#2207 Guest: His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the Servants of God

Official Transcript

[00:00:02]

Joe Rogan: And we’re up. Hi, Pope Francis. What do I call you? Your Grace? Your Eminence?

Pope Francis: “Grace” is for a bishop. “Eminence” is for a cardinal. I’m the pope. You can just call me “Your Holiness,” or “Holy Father.” It’s really not a whole thing with me.

Rogan: Your English is very good. Is that, like, from school or work or Duolingo or something?

Francis: I grew up in Argentina. Lotta English people there.

Rogan: Right. Got it. So people are saying to me that you’re a lot more liberal, that you’re opening up the church to a lot of stuff. And you just endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

Francis: I did not endorse. I am told I need to be very clear on that, because of American tax regulations.

Rogan: You guys pay no taxes, is that right?

Francis: Something like that. It’s all very complicated. The point is, I didn’t endorse. I merely suggested that the voters choose the lesser of two evils.

Rogan: Which is her?

Francis: Joe, I am not going to take the bait. But I will say who it’s not. It’s not RFK Jr.

Rogan: Which is weird, because of the whole Kennedy Catholic angle, am I right?

Francis: Very different kind of Kennedy these days, to be honest.

Rogan: So, what’s with the gays?

Francis: No problem with them at all. At all. Some of my best friends, as a matter of fact.

Rogan: I’d have thought all of your best friends.

Francis: Look, Joe, I’m trying to open up the church a little bit. I’m trying to appeal to the younger folk, not be so dogmatic. I mean, I’m here, right? When was the last time a pope appeared on a podcast?

Rogan: That’s a good question. But here’s where I am. I’m basically Catholic. My mom was Irish and my dad was Italian —

Francis: I got news for you, son. An Irish mom and an Italian dad makes you way more than basically Catholic.

Rogan: Okay, right, but there’s a lot of stuff I really can’t get behind.

Francis: Give us a chance, Joe. Like what?

Rogan: The whole sin situation. The no-sex-outside-marriage thing. What the Holy Spirit is. That kind of stuff.

Francis: That’s all? That’s easy stuff. Sin we sort of did away with a few years ago. I signed a thing and did that wax seal on it with my pinkie ring and it’s basically not an issue anymore.

Rogan: I didn’t hear any of that.

Francis: The media never report the good stuff we do.

Rogan: That’s true.

Francis: And the sex rules I am chipping away at. You have to go slow with that stuff or there’s pushback and a major financial headache, but I think in a few years we’ll be in a place that a person like you, and your listeners, will feel really good about.

Rogan: That’s nice to hear!

Francis: I know, right?

Rogan: Okay, so what about the Holy Spirit? The Trinity? What’s that whole thing?

Francis: I honestly can’t help you with that one. It is what it is.

Rogan: So that’s staying? No change on that in the future? Because it’s really confusing.

Francis: Tell me about it. But for the time being, certainly, we’re going to stick with the Triune God. Lotta history and tradition wrapped up in that, and there’s nothing I can do about it at this time. But I think, as we all grow and change, there’s a chance we could see some incorporation of some of the wonderful indigenous faith traditions into that dusty old chestnut, you know? I’m thinking maybe something more along the lines of Kokopelli the trickster god, or maybe even something a little more exotic, like Hanuman, the monkey god of the Hindu faith.

Rogan: I haven’t been to church in a long time, but if there was a monkey involved, I’d probably reconsider.

Francis: That’s the goal of this particular rebrand, Joe. We’re on a journey, is what I’m trying to say.

Rogan: Here’s something I’ve always wondered about. Do you have a morning routine?

Francis: Oh, right. Yes. Joe, I’m a cold-plunge guy. And I do Vital Proteins.

Rogan: Nice!

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