like Alex Pretti. But we can be witnesses⁠

Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Patrick Kelly, S.J. Father Pat holds the Heider Chair at Creighton University and is an expert in the theology of Sports.

Father Pat’s book, “Play, Sport and Spirit”

These Olympic athletes are leaning on Christian faith going into the Winter Games

Pope Leo adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar

Pope Leo, Archbishop Coakley urge renewal of last US-Russia nuclear treaty

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