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PODCAST

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope

Caloroga Shark Media

With white smoke clearing and history made, our coverage now follows Robert Francis Prevost—the first American ever elected pope—as he begins his reign as Pope Leo XIV.Our daily bulletins track this unprecedented pontificate from his first blessing to his installation mass, analyzing how this Chicago-born, Peru-naturalized former Vatican insider will lead 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.What does his choice of the name "Leo" signal? How will his two decades in Latin America shape his global vision

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8:35

DAILY UPDATE: Tens of thousands of mourners from...

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/24

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 battle lines between progressives hoping to continue Francis's reforms and conservatives seeking a return to

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6:53

DAILY UPDATE: 250,000 Expected as Pope Francis Lies...

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/23

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 Saturday's funeral where an estimated 250,000 mourners and numerous world leaders will bid farewell to a pope

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12:55

DAILY UPDATE: Pope Francis Funeral Details

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/22

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 passing in 2023.Following tradition, Vatican officials have sealed both the papal apartments in the

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9:07

DAILY UPDATE: The Chair Stands Empty following the...

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/21

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 through one of history's most elaborate and secretive transfers of power – a process now unfolding before

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9:41

**BULLETIN** Pope Francis has died.

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/21

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, earning a reputation for humble leadership that would later define his papal style. "My people are poor

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21:06

15. The Making of a Millennial Saint: Carlo Acutis...

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/20

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 computer programmer who died of leukemia in 2006 became the centerpiece of Catholicism's effort to remain

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26:16

14. Gladio's Shadow

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/13

"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 episode explores how these arrangements, never official Vatican policy, evolved beyond their original purpose

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23:18

13. The Ratlines

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/04/06

"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.Their motivations ranged from ideological sympathy to anti-communism. While not official Vatican policy,

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16:30

12. The Commerce Of Souls

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/30

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 priests, nuns, and laypeople who smuggled messages and aid across borders at great personal risk. John

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25:04

11. From The End Of The World

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/26

"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, Bergoglio immediately signaled a new direction through his humility and simplicity—declining traditional

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17:13

10. The Pope Who Stepped Down

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/23

"White Smoke, Episode 13" 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," relinquishing papal symbols, and promising obedience to his successor. His historic decision forever

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23:23

9. The Death of John Paul II And The Quiet Succession

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/19

"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 figure during the transition.The conclave elected Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI on April 19 after just four

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18:51

8. The Polish Surprise

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/16

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, they faced the weight of selecting God's representative on Earth.The election of Karol Wojtyła as John Paul

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22:19

7. God's Bankers

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/12

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 distinguishing between documented facts and speculation. It also examines the financial scandals that

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17:57

6. The Morning They Found Him

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/09

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 how these inconsistencies created an enduring mystery. Without making definitive claims, it presents

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9:57

Pope Francis and the Potential for Papal Retirement:...

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/04

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 mechanical ventilation.While the Vatican continues to issue detailed health updates at Francis's own

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15:06

5. Thirty-Three Days: The Smiling Pope's Brief Reign

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/03/02

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 the Vatican establishment and won him worldwide admiration as "The Smiling Pope." His thirty-three days

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7:01

4. The Last Conclave

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/02/26

What happened the last time there was a Conclave?A look at the election of Pope Francis.

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7:48

The Truth About Conclave (Bonus)

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/02/25

In the 2024 film "Conclave," Rafe Fines plays Cardinal Lawrence, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who must organize the election of a new pope. Through his eyes, audiences witness the world's most secretive election process, complete with political intrigue, hidden secrets, and a dramatic twist that left critics debating its plausibility.But how does Hollywood's version compare to the real thing?

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10:21

3. When a Pope Cannot Lead

White Smoke - Pope Leo XIV the American Pope ·

2025/02/24

What happens when a pope becomes incapacitated? Through the lens of Pope Francis's February 2025 hospitalization, we explore the surprisingly undefined territory of papal illness. Unlike death or resignation, there are no clear protocols for an unconscious or incapacitated pope. Discover how the Church has handled these delicate situations throughout history, and why this "legislative gap" in canon law creates unique challenges in the modern age.

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