We didn’t blackmail you into listening to this episode (we think), but we do frame our discussion about John Paul III, Voiello, Spaletta, and the machinations within the Vatican around the idea of blackmail. Does this culminate in considering whether Catholic dogma is inherently a form of blackmail. You (and Nietzsche) already knew that it does. The final scene between Pope JP3 and Gutiérrez may offer a (semi-depraved, in true Popeverse fashion) counterpoint about the reciprocal exchange of vulnerability, however.  Regan and John also discuss NUNS ON STRIKE in the main discussion, Catholica, and The Cave because it couldn’t be contained to one part of the episode, Sofia’s presence in this episode and this season, Esther and the madonna/whore complex, godly skiing, and, naturally, The Hobbit trilogy.  Changed our minds, now we’re blackmailing you into listening – tap play *now*. -- Music by Lesfm from Pixabay