671: The Pete and Sebastian Show - EP 671 - "HOLY CAST! w/ special guest Jacqueline Corbelli"

Summary

The Pete and Sebastian Show – EP 671: “HOLY CAST! w/ special guest Jacqueline Corbelli”

Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Studio71
Guests: Jacqueline Corbelli (special guest)
Theme: A rare, comedic deep-dive behind the Vatican walls, as Pete, Sebastian, and their guest Jacqueline Corbelli explore what life is really like in Vatican City—from dining with the Pope to the city’s quirks and privileges.

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Episode Overview

In this special episode, Pete Correale and Sebastian Maniscalco are joined by Jacqueline Corbelli, an accomplished leader in technology and social innovation who, through years of close professional work, has had unprecedented access to the Vatican and Pope Francis himself. The conversation promises an insider’s comedic and awe-struck exploration of life inside Vatican City, peppered with curiosity, playful skepticism, and the duo’s signature banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jacqueline’s Connection to the Vatican

[05:51]

• Jacqueline’s Vatican involvement is voluntary and spans about nine years, focusing on supporting Pope Francis’ poverty and social agenda through leadership forums ("two to three times a year").
• Her affiliation originated with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, teaming up on poverty reduction projects in Africa, which eventually drew Pope Francis’ personal interest.

2. Staying at the Vatican: Daily Life & Surreal Moments

[08:24]

• When in Rome, Jacqueline stays at Casa Santa Marta, the residence chosen by Pope Francis instead of the opulent Papal Palace.
  • “First time I go...I go into the dining room...I look over at, basically, the salad bar, and [the Pope’s] standing there with his plate, like, serving his own salad. It was crazy.” — Jacqueline [09:16]
• The setting is both grand (“stone and marble...solid wood doors”) and humble (“tiny little room with a twin bed and a cross over the top”).

3. Papal Lifestyle & Vatican Traditions

[10:16]

• The Pope’s relaxation attire is rarely “relaxed,” always in a white cassock but sometimes hatless.
• Sebastian probes the ambiance: “Is it the equivalent of staying at a five star, five diamond resort or do you feel you're at the Residence Inn?” [10:55]
• Jacqueline explains the contrast between the luxury of the Papal Palace and the simpler Santa Marta.

4. Rules & Customs Inside Vatican Walls

[13:31]

• Married guests (including Jacqueline and her husband) sleep in separate rooms: “You can't be like in the presence of the Pope [together], I guess...” — Jacqueline [13:31]
• "No frolicking in the Vatican," says Jacqueline—there is a pool and fitness club, but the vibe is distinctly reserved. [16:57]

5. Modern Amenities and Contrasts

[18:03]

• Despite Italy’s sometimes old-school infrastructure, the Vatican’s facilities impress. “By the way, they also play pickleball at the Vatican.” — Sebastian [18:03]
• There’s high security, gold key access, and even private tunnels:
  • “You get a gold key, and the gold key gives you access to the back entrance of St. Peter’s...that was like, a little crazy.” — Jacqueline [18:56]
• Security is tight, with multiple checks when entering/leaving and staff getting to know regulars.

6. Dining, Wine, and Daily Routines

[21:36]

• All-day sessions often include wine (not cocktails): “When you go down for dinner, they open up the big, you know, terrace...statues and grottos and all this stuff. But it's not cocktails. It's wine. It's always wine.” — Jacqueline [21:36]
• The food is “good, healthy, but sometimes I prefer my Italian grandmother’s cooking.” [22:16]
• Has Jacqueline shared wine with the Pope? "In the same room, but I've never sat down and had a glass of wine with him." — Jacqueline [22:47]

7. The Human Side of the Pope

[23:28]

• Pete and Sebastian press: does the Pope listen to podcasts or enjoy media? Jacqueline describes him as “fun, funny...smiling, shaking people's hands...just a cool guy.” [23:28]
• Pope Francis longed for more public interaction but security and protocol limit him—he was even stopped from mingling with immigrants after one discrete venture. [26:39]

