The Popecast: A History of the Papacy

It’s safe to say that here in the 21st Century, we’re used to our popes having somewhat predictable backstories: entered the seminary at a young age, slowly rose through the ranks from priest to bishop to cardinal and so on. But centuries ago that wasn’t always the case – some had sordid backstories, fathering illegitimate children and living lives of ill repute, and some simply pursued one vocation only to have it ended suddenly by death. That’s the story of our man today: He was once married and became a father, only to have his wife suddenly die and him soon realize a new calling altogether.
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Where to find The Popecast: SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
VENMO: @thepopecast
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Dr. Matt Ponesse – or @medievalistmatt as he's known by so many – is a medieval history professor by day and a world-class memelord over on Instagram by…earlier in the day, as you'll learn in this episode. His calling card is using the marginalia from ancient manuscripts – the little doodles off to the side of the text itself – sometimes irreverent, sometimes just odd, but always hilarious when seen through 21st Century eyes.
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[BOOK] A Canticle for Leibowitz: https://amzn.to/3LFqGa7
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Find @medievalistmatt here (email) and here (Instagram).
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Where to find The Popecast:
SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
YOUTUBE: @therealpopecast ⁠
FB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠
EMAIL: [email protected]
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POPECAST MERCH: ⁠https://the-popecast-store.creator-spring.com

A very special guest indeed on this week’s show. I’m joined by Elise Ann Allen, Senior Correspondent for Crux in Rome, who recently conducted the first exclusive, extensive papal interviews of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. Those conversations have been turned into a brand new book from Penguin Random House entitled “Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century.”
We talk quite a bit about what it’s like to sit across from the first American pope, the man behind the name, and her impressions on what might be in store in the coming months and years from our new pontiff. I really enjoyed this conversation, so I’m confident you will, as well.
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Get Elise's book on Pope Leo XIV: https://amzn.to/3MyM4Oy
Find Elise's work at Crux: https://cruxnow.com/author/elise-ann-allen--
Where to find The Popecast:
SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: @therealpopecast ⁠FB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠EMAIL: [email protected] MERCH: ⁠https://the-popecast-store.creator-spring.com

Our favorite fellow papal history buff is back with us this week, Fr. Richard Kunst from the Diocese of Duluth Minnesota, here to talk about meeting Pope Leo XIV, his huge upcoming exhibit at the Mall of America, and some other little tidbits you won’t want to miss about traveling to and around Rome.

Fr. Rich's website: ⁠papalartifacts.com⁠
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Imagine: A corpse that’s nine months dead is propped on a throne in full papal vestments, and placed on trial for various alleged offenses. A teenage deacon is assigned to answer questions on its behalf. And the present pope is screaming at the body. Well that’s our pontiff for today’s episode. The man who lost his mind, his papacy, and eventually his life over a dead guy.

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Where to find The Popecast:
PAID SUPPORT + NEWSLETTER: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://popes.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@therealpopecast
FB / Twitter / Instagram: ⁠@thepopecast⁠
EMAIL: [email protected]

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POPECAST MERCH: https://the-popecast-store.creator-spring.com