The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

This one is easily one of the most unique topics we’ve covered on the show thus far. Our guest is Dr. D.P. Curtin, and he is the founder and editor of The Scriptorium Project, an initiative of collecting, preserving, and translating the body of surviving documents from Christian antiquity, and making them available for the wider world to read and digest for themselves. To date, the project’s releases have pulled from the Greek, Syriac, Georgian, Armenian, Nubian, Frankish, Visigothic, Punic, Nordic, German, Roman, Celtic, Ethiopian, and Coptic traditions of Christianity, and have been pulled from all sorts of local traditions and languagesFROM THE EPISODE: - Check out The Scriptorium Project: https://thescriptoriumproject.com- Order from Dr. D.P. Curtin on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3J5oPtF--Where to find The Popecast: PAID SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecastFB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

The guy we’re covering this week was nothing short of a prophet. He called out society’s future ills decades before they actually happened, and reigned as pope through the assassination of an American President, the sexual revolution, and a sweeping reform in the Catholic Church.FROM THE EPISODE: - Church of Spies: The Pope's Secret War Against Hitler - https://amzn.to/3Hmn8XV- Humanae Vitae (full text): https://www.papalencyclicals.net/paul06/p6humana.htm--Where to find The Popecast: PAID SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecastFB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

Since there's a Pope Leo in the Vatican for the first time in over a century, we thought it might be nice to learn about the ORIGINAL Leo, who came to power at one of Catholicism’s first major turning points – the collapse of the Roman Empire and the simultaneous rise of the Church as the caretaker of civilization. Spiritual and corporeal danger alike were brewing beyond the walls of the Eternal City, but this GREAT pontiff was up to the task.Read the Tome of Leo here: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3604028.htm--Where to find The Popecast: TODAY IN PAPAL HISTORY: ⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecastFB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

HABEMUS PAPAM! The cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA on the evening of Thursday, May 8, after which the new pontiff took the regnal name of Pope Leo XIV. Here's our armchair reflections on the election, his first appearance to the world from St. Peter's Basilica, and what to be thinking about in the weeks and months ahead. --Where to find The Popecast: NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecastFB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

Although the papal election process has over the centuries, since 1996 the Catholic Church's rules governing conclaves have stemmed from a document from Pope St. John Paul II entitled Universi Dominici Gregis. On today's episode, we're joined by Donald Paul Maddox, author of the excellent publication In Defense of Theology on Substack and co-host of the Saints in the Parish podcast, to take a deep dive into how the upcoming conclave to elect the next Successor of St. Peter will REALLY work. - Subscribe to In Defense of Theology: https://indefenseoftheology.substack.com/- Listen to Saints in the Parish podcast: https://www.stlawrencefairhope.com/parish-podcast.html--Where to find The Popecast: NEWSLETTER: ⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecastFB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

Friend of the show and renowned papal memorabilia collector Fr. Richard Kunst rejoins The Popecast to talk about the Conclave of 1903 and the last instance of "jus exclusivae" – the right assumed by Catholic monarchs for centuries to veto a pick for the next pope (through their cardinal primate) if they found a particular candidate objectionable – along with various papal historical intricacies and speculations about the upcoming conclave to replace Pope Francis. Fr. Rich's website: papalartifacts.comNEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comFB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecastEMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

Our favorite Instagram world traveler and fan of the show - Marilis Pineiro of @exnunontherun - joins The Popecast for EPISODE 100 to share some great stories about her time in religious life serving Pope Francis directly while working in the Vatican. FOLLOW: instagram.com/exnunontherunNEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comFB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecastEMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com

Wayne Kalayjian is author of the new book Saving Michelangelo’s Dome: How Three Mathematicians and a Pope Sparked an Architectural Revolution, the incredible story of how precarious cracking throughout the dome of St. Peter's Basilica prompted an unprecedented collision of the greatest minds in construction, science, math, and the Catholic Church. GET THE BOOK: Saving Michelangelo's Dome PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wayne Kalayjian is a civil and structural engineer who has designed buildings, bridges, towers, and tunnels on five continents. He knows how they are built, why they stand up, how to keep them safe, and why—on occasion—they fall down. Wayne also lectures at the University of Southern California and is an engineering expert for the California Department of Consumer Affairs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and art history from Tufts University, a master’s degree in structural and earthquake engineering from Stanford University, and a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1995, Wayne engineered the move of an historic lighthouse on Cape Cod National Seashore. Just as the mathematicians in his book saved Michelangelo’s dome from collapse, he used those same scientific principles to save Highland Light from falling into the sea. Since then, his one-of-a-kind drawings have been on permanent display at the lighthouse museum in North Truro, Massachusetts. Wayne was raised in New England and lives in Southern California.

