White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope

 The Italian cardinal at the center of what many call the Vatican's "trial of the century" has announced his withdrawal from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope, citing "the good of the church." This ends days of drama that had overshadowed the proceedings following Pope Francis' death. Cardinal Angelo Becciu's status dominated discussions as questions swirled about whether...

The Vatican announced the conclave will begin on May 7th and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world..The cardinals will gather for morning Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica, praying for the wisdom to make the right decision. They then will form a procession into the Sistine Chapel, where they will take an oath where they commit to secrecy and not to allow outside interests to sway thei...

Pope Francis’s burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major is a deeply personal tribute to his Ligurian roots, with a simple tomb crafted from slate stone, honoring his family’s homeland. The tomb bears only the Latin inscription "Franciscus" and a reproduction of his pectoral cross, reflecting his lifelong devotion to humility. Meanwhile, the world mourns his passing, and attention is shifting towar...

The touching account of Pope Francis's Easter Sunday appearance and final hours, as shared by his personal doctor. Discover how Sister Geneviève's solitary vigil honored a meaningful friendship, and how ancient Gregorian chant traditions brought dignity to the funeral ceremonies at Saint Peter's. Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you lo...

What happens when the Catholic Church's heroes become its flashpoints? This episode examines the Church's most controversial canonizations, from Juan Diego's disputed historical existence to Josemaría Escrivá's fast-tracked elevation and Mother Teresa's complex legacy. We explore how disputed martyrs from the Spanish Civil War reveal competing historical narratives, and how ancient controversies l...

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a moving eulogy for Pope Francis on Saturday, honoring him as a true "pope of the people" whose informal and spontaneous style allowed him to communicate effectively with the "least among us." The Cardinal spoke with deep reverence, describing Francis as "a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone," capturing the essence of a pontificate ma...

Pope Francis's funeral will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. Rome time, and here’s everything you need to know about the event. The ceremony will be held at St. Peter’s Square with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding over the Mass, incorporating traditional rites with Pope Francis’s personal modifications, such as a simpler service with a single wooden coffin. The Mass will include prayers in...

Thursday 4/24/25 "The Final Farewell" As tens of thousands of mourners from across the globe converge on St. Peter's Basilica to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, the Catholic Church prepares for Saturday's funeral and the upcoming conclave. In today's episode, we explore the emotional scenes inside the basilica, examine the cardinals' preliminary meetings, and investigate the emerging batt...

Wednesday 4/23/25 We cover Pope Francis's solemn procession to St. Peter's Basilica where thousands gather to pay their respects to the 88-year-old pontiff who died on Easter Monday. Learn about his touching final words, the enhanced security measures during this Jubilee Holy Year, and exclusive insights into the upcoming conclave process from Cardinal Castillo. Join us as Rome prepares for Saturd...

Tuesday 4/22/25 The Vatican has announced that Francis's funeral will take place this Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, an event expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners from around the world. This timing follows the traditional Catholic practice of holding papal funerals four to six days after death, similar to Pope Emeritus BenedictI's funeral which occurred five days after his pa...

At 7:35 AM on Monday, April 21st, 2025, the unthinkable happened. Just one day after blessing thousands of faithful from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis, the 266th successor to St. Peter, returned to the Father. The man who had led the Catholic Church for twelve transformative years was gone. This is WHITE SMOKE: The Path to A New Pope. Over the coming episodes, we'll guide you t...

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936,  to Italian immigrant parents, he worked as a chemical technician and even as a nightclub bouncer before entering the priesthood. This humble beginning would later inform his papacy's emphasis on serving the poor and marginalized. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he was known for taking public transportation and cooking his own meals,...

A teenager in jeans and sneakers becomes the Catholic Church's first millennial saint. This episode explores how Pope Francis is using Carlo Acutis's canonization to bridge the gap between ancient faith and digital culture, revealing the strategic calculations behind modern saint-making. From a million pilgrims flocking to Assisi to Vatican social media campaigns, discover how this 15-year-old com...

"White Smoke, Episode 14: Gladio's Shadow" examines how elements within the Catholic Church became entangled in NATO's secret "stay-behind" armies during the Cold War. Driven by fears of Soviet expansion and communist persecution of Catholics, certain clergy allowed church properties to be used as weapons caches for Operation Gladio—networks designed to resist potential Soviet occupation. The epis...

"White Smoke, Episode 13: Ratlines" examines the troubling post-World War II period when certain Vatican officials helped Nazi war criminals escape justice. The episode focuses on key figures like Bishop Alois Hudal and Croatian priest Krunoslav Draganović, who provided fugitives including Adolf Eichmann, Josef Mengele, and Klaus Barbie with false documents and escape routes to South America. Thei...

Episode 12, "The Commerce of Souls" examines the Vatican's complex role as an intelligence hub during the Cold War. The episode focuses on Pope John XXIII, who established a diplomatic approach he called "the commerce of souls"—maintaining communication with Catholics behind the Iron Curtain while engaging Soviet leaders. Despite surveillance and persecution, the Vatican operated a network of prie...

"White Smoke, Episode 11" chronicles the historic 2013 conclave following Pope Benedict XVI's unprecedented resignation. The episode details how 115 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor, ultimately choosing Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio on just the fifth ballot. As the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first to choose the name Francis, Berg...

"White Smoke, Episode 10" chronicles Pope Benedict XVI's shocking resignation on February 11, 2013, the first voluntary papal resignation in nearly 600 years. The episode details how Benedict's declaration stunned the cardinals present and sent shockwaves through the Catholic Church. At 85, citing declining health and strength, Benedict carefully orchestrated his departure—becoming "Pope Emeritus,...

"White Smoke, Episode 9" chronicles Pope John Paul II's final days in early 2005, detailing his declining health from Parkinson's disease and his peaceful death on April 2. The episode captures the unprecedented global mourning, with over two million pilgrims viewing his body and four million attending his funeral. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who delivered a moving eulogy, emerged as a central figu...

The intensity of a papal conclave can overwhelm even the most seasoned cardinals. In 1978, one hundred eleven princes of the Church gathered in the Sistine Chapel, their minds still reeling from the shocking death of Pope John Paul after just thirty-three days in office. The smoke had barely cleared from their last conclave when they were called back to Rome. For the second time in two months, the...

This episode examines the complex financial world of the Vatican during John Paul I's brief papacy, focusing on the Vatican Bank  and its operations. It profiles key figures in Vatican finance, while exploring the unique position of the Vatican's financial institutions. The episode discusses John Paul I's perspectives on Church finances and various theories about potential reforms, while carefully...

This episode provides a detailed examination of September 29, 1978—the morning Pope John Paul I was discovered dead in his bed. It carefully investigates the conflicting accounts about who found his body, the evolving timeline of discovery, and the Vatican's handling of information in the crucial first hours. The episode explores why no autopsy was performed, questions about the time of death, and...

As Pope Francis battles the most serious health crisis of his papacy, discussions about the possibility of his resignation have moved from theoretical to increasingly concrete. The 88-year-old pontiff, hospitalized with a complex respiratory illness recently identified as double pneumonia, has experienced multiple serious medical episodes including acute respiratory failure requiring non-invasive...

This episode explores the unexpected election and brief papacy of Albino Luciani, who became Pope John Paul I in August 1978. It examines how this humble son of a bricklayer broke with Vatican traditions immediately upon his election—refusing the papal throne, speaking in first person, and declining formal ceremonies. The episode traces his vision for a simpler, more accessible Church that shocked...

What happened the last time there was a Conclave? A look at the election of Pope Francis. Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus . No plug-ins needed! Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue...