Pope Leo and Trump aren’t the first feuding leaders: a history of papal power clashes

When President Trump took to Truth Social earlier this year and attacked Pope Leo for being “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” most Catholics were understandably shocked. But a clash between a secular leader and the bishop of Rome is hardly without precedent. This week on “Jesuitical,” hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless talk with Miles Pattendens, an expert on popes and papal conclaves, about the long and quirky history of feuds between popes and politicians.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the Vatican rejection of a request from the German bishops to allow lay people to preach the homily at Mass. Plus, a look ahead at Pope Leo’s summer plans. 

And in As One Friends Speak to Another, America Media’s O’Hare fellows—Brigid McCabe, Ed Desciak and Will Gualitiere—share some spiritual insights from a year working at the intersection of the church and the world. 

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00:00 Context 2:47 Vatican says "no" to women preaching 12:07 Pope Leo's summer schedule 16:05 History of Catholic authority 19:46 The investiture controversy 26:03 Pastoral concern or power grabs? 34:27 Henry VIII vs. Popes 39:20 How the church lost power 43:10 Moral authority on the global stage 52:00 Donald Trump's attacks on Pope Leo 1:00:10 Fill out our listener survey! https://forms.gle/yggZcBKeXYKbWYpM7 1:01:12 Faith sharing with our Fellows! Learn about America Magazine's Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellowship: https://www.americamagazine.org/ohare-fellows Jesuitical listener survey: https://forms.gle/yggZcBKeXYKbWYpM7

Links:

Vatican to German bishops: No lay people preaching homilies at Mass

Extraordinary consistory signals Pope Leo’s push to work with cardinals on global challenges

Pope Leo speaks out on SSPX ordinations and U.S.-Iran deal

Pope Leo to accept Liberty Medal and address Americans on July 3

Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450-1700

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