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Inside the VaticanApril 15, 2020
Pope Francis celebrates Easter Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 12, 2020. In the background is the Marian icon, "Salus Populi Romani" (health of the Roman people). The Mass was celebrated without the presence of the public due to the coronavirus pandemic. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

In his Easter messages, Pope Francis came out in support of a universal basic wage, relaxing economic sanctions, and forgiving the debts of poor countries. This week on the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O’Connell and I talk about these policies and to look back at the response to St. John Paul II’s call for debt forgiveness in 2000.

Listen and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

We also take a look at the new commission to study women deacons, which they reported on in print last week. The new commission features no members of the first commission to study women deacons and instead includes more obscure scholars. On the show, Gerry and I take a look at how these commission members are chosen.

Finally, Pope Francis gave his first interview to the English-language media last week. We review our takeaways from the interview.

America Media will celebrate its 111th anniversary Friday. Please consider supporting our journalism at the intersection of the church and the world by making a donation here.

Links from the show:

In Easter message, Pope Francis proposes ‘universal basic wage’
In Easter ‘Urbi et Orbi’ address, Pope Francis calls for an end to indifference
Pope Francis has set up a new commission to study women deacons
Pope Francis on Living with COVID-19
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