8. Vatican City as a Real City

[28:29, 39:01]

• Vatican City is a functional municipality with cars, parking lots, a pharmacy, dry cleaner, supermarket, and gas station.
  • “It's weird for us, like to walk in there. You never can quite wrap your head around it.” — Jacqueline [28:29]
• Only privileged guests—family, while on business—can join for meals; most Vatican workers never meet the Pope in person. [40:30]
• Fun fact: Vatican City covers 121 acres. [39:47]

9. Celebrities and Events in the Vatican

[31:46, 37:01]

• Famous faces do turn up, mostly at the Papal Palace’s events. There are many theaters and venues inside the Vatican, some seating up to 6300 people.
• “There's probably something like, I don't know, maybe even 75, 80 different, like, incredible places inside the Vatican that will blow your mind.” — Jacqueline [37:17]

10. Quirks, Laughs, and Closing Notes

• Pete and Sebastian imagine a future where Sebastian has coffee—or even does standup—with the Pope. [03:46, 43:03]
• Jacqueline’s dog is named “Pope Francis”—an Italian family in-joke. [38:25]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Popes in the Cafeteria:
  “I look over at, basically, the salad bar, and he's standing there with his plate, like, serving his own salad. It was crazy.”
  — Jacqueline [09:16]

• On Vatican Pool Etiquette:
  “No frolicking in the Vatican. But there are people, like, they work and live there...it's part of the club, like, they have a fitness club.”
  — Jacqueline [16:57]

• On the Pope’s Attire:
  “His most relaxed state is in a white, like, cassock. And he sometimes doesn't have his pontiff's hat on, like, the little white one. But that's about it.”
  — Jacqueline [10:16]

• On Vatican Entry Perks:
  “You get a gold key, and the gold key gives you access to the back entrance of St. Peter’s...That was really cool.”
  — Jacqueline [18:56]

• On the Vatican’s Contradictions:
  “It's full of contradictions, I guess I would say.”
  — Jacqueline [18:18]

• On Life in Vatican City:
  “You never can quite wrap your head around it. Like even now I can't really wrap my head around it because in some ways it seems like so day to day and you're like want to slap yourself and say, this is the Vatican, you know?”
  — Jacqueline [28:29]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:00] – Jacqueline joins the show; introductions
• [05:51] – Jacqueline describes her job and how she became affiliated with the Vatican
• [08:24] – First time staying at Casa Santa Marta; seeing the Pope as a “regular guy”
• [10:16] – Discussion about papal attire, daily routines, and luxury vs. austerity
• [13:31] – Unusual Vatican customs: separate rooms for married guests
• [16:33] – The Vatican’s private pool and fitness amenities
• [18:03] – Surprising details: pickleball at the Vatican and fitness club standards
• [18:56] – The “gold key” and secret Vatican entrances
• [20:29] – Security procedures, getting in and out of Vatican City
• [21:36] – Meals, wine, and social gatherings inside the Vatican
• [23:28] – Is the Pope approachable? Does he joke, listen to podcasts?
• [26:39] – The challenges of Pope Francis trying to mix with the public
• [28:29] – Vatican as functional city: cars, stores, parks
• [31:46] – Celebrities in the Vatican and venues for events
• [38:25] – Jacqueline shares story about naming her dog Pope Francis
• [39:01] – The scope of Vatican City (121 acres), more details on city life
• [40:44] – Most Vatican workers never actually meet the Pope
• [43:03] – Closing banter, dreams of performing/wining with the Pope

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Tone & Style

Casual, irreverent, but deeply curious, Pete and Sebastian bring their signature humor and everyman lens to the Vatican’s mystique. Jacqueline plays along, offering both genuine awe and grounded pragmatism about a remarkably rarefied world.

