Vatican Access with Robert Duncan

Catholic News Service
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Vatican Access is a Catholic News Service podcast hosted by Robert Duncan, featuring in-depth conversations with Church insiders and leaders on the life, governance, and global mission of the Holy See.

  1. 3 GG FA

    Inside Rome’s Exorcist Conference: Are Demons Using AI?

    Sean Tobin is a clinical psychologist who works at the intersection of psychology, spiritual formation, and the Catholic Church’s ministry of exorcism, helping individuals navigate experiences that blur the boundaries between mental illness, trauma, and spiritual suffering. In this conversation, he discusses the modern resurgence of interest in exorcism, the relationship between demonic influence and psychological distress, and why he believes technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping the human person in spiritually consequential ways. The discussion explores how social media and algorithms intensify self-focus and isolation, the Church’s evolving approach to spiritual warfare and mental health, and why AI systems may increasingly function as mirrors of human desire, identity, and meaning. Guest bio: Sean Tobin is a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, trauma, spirituality, and exorcism ministry. A former member of religious life, he has worked alongside Catholic exorcists supporting individuals experiencing alleged demonic phenomena and lectures on the relationship between psychology, spiritual formation, and the Catholic understanding of evil. He is the author of Big God, Little Devil.

    1 h

  2. 13 MAG

    Vatican Astronomer on Aliens, UFOs, and the Universe | Br. Guy Consolmagno

    Jesuit astronomer Br. Guy Consolmagno joins Vatican Access to discuss UFOs and what the Catholic Church really thinks about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.Known around the world as “the Pope’s astronomer,” Br. Consolmagno is a planetary scientist, former director of the Vatican Observatory, and a member of the advisory board of the SETI Institute — the organization dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this conversation, he reflects on the modern fascination with UFOs, why belief in aliens often functions as a substitute religion, and whether discoveries beyond Earth would challenge Christian theology or deepen it. The discussion explores biblical passages that hint at cosmic mystery, the relationship between faith and science, the growing cultural obsession with space and figures like Elon Musk, and why both religion and science today face a common crisis: the loss of confidence that truth can actually be known. Recorded just days after the U.S. government declassified a new trove of UFO-related images and documents, the interview examines one of humanity’s oldest questions from the perspective of one of the Church’s leading scientific voices. Guest bio: Br. Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit brother, planetary scientist, and former director of the Vatican Observatory. Widely known as “the Pope’s astronomer,” he has written extensively on the relationship between faith and science and serves on the advisory board of the SETI Institute, dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

    1h 21m

  3. 8 MAG

    Inside the Election of the First American Pope

    Veteran Vatican journalist Gerard O’Connell joins Vatican Access to discuss the inside story of the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history. Drawing from his new book, The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis, O’Connell explains how Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged as an unexpected consensus candidate during one of the most consequential conclaves in modern Church history. The conversation explores the tensions inside the pre-conclave meetings, the question of whether Pope Francis’ legacy would continue, and why many cardinals initially believed an American pope was impossible. O’Connell also reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s first year, the global reaction to his papacy, and the deeper spiritual and political forces shaping the Catholic Church in a time of polarization, uncertainty, and rapid change. Guest bio:Gerard O’Connell is a veteran Vatican correspondent and longtime Rome reporter known for his extensive coverage of papal politics, conclaves, and the global Catholic Church. Together with his wife, Argentine journalist Elisabetta Piqué, he is the co-author of The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis, an in-depth account of the conclave that elected the first American pope.

    1h 13m

  4. 4 MAG

    Pope Meets Catholic Charities Amid Trump-Era Funding Cuts | Kerry Robinson

    Pope Leo XIV received a delegation from Catholic Charities Network in private audience on May 4, as media scrutiny intensified over recent funding cuts by the Trump administration affecting Catholic organizations serving immigrants and refugees. In this conversation, Catholic News Service speaks one-on-one with Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, reflecting on the delegation’s audience with the pope and the broader implications for the Church’s charitable mission. The discussion explores how political polarization is shaping public perception of Catholic aid efforts, the risks facing vulnerable populations, and what is at stake for the Church’s longstanding commitment to serve those most in need.Guest bio:Kerry Robinson is the president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the country. She has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and Catholic philanthropy, with a focus on advancing the Church’s mission of service, particularly among the poor, immigrants, refugees and marginalized communities.

