Pope Francis' use of a homophobic slur has raised questions about the limits of his welcoming and inclusive stance towards L.G.B.T.Q. persons, despite a swift apology from the Vatican.

Scott VanDerveer writes his homilies in a coffee shop, where he is surrounded by strangers. “Would what I have to say speak to their life at all,” he asks himself. “Or would they say, ‘Ugh, that’s so churchy?’”

A surefire way to lose your congregation is to start a homily with “In today’s Gospel reading,” says Thomas Groome. “The purpose of good preaching,” he says, “is to bring our lives to God and God to our lives.” A homilist’s job, then, is to facilitate a meaningful conversation between the two.

This week on "Inside the Vatican," hosts Colleen and Gerry discuss Pope Francis’ proclamation of Jubilee Year 2025 and also review a global synod meeting of 200 parish priests held outside Rome earlier this month.

Though Jesus preached in parables that still captivate us, not every story told in a homily has a similarly lasting impact. The Rev. Christopher Clohessy shares how preachers can craft stories that linger long after Mass is over.

“There’s also a lot of manipulation. And not every expression of support for the Palestinian people can be then condemned as antisemitism,” says David Neuhaus, S.J., “This is a very dangerous game.”