Whoever says you have to choose between science and faith has not met Guy Consolmagno, S.J.—a Jesuit brother and director of the Vatican Observatory. We ask what projects the pope’s astronomers are working on now, if he believes in aliens and why people in every time and place look to the stars with big questions.

And in Signs of the Times, Pope Francis denounces a chemical attack in Syria that killed dozens of innocent civilians. How should the United States respond? And U.S. and Mexican bishops push back on President Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to secure the border as a group of Central American migrants travels north seeking sanctuary.

Next, the pope has released a new apostolic exhortation on holiness. Zac, Olga and I discuss our favorite parts of the document. Plus, updates on Catholics in France, Sweden and Brazil—where one church decided to incorporate a drone into the liturgy.

As always, we want to hear from you. You can tweet us @jesuiticalshow or send us an email [email protected]. Please leave us a review on Apple podcasts, tell your friends about the show and check out our Patreon page to support Jesuitical.

P.S., if you’re in the New York area next week, come see us talk to New York Times-bestselling author, Mary Karr, for a live recording of Jesuitical! You can buy your tickets here—drinks are on us.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis denounces chemical weapons attack in Syria

Top Five Takeaways from ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’

Bishops on both sides of Mexico border criticize troop deployment

France's Macron sparks uproar by reaching out to Catholic Church

Sweden's Lutherans to let Catholic parish hold Masses in Lund cathedral

Video: Jesus Saves, but Drone Delivers This Catholic Church from Boredom

What’s on tap?

Need. Coffee.

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