Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. Our editors are on the ground in Rome covering the conclave to elect the next pope.

The cardinals have asked Catholics to pray for them and the conclave. What exactly should we be praying for? And should we be scandalized by the intermingling of politics and spirituality?

00:00 - What are Catholics praying for during a conclave?
5:10 - Does the Holy Spirit pick the pope?
14:00 - Spiritual direction for the cardinals
21:55 - How to spiritually navigate leaks from the conclave
34:10 - A prayer to the Holy Spirit for the conclave

This episode features:
James Martin, S.J., America’s editor at large and founder of Outreach
Colleen Dulle, co-host of America’s “Inside the Vatican” podcast
Zac Davis, director of digital strategy and co-host of America’s “Jesuitical” podcast
J.D. Long García, senior editor at America

Sign up for America’s subscriber-exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: AmericaMagazine.org/Subscribe

Links from the show:
Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the conclave: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/05/02/smoke-chimney-sistine-chapel-conclave-250550

The prayer Rome needs right now: Come, Holy Spirit. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/04/28/conclave-diary-date-holy-spirit-250505

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