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Final Takeaway

This episode deconstructs the Vatican’s “untouchable” image, revealing a world rich with tradition, quirks, and genuine humanity. From pickleball to pontiffs pouring their own salad dressing, Pete and Sebastian transform the mystical into the relatable, with all the questions you’d ever want to ask—plus a few only they would.

Highly recommended for anyone fascinated by the Vatican, Italian culture, or just looking for a laugh-filled journey behind the world’s most famous walls.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I'm great. How are you, Pete?

[A]

I'm good. I'm good. I don't know if you like Jacqueline or Jackie. I know in the emails, call me.

[B]

Jack if you want.

[A]

All right. And I don't know if you've ever met Sebastian, officially, that was a million years ago.

[B]

Hi, nice to meet you.

[C]

Well, listen, thank you so much for coming on. Got a lot to get into. And we understand that you work at the Vatican or have worked or currently working. I don't know just yet. And we understand that some questions we ask might be a little. Oh, I can't answer that. Or this. So. So no problem with that.

[B]

Okay, good.

[C]

So just. Just tell us. I'm sorry, that's.

[B]

That's.

[C]

That's privileged. Privilege information. But tell our listeners.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

What your job description is.

[B]

I've been working for about nine years to help further the agenda of Pope Francis. And I do that through leadership forums that we hold two to three times a year. And so I'm just often there working with the Vatican on these items, on these issues, if that makes sense. Does that make sense?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Well, no, it doesn't make sense to me just yet. So who pays you?

[B]

Nobody pays me.

[C]

Oh, this is like volunteer.

[B]

This is. I collaborate and work for a very famous economist. His name is Jeffrey Sachs, and Professor Jeffrey Sachs. And I've been working with him in Africa for many years. It's not my day job. My day job's in technology. But I've been contributing to Professor Sacks work in Africa for many years. And so when Pope Francis became the Pope and his whole sort of emphasis was around poverty, he got very interested in our work and got close to it, and that's how we started to work with him. But it's in a leadership thought, leadership way, and we've written some books about it. Here's one right here. This is the very first one we did. We're now in the second one. We're starting a third one in the fall, but they go like two or three years at a time, so.

[A]

That was perfect. Jackie. That's the lowdown of the job and how you became affiliated and started working with the Pope.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Now, if I could take it a step further. When we chatted backstage, I believe it is at Gotham Comedy Club. With that, folks, listen. At home comes a relationship with the Pope. Where. Have breakfast, hang out at the Vatican, sleep at the Vatican. You know where the Pope slept. You've seen his bedroom. You know how he likes his eggs. You've had coffee with him. I mean. No, I'm just saying, right? It's. It's like, unless I'm mistaken, you.

[C]

You.

[A]

That's how close you are.

[B]

But I'll tell you what I did say.

[A]

Okay, all right. I do exaggerate. I do exaggerate. I Apologize.

[B]

When I'm there, I do stay at Casa Santa Marta, and that is where Pope Francis lived. And I stay and still do. Actually. I was there a few days before he passed, and I was just there in July, on 4th of July, actually. I was at the Vatican instead of here. And, yeah, it's. He's, like, two floors above. And at the first time that I saw him, you know, I. I didn't even know what to think when they told me, this is where you're going and this is where you're staying, and then the Swiss Guards out front and the whole thing. And I'm, like, kind of, like, nervous, you know, and then they have a place. By the way, he's such a humble guy that it's actually just a place where visiting cardinals come and stay like that. That's where they were. They're in the conclave, et cetera. So I'm there the first time I go. I go in. And actually, my husband got to come with me the first time. He couldn't come with me after that. We had to have separate rooms. But we go into the dining room, and we're just eating. And I didn't know. Like, I didn't know what to expect. And then all of a sudden, I look over at, basically, the salad bar, and he's standing there with his plate, like, serving his own salad. It was crazy. I was like. I was like, what is happening right now? I felt like it was coming out of my eyes, and I wasn't sure why, but I was, like, really struck by the whole kind of thing, you know? Like, this is crazy.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. As he's getting the salad, is he in the white robe? Is he wearing jeans? Do you ever see the Pope outside of his outfit?

