In this episode of Catholic Unscripted, we are joined by Fr Ryan Brady from Chicago to talk about the election of Pope Leo XIV, what he is like personally, and what Catholics might expect from his pontificate.

Fr Ryan has met Pope Leo before and after his election, and offers a rare personal insight into the man now leading the Church: calm, prayerful, paternal, humorous, deeply sacramental, and profoundly Christ-centred.

We also discuss the shock of seeing an American Pope, the atmosphere in Chicago after his election, Leo’s repeated call for peace in a dangerous political moment, and why his Augustinian formation may matter more than many people realise.

This is a hopeful conversation about the Church, the papacy, and the kind of fatherly leadership Catholics are longing for.

In this conversation:
What Chicago made of the election of Pope Leo XIV
Fr Ryan Brady’s personal encounters with the new Pope
What Pope Leo is like behind the scenes
Why his first message of peace matters so much
The surprise of an American becoming Pope
Politics, war, and why Catholics must not look to parties for salvation
Why Pope Leo may prove to be a true bridge-builder
His Christocentric tone and Augustinian spirit
Why many Catholics are feeling hopeful
Memorable themes from this episode:
“Peace be with you” as the keynote of this pontificate
A Pope who listens
A father, not a factional figure
Christ at the centre again
The Church as the place to gather the disillusioned and the lost
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Question for viewers

What are your first impressions of Pope Leo XIV?