Dear Listeners,
This week, we find ourselves in uncharted territory. For the first time in history, the Catholic Church has elected a pope from the United States—Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. His election has sent ripples through the Church and shockwaves across the far-right Catholic internet.
In this episode of Whiplash, we explore what’s beneath those reactions.
We trace the rise of Catholic nationalism in the U.S., the influence of the MAGA movement on religious identity, and the deeply polarized responses to both Pope Francis’s legacy and Pope Leo’s future. While it’s too soon to know what kind of leader Leo XIV will become, we know that how we talk about this moment matters.
Because this isn’t just about a new pope. It’s about a Church at a crossroads. It’s about whose voices are shaping the future of Catholicism—and whose are being silenced. It’s about the power of doctrine, the limits of nostalgia, and the dangerous ways politics and religion are merging in the United States.
We hope this episode helps you make sense of the chaos, and maybe even offers a glimpse of hope in the uncertainty.
As always, thank you for listening. If the episode resonates with you, share it with a friend or leave us a comment—we’d love to hear what’s stirring for you.
Listen here on Substack, or on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and watch the video version on Youtube.
In faith and solidarity,
Max + Emma
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