[B]

No. His most relaxed state is in a white, like, cassock. And he sometimes doesn't have his pontiff's hat on, like, the little white one. But. But that's about it. That's about as far as I've, you know, seen him get relaxed, if you will.

[C]

Okay, what's. But what?

[A]

Well, I can't imagine what it's like to see the Pope putting ranch dressing.

[B]

It's surreal. It is so surreal.

[A]

Squeezing the ranch.

[B]

You know, he's honestly just was such a, like, regular guy, and he, you know, he just. He didn't like all the pomp and circumstance. I think we all know that, though, right?

[C]

Yes. However, I. I do know that, you know, the Vatican is very opulent. And, you know, when you stay there, is it the equivalent of staying At a five star, five diamond resort or do you feel you're at the Residence Inn? What type of like, like when you go to the room, is there like. Oh, these does. Okay, does it have towels stamped with a V for Vatican? What, what's the right.

[A]

Is it branded?

[C]

Is it, Is it branded?

[B]

Everything says Santa Marta. Yeah, it does in the crest and all of that. And then it's where he stayed. Remember, like this is not the Papal palace. It's been there too, but he doesn't, he wasn't living there. But Papal palace is more like what you're talking about. And it's beyond the five stars. Like, like way beyond. And I can't really put it into words, but it's like such a vibe. Like the energy is so, you know, like it's a little overwhelming, frankly, because.

[A]

Okay, Jackie, I'm sorry, sorry to interrupt, but the Papal palace means on the grounds of the Vatican and the casa. Is that you're talking about the home.

[B]

It's also on the grounds.

[A]

So when you come out of the house, can you just stroll the Vatican grounds? Like what's the difference between the Papal palace and where you are?

[B]

Oh, the palace is a palace and like that's where the popes lived and where actually Pope Leo lives. He decided to bring that tradition back. But Pope Francis refused to live in the palace. Just like he refused to wear the thing and he wear the red shoe and stuff. He did. He, he, he was going to stay a bishop, so he's always called the Bishop of Rome. He didn't want any of that. So Santa Marta is. It was his home. Like he made that his home. You know, they re kind of def. Created it, if you will, for him. So like where he was. First of all, it's such a combination of like this incredible. Like it's old, so it's like stone and marble and like this incredible solid wood door is really high. Like so it's got all of that. But then you go in your bedroom, it's like a tiny little room with a twin bed and like a cross over the top and you know, so. And when my husband was with me, we had to sleep in separate rooms. He got the bigger one, which I was kind of annoyed by. But anyway.

[C]

But what's a separate room? What's going on with that? Why separate rooms? Why separate rooms?

[B]

I know. Well, exactly. Well, because you can't be like in the presence of the pulp. I guess you can't. Ah.

[A]

Are they afraid you might fool around anything?

[C]

Like so they don't want any like fooling around in the thing under that.

[B]

Particular roof, you know.

[C]

Gotcha.

[A]

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[A]

Guys, I know I've been saying it now a couple weeks in a row, but the Pete Corieli as I was saying comedy tour kicks off in mid October. Starting out in Portland, Oregon. Going everywhere. I'm going everywhere. More dates are being added. My booking agent call me up. I'm going to Hawaii in April with this thing. All right? It's going everywhere. So go to Pete Corieli.com and you can get tickets and I hope to see you out there, man. I really do. It's going to be fun. Back to the cast.

[C]

Is there A pool.

[B]

I heard you ask this before. There actually is a pool.

[C]

And are people, like, laying out or, like, what's the vibe at the pool? I mean, can you go and swim? I guess. Can you and your husband get up and go, babe, I'll meet you at the pool. I'm going to be reading my newspaper. I know you like to swim. So is there, like, people frolicking?

