When the White Smoke Clears: A Guide to Pope Leo XIV's Early Days

Fr. Mike Schmitz, a Catholic priest and evangelist well known for his social media videos and podcasts, hosted the 2021 breakout podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™, which became the #1 podcast on the Apple charts after its January 2021 launch, and is the most popular Catholic podcast of all time. The Bible in a Year was Chartable’s #1 global podcast in religion for several years, and was covered by news outlets including CBS, Fox, and The New York Times Magazine (press kit here).

For the impact of The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike was recognized as one of Our Sunday Visitor’s 2021 Catholics of the Year as well as a recipient of the 2022 Cardinal John P. Foley Award for excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling. He is an internationally beloved Catholic speaker, and has spoken to hundreds of crowds ranging from his local Catholic parish to the National Eucharistic Congress audience of 50,000.

Fr. Mike is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). Fr. Mike attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth in 2003.

Fr. Mike is best known for:

Ascension Presents: Fr. Mike Schmitz (YouTube)

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ (podcast)

The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) (podcast)

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast

Sundays with Ascension (Mass on YouTube)

Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz (podcast)

See more from Fr. Mike:

The 99, An Evangelization Mission Series

Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed

Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God

The Curious Catholic

Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church

No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion

Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Power and Grace: A Guide to the Catholic Sacraments

Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike 

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike: Vol. 2, Leader’s Guide

Received: Your Journey to First Communion (Leader videos + Parent videos)

Renewed: Your Journey to First Reconciliation (Leader videos + Parent videos)

The Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz Collection

Jeff Cavins is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the most effective and engaging speakers in the Church today. Few can communicate their love for Jesus Christ with as much zeal, clarity, and enthusiasm as Jeff Cavins. In addition to his outstanding presentations related to Catholic Bible study, Jeff is available to speak on a variety of other faith-formation topics.

After twelve years as a Protestant pastor, Jeff returned to the Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Paul Dudley. His conversion story, one of the best known and most inspiring stories of its kind, is chronicled in the best-selling book, My Life on the Rock. After his conversion, Jeff received an MA in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Over the past several decades, Jeff has dedicated his life to developing The Bible TimelineⓇ: The Story of Salvation, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan of salvation in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives. The Great Adventure Bible Timeline presents the entire sweep of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand and genuinely fun to engage. As the foundational element of The Great Adventure Learning System, the Bible Timeline has revolutionized Catholic Bible Study for hundreds of thousands of Catholics.

Jeff has been a leading figure in Catholic media for over three decades. He was the host of EWTN’s Life on the Rock for six years, and has appeared widely on Catholic radio, television, and digital media. His current projects include The Jeff Cavins Show podcast, Encountering the Word Sunday Scripture Reflections, and daily Scripture reflections on the Hallow app. His Bible Timeline Show hosted on Ascension Presents launched in 2023.

For his contributions to The Bible in a Year podcast, the most successful Catholic podcast of all time, Jeff was recognized as one of Our Sunday Visitors’s 2021 Catholics of the Year for 2021 as well as a recipient of the 2022 Cardinal John P. Foley Award for excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling.

Jeff’s latest work with Ascension includes Luke: The Story of Salvation Fulfilled and Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a groundbreaking survey of Catholic teaching filmed on location in 40 holy sites across 11 countries and 4 continents.

Digital Media from Jeff:

The Bible in a Year (Ascension podcast)

Encountering the Word Sunday Scripture Reflections (video series)

The Jeff Cavins Show (Ascension podcast)

You Are Not Alone (video)

Jeff’s Great Adventure Bible Timeline® Learning System:

A Catholic Guide to the New Testament

A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament

The Great Adventure Catholic Bible

Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible (8 sessions)

The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation (24 sessions)

The Bible Timeline Show: YouTube

Additional Bible Studies from Jeff:

The Activated Disciple: Taking Your Faith to the Next Level

Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom

Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance

Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Galatians: Set Free to Live

Hebrews: The New and Eternal Covenant

James: Pearls for Wise Living

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Luke: The Story of Salvation Fulfilled

Matthew: The King, and His Kingdom

Psalms: The School of Prayer

Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come

Romans: The Gospel of Salvation

Walking Toward Eternity: Daring to Walk the Walk

Walking Toward Eternity: Engaging the Struggles of Your Heart

Wisdom: God’s Vision for Life

Select Books from Jeff:

The Activated Disciple: Taking Your Faith to the Next Level

Amazing Grace (series)

I’m Not Being Fed: Discovering the Food that Feeds the Soul

My Life on the Rock: A Rebel Returns to the Catholic Faith

Walking With God: A Journey Through the Bible

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio (“Dr. Italy”) received his Ph.D. in historical theology from The Catholic University of America under the direction of Avery Cardinal Dulles and has had a prolific career as a Catholic author, internationally-respected speaker, pilgrimage leader, and university professor. He is the Co-founder and Director of The Crossroads Initiative, the author of five books and hundreds of articles, and a regular guest on both secular and Catholic TV and radio programs.

