Father Sam Sawyer, SJ, president and editor in chief of America Magazine, joins Seattle University’s Presidential Speaker Series to talk about the future of Catholic media and the art of conversation across disagreement. We cover how America evolved from a weekly print magazine to a digital multi-platform newsroom, why Catholics often mirror national swing-voter trends, what really fuels polarization in the U.S. church, and how to read the moment from Pope Francis to Pope Leo. We also dig into synodality, liturgy and culture wars, TikTok aesthetics, and the practical Jesuit habit of meeting people where they are while still calling them deeper. Smart, nuanced, and grounded in hope.

• Guest: Father Sam Sawyer, SJ

• Host: Eduardo Peñalver

• Series: Seattle University Presidential Speaker Series

• Topics: Catholic media, America Magazine, polarization, Catholic voters, synodality, liturgy, Pope Francis, Pope Leo, immigration, digital strategy, TikTok, sacramental imagination