[B]

No frolicking in the Vatican. But there are people, like, they work and live there, and. And it's because it's a city and they go. It's like, part of the club. Like, they have a. They have a fitness club. So the pool is at the fitness club. And you know, when you're at the club, you can swim. So.

[C]

So.

[B]

Got me.

[C]

Got you there. I want to get back into this fitness club, though. I've traveled around Italy, and Italy, I don't think is up to date with a lot of their equipment when it comes to health and fitness. I think. I think Italy is relying a lot on, oh, we have the Spanish Steps, we have the Coliseum.

[B]

Absolutely.

[C]

And. And they're not taken care of. Their wi fi is awful. And then the health equipment is terrible. At the Vatican, do they have, like, what you would normally see at an equinox or is this. Again, it's just an afterthought. Put a couple treadmills there. It looks like a lifetime fitness. Where are we at with it?

[B]

Okay, that's it. That's.

[C]

Listen, Pete, I'm sorry, but they also play pickleball. Believe it or not, they got pickleball at the. At the Vatican.

[A]

See, I'm confused. I'm confused. I thought everybody walked around with a Bible and a robe.

[B]

By the way, where it's all located is in this, like, I mean, spectacular, like, blow you away, beautiful. Like, something ad kind of, like, place. So it's full of contradictions, I guess I would say.

[A]

Can you videotape?

[B]

I know that sounds like you want to really go there, but. But be careful.

[A]

Well, no, I'm just saying, like, does anyone. When they're walking the Vatican, does anybody videotape all the stuff? Or is that, like. Because I've never seen the inside of the Vatican.

[B]

I've got.

[A]

You can.

[B]

I got a lot of pictures.

[A]

Oh, you do? Wow.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. But, like, one of the coolest things at the Vatican. Well, when you're staying at Santa Marta in particular, which I. That's where I stay, you get a gold key, and the gold key gives you access to the back entrance of St. Peter's and that is like, one of the coolest things about being there and in those. In that surroundings and having that ability that. That was like, a little crazy. Like, that's the way the. The. The. We call him the Holy Father. Like, the boat walks into St. Peter's through that entrance.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

So that was really cool. And I had to try that out. And so for first, and my husband was with me, and we like, come on, let's go try out the gold key, you know, and so you. Wow. First you got to dangle it. Like, so they actually. Because other, like, you know, there's security everywhere and they, like, see the key and they watch you come and. And then they're like, okay, okay. So then they lead you down this lake tunnel and then.

[A]

Wow. Man.

[B]

Well, that's pretty cool, right? Like, that's pretty cool.

[C]

Yeah, no, that's. That's. I mean, it's just like one of the perks I guess you get while you're staying there. Now, if you need to go into town, I'm just trying to figure out, like, what's.

[B]

That's hard. Hard to do. It's hard to do to leave the Vatican.

[C]

Oh, why?

[B]

Because the security is so high. You gotta go through, like, three different levels of clearance before you get out. And now they get to. They got to know me. So like, now. Now I just show them, like, my key and they're like, okay, go ahead. But at first it was like, I don't know if I. How long are we staying? Like, it's because. Because you start to feel like, holy Molly. I feel like I need to get out for a little, you know.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

Is there a house car? Is there a house car that takes you?

[B]

Yeah, there is. But you know what's best in Rome, because you guys know Rome, right? Is walking. So when you walk out, it's very close to the entrance, actually Santa Marta. And when you walk out, you're coming out the gates. Like, it's very close to St. Peter's Square. And everybody's like, just like, looking at who's coming out of there, you know, it's kind of cool.

[A]

Yeah. Now if. When you're working and you're at Santa Marta at night, could you, like, is there a porch? Can you open up a bottle of wine and have a glass of wine? And you're like, I'm. I'm literally drinking wine in the Vatican. Right? Like, is like, oh, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. So. So our sessions are, like, all day sessions, including, like, lunch and dinner and really nice ones and so, like, they. It's in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which is, like, old is old. Like, like, you know, 900, right. And so when you go down for dinner, they open up the big, you know, terrace. It's marble, beautiful, you know, statues and grottos and all this stuff. And they serve you out there. So it's. But it's not cocktails. It's wine. It's always wine.

