Sedevacante

Sedevacante – Episode Fourteen and Final: He’s Not Francis (May 9, 2025)

In the final episode of Sedevacante, Chiara Basso and Stefano Albertini comment on the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the Americas. Or should we say “the Americas” in the plural? The hosts reflect on his social profile, particularly his closeness to immigrants, the choice of a name that recalls Leo XIII, and the potentially more conservative moral stance compared to Pope Francis. But be careful—not to draw comparisons!

Sedevacante – Episode Thirteen: Front-Runners and Long Shots: Portrait of a Conclave Without a Favorite (May 8, 2025)

On the first full day of the conclave, Stefano Albertini reflects on the deeper—and often overused—meaning of the term papabile, referring to someone considered a likely candidate to become pope. Who truly stands a chance of being elected? And who, despite being frequently mentioned in the media, is in fact a non-papabile—a candidate who, for various reasons, is highly unlikely to be chosen? Analyzing the names most frequently in circulation—Parolin, Zuppi, Pizzaballa, Tagle, Prevost—Albertini assesses their backgrounds, strengths, and the internal opposition they face within the College of Cardinals. The episode closes with two poignant quotes, both from today’s Osservatore Romano: one by Martin Scorsese, recalling his connection with Pope Francis, and another by Don Primo Mazzolari, dating back to the 1958 conclave.

Sedevacante – Episode Twelve: Keys, Conclaves, and Papal Power Through History (May 7, 2025)
In this twelfth episode, Chiara Basso and Stefano Albertini take us on a journey through the history of the conclave—from its turbulent medieval origins to the modern-day election of Popes. Blending historical anecdotes with reflections on the reforms of Gregory X and a look at the present, they discuss the pivotal role of the cardinals, the evolution of papal power, and the Church’s enduring moral influence in the contemporary world.

Sedevacante – Episode Eleven: The Spirit and the Silence: The Mystery of the Conclave Told by Don Luigi (May 6, 2025)
In today’s episode of Sedevacante, Stefano Albertini speaks with Don Luigi Portarulo, a spirited priest of the Italian community in New York and former altar boy at St. Peter’s Basilica. Don Luigi takes us back to the conclaves he witnessed up close as a teenager, when he carried candles before the procession of cardinals into the Sistine Chapel. His story weaves together personal experience and faith, solemn rituals and spiritual insight, offering a vivid sense of the mystery surrounding the election of a Pope. Reflecting on the quiet workings of the Holy Spirit and critiquing the media’s intrusiveness, Don Luigi also shares his admiration for two cardinals close to his heart—Gambetti and Mamberti—placing trust in the choice to come.

Sedevacante – Episode Ten: How Does One Become a Cardinal? (May 5, 2025)
In the tenth episode of Sedevacante, Chiara Basso and Stefano Albertini discuss what it really takes to become Pope—starting from the basic requirements and diving into the complex and ancient process of cardinal appointment. They examine the symbolic role of cardinals as the clergy of Rome and trace the historical evolution of the conclave. With a tone that’s light yet informed, they reflect on the current atmosphere of uncertainty and intrigue surrounding the election of the next Pope, amid frontrunners, speculation, and internal Vatican dynamics.

Sedevacante – Episode Nine: The Church from the South. The Latin American Legacy from Bergoglio to Tomorrow (May 2, 2025)
In this episode of Sedevacante, we meet Father Paolo Cugini, a theologian and priest from Reggio Emilia with extensive pastoral and academic experience in Brazil, where he currently teaches philosophy and theology at the University of the Amazon. Together, we explore the Latin American influence on Pope Francis’s pontificate: Bergoglio’s cultural and theological roots, his relationship with liberation theology, and the Amazon Synod. Finally, as always, we close with an intimate portrait of a cardinal seen up close.

Sedevacante – Episode Eight: Francis and Creation: The Church’s Green Turn (May 1, 2025)
Today we explore the Church’s relationship with contemporary environmental challenges, starting from Pope Francis’s decision to draw inspiration from Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. With Father Bruno Bignami, director of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) Commission for Social Issues and Work, we discuss the encyclical Laudato Si’, the link between social justice and care for creation, and critiques of a magisterium sometimes considered overly theoretical. We conclude with a portrait of Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, President of the CEI.

Sedevacante – Episode Seven: The Role of Women in Francis’s Church (April 30, 2025)
Pope Francis has opened new paths for women in the Church, entrusting them with leadership roles previously reserved for men. Yet, female priesthood remains off-limits. Where does Francis stand amidst conservative resistance and progressive disappointment? Why hasn’t Bergoglio gone further? Find out in this new episode.

Sedevacante – Episode Six: Politics Inside the Conclave (April 29, 2025)
Does it make sense to talk about political factions within the Vatican? Are there really liberal and progressive cardinals? And what is expected from the new Pope in a Catholic Church that continues to lose followers—an exodus even Pope Francis couldn’t stop? In this episode, we delve into the “corridors of power” within the Holy See, where earthly categories meet divine inspiration.

Sedevacante – Episode Five: Francis, the Pope of the Poor (April 28, 2025)
Bergoglio was a Jesuit who, once elected Pope, lived and preached more like a Franciscan. But is there really a difference between these two orders? Together, we’ll explore what Francis did for the poor and the reactions his actions provoked—sometimes labeled as populist, even communist.

Sedevacante – Episode Four: Pope Francis’s Final Farewell (April 26, 2025)
Stefano Albertini and Chiara Basso guide us through a moment of profound contrasts, where history, culture, and current events converge in the final farewell to Pope Francis — a funeral that reveals the deep divisions and hidden tensions within the Vatican.

Sedevacante – Episode Three: The Papacy on Screen (April 25, 2025)
Through the lens of history, culture, and current events, Stefano Albertini and Chiara Basso guide us in exploring how cinema has portrayed the Vatican and the figure of the Pope during times of transition.

Sedevacante – Episode Two: Pope Francis and the American Church (April 24, 2025)
In this episode, Stefano Albertini and Chiara Basso explore the often complex relationship between Pope Francis and the U.S. bishops, the deep intertwining of religion and politics in America, and the story of the “rebel” nuns — once nearly excommunicated by Pope Benedict XVI but embraced by Pope Francis.

Sedevacante – Episode One: Pilot (April 23, 2025)
What really happens inside the Vatican when the Pope’s seat is left empty? Through the lens of history, culture, and current events, Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at NYU, and journalist and Media & Communications Specialist Chiara Basso, will guide you through this extraordinary moment of transition.