    37 min

  5. 29 APR

    Millions Are Asking AI About God | Matthew Sanders

    Matthew Sanders is a technologist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and Catholic evangelization, building digital tools that are shaping how people encounter faith in the modern world. In this conversation, he discusses the rise of AI as a space for spiritual inquiry, the millions of users engaging with Magisterium AI, and the kinds of personal and religious questions being asked through these systems. The discussion explores whether AI can serve as a form of pre-evangelization, the risks of mediating spiritual authority through technology, and what Catholics can expect Pope Leo to say in his forthcoming encyclical on AI. Guest bio: Matthew Sanders is a Catholic technologist who has designed and developed major digital platforms for the Church, including projects for the Vatican Observatory and the Vatican’s Office for Migrants and Refugees. He is the creator of Magisterium AI, an initiative aimed at bringing the Church’s intellectual and spiritual tradition into conversation with users through artificial intelligence.

    1h 20m

  6. 22 APR

    Why Young People Are Becoming Catholic Again | Curtis Martin

    Curtis Martin, founder of the FOCUS, has spent nearly three decades working on college campuses at the front lines of Catholic evangelization, engaging a generation often assumed to be drifting away from faith.In this conversation, he discusses the surprising rise in conversions alongside continued disaffiliation, the growing interest in Catholicism among young people, and the spiritual forces driving these trends. The discussion explores the meaning of evangelization, the role of friendship and witness, and the internal tensions within the Church about how clearly to propose the faith.Guest bio:Curtis Martin is the founder and longtime leader of the FOCUS, an international Catholic outreach that sends missionaries to college campuses and parishes around the world. Martin has advised bishops, served in consultative roles at the Vatican on evangelization, and is the author of several books on faith, mission, and Christian formation.

    1h 19m

  7. 15 APR

    The Church Has Answers to Today’s Social Crises — Here’s How | Sr. Helen Alford, OP

    Sister Helen Alford, president of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, stands at the intersection of faith, economics, and global policy, working to articulate the Church’s social teaching in a rapidly changing world. In this conversation, she reflects on her vocation and intellectual formation, the core principles of Catholic social teaching, and the major crises shaping our time. The discussion explores how the Church engages with global challenges at the highest level—raising a central question: in a world facing crisis after crisis, does the Church’s voice still matter? Guest bio: Sister Helen Alford is a Cambridge-trained engineer and Dominican religious sister serving as president of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, a role to which she was appointed by Pope Francis in 2023. She collaborates with leading Catholic and non-Catholic scholars across disciplines—including economics, law, and healthcare—to address pressing global issues.

    1h 1min

  8. 8 APR

    Africa and the Future of Catholicism | Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu

    Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu — a Nigerian prelate serving at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization — stands at the forefront of the Church’s global missionary efforts, helping guide its growth in some of the places where the Church is expanding most rapidly.In this conversation, he reflects on his vocation and childhood, the key social challenges shaping the African continent, and the significance of Pope Leo’s April 2026 visit to four African nations. Filmed at the Palazzo Propaganda Fide, the discussion situates these themes within a broader shift in global Christianity—raising a central question for the future of the Church: is Africa becoming its new heart, and what, if anything, can the West learn from it?Guest bio:Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu is a Nigerian prelate serving in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. A biblical scholar and seasoned diplomat, he has represented the Holy See in various roles across Africa and Europe, including at the United Nations in Geneva and in the Vatican Secretariat of State. His work focuses on the Church’s missionary activity, particularly in regions experiencing rapid growth, placing him at the center of conversations about the future of global Catholicism.

    49 min
Elenco completo (13)

Descrizione

Vatican Access is a Catholic News Service podcast hosted by Robert Duncan, featuring in-depth conversations with Church insiders and leaders on the life, governance, and global mission of the Holy See.

Informazioni

  • Creatore
    Catholic News Service
  • Anni di attività
    2K
  • Puntate
    13
  • Classificazione
    Contenuti adatti a tutti
  • Copyright
    © Catholic News Service
  • Sito web del podcast
    Vatican Access with Robert Duncan

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