[C]

How's the food?

[B]

It's good. I'm Italian, right. Like, so, like, I feel like sometimes the Italian that my grandmother made. Right. I prefer it, you know, sometimes, but it's good.

[A]

Jack, have you ever had.

[B]

It's a lot of good stuff. It's all very healthy.

[A]

Have you ever had a glass of wine with the Pope?

[B]

No. In the same room, but I've never sat down and had a glass of wine with him.

[A]

Does he have a glass of wine? Did he have a glass, like, Fonzie?

[B]

Like, he had his. Like. Of course. Like, he has his own, like, corner of the lake of the dining hall, and he's got his people, you know, his. His guys with him. Yeah. And so he was over there, you know, pouring his little line and.

[A]

Oh, man.

[C]

Do you know, does the Pope, you know, listen to podcasts? Does he watch movies? Or is he. Is he religion? All day, all night?

[B]

I mean, is this guy all night long? He's. He's a. He's a he What? Like, I'm talking about Francis, not the. Not the new. But no, he's a very, like, fun, funny guy. I remember, like, the first time I saw him come in. Not at. Was after I saw him in the. In the dining room, but when I first saw him come into one of our sessions, when he first came in, he's just, like, smiling, shaking people's hands, like, how you doing? Like, very small talk, you know, it was kind of very cool. It was all very much on brand, if you know what I mean. Like, he's just this, like, guy. Now, that said he. He was a pretty. There was some kind of. I mean, he was smart, he was strategic. He knew politics. He was nice. He was like. It was. He's just a cool guy.

[A]

The Pete and Sebastian Show. Hey, guys, if you're loving the Pete and Sebastian show for five bucks a month, you might want to think about joining that Pete and Sebastian Patreon channel, because we give you another extra show, which is always fun and different. We always, you know, it's. It's. It's not just a show. We do, like, oh, we gotta do an extra one. We try to make it a little special, a little different and you get four live shows. Every Tuesday night I host a show called Loose Ends where we take calls from all the cast listeners and we do a whole bunch of other stuff too, including having guests. So far we've had Dan Soder, Robert Kelly, Giannis Pappas and so many more to come. So hope to see you over there on the Pete and Sebastian Patreon channel. Seriously? Seriously. If you want to have some entertainment, you should hop over there.

[D]

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[A]

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[B]

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[C]

C mintmobile.com does he go out outside the Vatican? Let's say if the Pope wants, you know, does he go out? Because I would not recognize the Pope outside his outfit if he came out in like a tank top and shorts and he was walking around Rome. I don't think a lot of people would recognize him just because of the, you know, like when you, when you see somebody not like you.

[B]

Context.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

You're like, oh, that can't be the Pope. Does he go out and like go to a bar?

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Did he go out? Was he amongst the people?

[B]

He was. That was his biggest. It made him like very sad. Over the years he, they wouldn't let him do that. And one time when he first became Pope, I think this is public, so I can tell you he just decided, because he is a man of the people, he just decided he was going to leave and so he left Santa Marta walked out, went into St. Peter's was like talking to like, there's immigrants, right? A lot of immigrants coming into Italy. So he, you know, he sit down with them and talk to them and whatever that happened and then they stopped him from doing that afterwards. So, yeah, it's a very like secluded life. Praise a lot.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Wow. Did you see the Pope mobile? And where is it parked? Is it in a garage? Is it just waiting?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, it's in a garage. He didn't like the Popemobile at all, but Leo uses it. I was at Leo's first. I was at his first Mass in St. Peter's and whatnot. He's enjoying himself, I think. He's definitely like enjoying it, I think more. But Pope Francis had all that horrible stuff like, to deal with and the other guy quit because he didn't want to deal with it. So it was not an easy gig.

