In this episode Leonardo De Chirico and Reid Karr discuss the first few weeks of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy. What is defining his papacy and where does he seem to be going theologically? More importantly, how can evangelicals be theologically responsible in assessing the pope as he speaks and uses gospel sounding words? Join us to hear how we respond to these questions and others.

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White smoke has risen, a new pope has taken the balcony, and the world is watching. But what should evangelical Christians make of it all? In this episode, we unpack what we know about the newly elected pope Leo XIV—his background, theology, and early signals—and explore how his papacy fits into the broader story of Roman Catholicism. What does his election mean for the gospel, the global church, and our Catholic neighbors? Join us as we cut through the incense and get to the substance.

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In this episode, we speak with Matthew Johnston, Fellow at the Reformanda Initiative, to ask the big question: Is Rome a true church? Together, we explore the historic Reformed answer to this question, trace how the Reformers engaged with Rome in their own day, and discuss how things might look different—or surprisingly similar—after the Council of Trent, Vatican I, the Marian dogmas, and Vatican II.

What would Calvin say if he walked into Rome today? And how should we, standing on the shoulders of the Reformation, faithfully answer in our time?

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