Our pope this week reigned at a time when the historical record wasn’t much, and we don’t know a whole lot about his life as a result. And yet his contributions to the history of the papacy have still resounded for over 1600 years. Read Pope St. Siricius' full letter: https://thepopecast.fm/blog/siricius-decretal PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm

Today we chat with Andrew Gillsmith, author of the new and critically-acclaimed sci-fi novel, Our Lady of the Artilects. The book is absolutely outstanding (find the link to purchase it below) in its merging together of a plausible ultra-high-tech future and a global landscape that's shifted both geographically and spiritually. GET THE BOOK: https://amzn.to/3E8bFpq Find Andrew on Twitter @andrewgillsmith Other book references from Andrew: - In the Camps: China's High Tech Penal Colony - https://amzn.to/3TRMKN2 - The Fourth Secret of Fatima - https://amzn.to/3Ai60MD --- NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast

Our pope this week was your garden variety early Church pontiff – battling heresy, beautifying churches, and being an all around good guy. But one thing set him apart...sending a certain snake-expelling bishop on mission to a little island in the North Atlantic, and changing the face of the world forever. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fmSupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Our pope this week was in the Chair of Peter for barely a moment in the great lifespan of Catholic history, but his humble heart and joyful demeanor has influenced each of the three popes that have followed him and put him firmly among the most memorable and beloved pontiffs of the last several centuries. And yes, this is the second time we’ve covered him on the show, but he deserved a refresh – after all, on the day this is being released, our pope will be BEATIFIED by Pope Francis in Rome. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fmSupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

First it was Peter. Then it was Linus. And then it was this guy. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Today's episode is a great conversation with Timothy Nerozzi, who currently works as a Breaking News Reporter for Fox News. Timothy shares his take in particular on why secular reporting about the pope is quite terrible these days, his approach to journalism, and then of course we go into great detail on the office of the papacy itself – why we should keep a level head about Pope Francis, how the papacy has been changing over the past century, and a ton more. In addition to his work at Fox News Digital, Timothy has written for a large swath of solid publications, including Catholic News Agency, The Lamp Magazine, Washington Examiner, and the Daily Caller. LINKS: Timothy's website: timothynerozzi.com Timothy's popular essay, "If Jesus says 'no,' go ask your Buddha": https://timothynerozzi.com/2021/11/06/if-jesus-says-no-go-ask-your-buddha/ PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSpecial Guest: Timothy Nerozzi.Support The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Now, here at The Popecast we normally cover those men who are considered to be “valid popes” – that is, a legitimate part of the unbroken line of succession in the Roman Catholic Church that began when Jesus gave the keys to Peter and, as is commonly understood, sits now with Pope Francis. And while there have been grandiose antipopes throughout history – men who we may one day talk about in more detail – today’s subject is another case entirely. Few may know about the man from Kansas who claimed to be pope, and unironically so. Recently he died, so today’s episode will tell the story of and serve as a tribute for David Bawden, the man who for the past 32 years had – by his estimation – reigned over the true Catholic Church as Pope Michael. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.com Links from the Episode: Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b96WxyxPfOY Obituary for David Bawden: https://bit.ly/3oQoHkv Support The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

This pope is another one of those best kept secrets of Catholic history – he held some of the most influential post in Renaissance Christendom, presided over Catholicism’s response to the Protestant Reformation, and then cracked the top 10 for shortest papal reigns. But his mom sure would have been proud that he kept the name she gave him. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Matt had the pleasure of being a guest on Real Presence Radio out in the Midwest, on a show hosted by none other than our most recent special guest Fr. Richard Kunst, to talk about the origins of The Popecast and his own personal favorite popes and papal history stories, among other things. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSpecial Guest: Fr. Richard Kunst.Support The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Today’s pope is certainly one for the record books. Even though he was only in office a couple short years, he’s memorable for one major papal staple that we take completely for granted these days. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSponsored By:Catholic Balm Co.: Fans of The Popecast get 10% off their entire order with the promo code POPE – visit catholicbalm.co to check out their entire supply of beard balms, oils, lotion bars, muscle and skincare rubs, and more. Promo Code: POPESupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Today’s episode is one we’ve been very excited to bring you all for a long time. Our guest, Fr. Richard Kunst, is the curator of the world's largest collection of papal memorabilia and artifacts outside of the Vatican. Our conversation covers everything from how Fr. Rich’s collection came to be, some of the coolest and strangest articles he’s seen, his appearances on Pawn Stars, and (in the patron-only bonus section) even some never-before-heard stories about BOTH Popes John Paul. In addition to curating this great collection, Fr. Rich is a priest of the Diocese of Duluth Minnesota, pastor of St. James Parish in Duluth, and believe it or not, was even at one time Fr. Mike Schmitz’s vocation director when the latter was in formation for the priesthood. FR. RICH'S WEBSITE: https://www.papalartifacts.com Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling [Book recommendation from Patron-Only Bonus section]: https://amzn.to/3KkQqTb PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: matt@thepopecast.fm NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSpecial Guest: Fr. Richard Kunst.Sponsored By:Guadalupe Roastery: These guys are the real deal – not only is their coffee excellent, but their mission is to empower farmers to support themselves and their families by bringing you the most directly sourced cup of coffee possible. So head on over to guadaluperoastery.com and get a couple pounds for you and a friend. Listeners to the Popecast can use the promo code POPE at checkout and get 10% off their entire order. Promo Code: POPESupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

Our man this episode is altogether unique – and not just because he’s the only Successor of Peter with this particular name. No, he’s actually most famous for something he had no control over at all – because he was dead. PATREON: https://patreon.com/thepopecast FB / Twitter / Instagram: @thepopecast EMAIL: popecastmc@gmail.com NEWSLETTER: https://popes.substack.comSponsored By:Catholic Balm Co.: Fans of The Popecast get 10% off their entire order with the promo code POPE – visit catholicbalm.co to check out their entire supply of beard balms, oils, lotion bars, muscle and skincare rubs, and more. Promo Code: POPESupport The Popecast: A History of the Papacy