[A]

So Jack, when you wake up at the I Casa and you have breakfast, can you like literally go for a jog in the Vatican in the city itself? Just go for a run. So how many people live in there? What is going on behind those walls? I only see what I saw in the church, but I really didn't know it was like such a self functioning city.

[B]

Yeah, it is. And it's, it's a municipality and it's a state as well. But yeah, people just walk around. They've got cars in there. Like not a lot of cars but like, because there's parking lots for those. But people are just walking around. Like anybody who, not everyone who works there, but a lot of the, a lot of the, A lot of priests too, who like, are cardinals. They live in the Vatican or near the Vatican, you know, so it's very, it's weird. It's like, it's weird for us, like to walk in there. You never can quite wrap your head around it. Like even now I can't really wrap my head around it because in some ways it seems like so day to day and you're like want to slap yourself and say, this is the Vatican, you know? Yeah, yeah, it's pretty crazy. The, the thing is that, you know, the security is like everywhere. So every once in a while if you don't, you know, wave a certain way, like they get to know you by the way you interact with them. Otherwise you're questioning, you know, like, where you headed, where are you going? And so they just walk around. They just, they're just walking around.

[A]

Fascinating. Can you have guests with you when you like bring A friend for lunch. Meet me at the gate and I'll take you in for lunch.

[B]

Actually, my daughters, like, I, I was able to, you know, when I'm doing one of those leading one of those sessions, they, they kind of have, you know, they like to do things to make you comfortable. So they let my, my daughters in.

[A]

Wow, that's great.

[C]

Is there housekeeping?

[B]

Oh, my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah, housekeeping. You know, there's Johnny on the spot.

[C]

You know, is there room service if you want a late night snack? Is there like a room service menu that you could order from?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

No, no.

[C]

Is there a mini bar in the room with snacks? I'm just trying to figure out the food situation.

[B]

A little refrigerator and there's fruit and water and that's it.

[C]

Do they charge you? Is there any money exchanged at all for some of the accoutrements at the facility?

[A]

No, no. Can you smoke a cigar on the grounds or a cigarette if you're. Is there an area I think you.

[B]

Can smoke on the grounds? You definitely can't smoke inside. I've never, I've never seen anybody smoke inside, let's put it that way.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

I don't know if I'd smoke marijuana or anything.

[A]

Now. Speaking of like being within Italy, have you ever seen like the President of Italy? I forget her name now. I really like it too. I'm a fan.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The prime prime Minister. But any politicians?

[B]

Yeah, she was great.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So. And without, without saying names, like, do you sometimes see, all of a sudden you'll see a musician or an actor or a politician walking on the grounds? You do. Wow.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's wild.

[B]

More people go there than you imagine, you know, but mostly it is like you guys talked one time about the comedians that went. Most times you don't get beyond that. That's at the Papal palace, by the way. That picture that you show that is at the palace and, and it's room where he receives these people and it's big. I mean, there's. Yeah, I mean it's like at least 100 people in there. So I. Yeah, that's the way it is.

[A]

You're after the meet and greet when he walks back and goes, oh, has anyone got some hand soap? Glad that's done that. That, that's, that's where you start to hang with him.

[B]

Yeah, well, I sent you the first, that first picture that I sent you was when I first like, met him. Met him. It was after one of our sessions and, and I asked him if I could do A selfie. And he goes, yeah. So I did the selfie, and the selfies sucked. It was terrible. But someone just happened to be standing across from us and took that picture. I was like, oh, thank God for that. Thank God. You got something.

[A]

Yeah. Wow. A selfie with the punk.

[B]

It was fun. And he was like. He totally knew what I was asking. And he was like, yeah. And he was, like, getting in it. It was cute.