In 2004, Dr. D’Ambrosio co-authored the New York Times bestseller A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions about The Passion of the Christ with Ascension founder Matt Pinto. In 2019, Dr. D’Ambrosio published the groundbreaking Bible study on the life of Jesus Christ filmed in the Holy Land, Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life, presenting alongside Jeff Cavins and Dr. Edward Sri. In 2022, he became the co-author and co-presenter of What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith, together with Dr. Andrew Swafford and Sarah Swafford, and in 2025 was announced as a co-presenter of the groundbreaking Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and Dr. Edward Sri.

Dr. D’Ambrosio is currently teaches for the Catholic International University (formerly known as Catholic Distance University). He has previously been on faculty at the Loyola College in Maryland as well as the University of Dallas.

Dr. D’Ambrosio and his wife Susan reside in Dallas, Texas, where they frequently spend time with their many children and grandchildren.

See more from Dr. D’Ambrosio:

A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions about The Passion of the Christ

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church

What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith

After powerfully encountering Jesus in the Eucharist as a teenager, Fr. Josh Johnson dedicated his life to becoming a wholehearted disciple of Jesus Christ. Ordained for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2014, Fr. Josh has dedicated his priesthood to inviting all people to become saints in their walk toward eternity.

Fr. Josh travels widely as a speaker at conferences, retreats, and youth events, and was one of 3 MCs at the historic National Eucharistic Congress in 2024. He is well-known for his popular Ascension podcast Ask Father Josh as well as his Q&A videos on Ascension Presents, one of the largest Catholic YouTube channels in English.

Fr. Josh has written several books with Ascension, including the best-selling Pocket Guide to Reconciliation co-written with Fr. Mike Schmitz and On Earth as It Is in Heaven: Restoring God’s Vision of Race and Discipleship. He appears in many Ascension video programs including Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, and his latest book—the Pocket Guide to Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins—is the topic of the 2025 Lenten program in the Ascension App.

Fr. Josh is the vocations director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, as well as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish. He can often be found praying the Rosary and walking in the neighborhoods of his parish, inviting those under his pastoral care to become intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Josh is best known for:

Ask Fr. Josh (Ascension podcast)

Ask Fr. Josh (The Catholic Question and Answer Show on the Ascension Presents YouTube Channel)

Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation

On Earth As It Is in Heaven: Restoring God’s Vision of Race and Discipleship

Pocket Guide to Adoration

Pocket Guide to Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins

Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Set Free: Daily Lenten Reflections on Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins (Ascension App)

Katie Prejean McGrady is an author, sought after speaker, and the host of SiriusXM’s The Katie McGrady Show on The Catholic Channel. She hosts the Ave Explores podcast, the Like a Mother podcast, and co-hosts Family Mass Prep on Hallow. Katie is a Vatican Analyst for CNN and collaborates with the Vatican Dicastery for Communications on Digital Media initiatives. She lives and works in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband, Tommy, and daughters, Rose and Clare.

Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, and author of several best-selling Catholic books and resources. His work with Ascension includes the new Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a groundbreaking Catholic study program filmed in 40 locations across 4 continents. Together with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Dr. Sri guides viewers on a spiritual pilgrimage through Foundations of Faith that will transform the way participants understand Catholic teachings and live the Catholic Faith.

Dr. Sri’s other study programs with Ascension include A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion and When You Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God. He has also authored several books with Ascension, including his latest title the Pocket Guide to Prayer, co-written with his wife, Beth and Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR.

Dr. Sri is the host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri. Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach.

Dr. Sri lives with his wife Beth and their children and grandchildren in Colorado.

Books and Digital Media from Dr. Sri:

Behold the Lamb of God: 60 Questions and Answers on the Mystery of the Eucharist

The Good, the Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life

Pocket Guide to Prayer

Pocket Guide to the Stations of the Cross

All Things Catholic (Ascension podcast)

The Bible Compass

Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love

Small Group Studies from Dr. Sri:

A Biblical Walk Through the Mass (includes accompanying book)

Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John

Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother

No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion (includes accompanying book)