What is it like to teach a future Pope?

This week on “Jesuitical”, Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis talk to Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.,  who taught Scripture at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for 44 years. She also served as America’s Word columnist from 2002 to 2005. During her time at CTU, Sr. Dianne had one very famous student, Robert Prevost—the future Pope Leo XIV. With Sr. Dianne, Zac and Ashley discuss what it’s like to be the teacher of a future pope and how approaches to teaching Scripture have evolved over time.

During Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac unpack Pope Leo’s trip to Spain and a new Sagrada Familia Lego Set, and they talk sports with Catholic perspectives on the World Cup and NBA Finals—featuring some words from O’Hare Fellow Ed Desciak. 

In “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley shares an exciting announcement.

Links from the show:

• Pope Leo defends the unborn and migrants in historic speech to Spanish parliament

• More than one million attend Pope Leo’s Mass and procession in the heart of Madrid

• Pope Leo meets Bad Bunny in Madrid

• In Spain, Pope Leo denounces polarization and hails commitment to multilateralism

• Lego announces new set designed after Spain’s Sagrada Família basilica

• Oligarchs can’t ruin the World Cup 

• Celebrating faith and FIFA: Italian-American community welcomes soccer legends

• Your Catholic Guide to the 2026 N.B.A. Finals: Spurs Sisters vs. Villanova Knicks

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