[C]

I'm actually looking at the photo right now on the screen. Does the Vatican, the Pope, utilize social media in a way to get their message out? So the. The Pope currently is from Chicago. I'm from Chicago. Would the Pope be open to, like, you know, interacting with, you know, like, sometimes, like, the President. Obama went on Marc Marin. Right. So he kind of, like, did some untraditional media. Do you think the Pope now would be. And you sound like he's having a ball. Do maybe a. A tour Chicago with me. Go to Portillo's, get some Lou Malnatis. You know, make it. Make the Pope seem a little bit more human than this. Yeah. Than this guy who just lives at the Vatican and we never see, you know, like.

[B]

Like, I don't know.

[A]

The President makes Sebastian look a little more holy.

[B]

Go ahead or I'll answer. What did you.

[C]

No, like, I'm just saying, like, you see the President of the United States sometimes go into a deli and have a sandwich.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Do you think the Pope would be open to doing things that put him out in the. In. In the. In the eye of the public?

[B]

I gotcha. And my husband's from Chicago, so I know Portells, but I. I wouldn't know, obviously, for sure, but I would not be surprised if this particular Pope would venture out a little bit more. I don't know if he would do it in the way you're describing, but the big thing to. The big thing about Rome and the Vatican runs this way, too, is that it's literally like, who can you talk to about that? Do you know? And it's a very bureaucratic place. People just think, oh, I know someone at the Vatican, and blah, blah, blah. There's so many, like, layers and access points inside the Vatican, and it just depends on, are you talking to someone who's close to him and can actually get your message to him? That's always the biggest question. So. But if you did, I would have to guess that it might not be out of reach.

[C]

The guy was at the World stick. I was at the world series in 2014. I mean, like, I can't I can't see him going, I was at the World Series. Now I'm the Pope. I want to go to the Super Bowl. Let's make that happen.

[B]

He plays tennis and he plays, like. I think he's played tennis with one of the guys, like, Alcaraz or. Oh, no, Sinner. Sinner. Because he's Italian or something like. No, he's definitely, you know, an American guy. Like, and they love it. Everybody loves that. He's American, too. Interesting.

[A]

There's a chance he might know of Sebastian.

[B]

He must know you. I mean, he must know you, Jackie.

[A]

You must have people like the way, like, I hate to use this, but, like, the Hunter Biden, they would say, would paying to get to Joe Biden. Do people literally pay money to get to people that they think could get their message to the Pope? Like, as you said, it's all about access. Like, you know, it's about who you know. That's wild.

[C]

Is there.

[B]

There's just so many people in his ear. You know what I mean? It's not anything like, there's just a lot, a lot coming at you. So it's. Yeah.

[A]

Crazy. Yeah.

[C]

Is there a theater in the Vatican where there can be a play or a performance done, let's say, if you two wanted to do it. What's that many? There's many. There's many theaters in there, bro.

[B]

Many places you could use as, like, a theater for, you know, that kind of event. Like, wow, there's so many beautiful buildings in there. I can't even. I can't even tell you. It's just. It's.

[A]

Bro, is it like an inn, like, with a front desk and stuff?

[B]

The place I stayed, they had a front desk. Yeah, but no, but you talked to Vatican versus where I stayed. Like, you gotta understand, like, there's probably something like, I don't know, maybe even 75, 80 different, like, incredible places inside the Vatican that will blow your mind. Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah, that's.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

That is, like. It seems to me like that it's just the Holy Grail of places to see. Amazing.

[B]

Recommend it. Yeah. I think it's just. It's like, literally rare air. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, yeah.

[A]

I mean, I've done the tour. I've done the tour and I've been to the Vatican.

[B]

But I mean, you're talking about St. Peter's right? Like, and you've done the.

[A]

Yes. Square and all out there. Yeah.

[B]

But if you go outside the Sistine Chapel, if you go out there, because there's an outdoor area and you look up, that's all Vatican City. And like straight up there is where I do the work I was describing.

[A]

Yeah, that is. Thanks for coming on with this. This is really fascinating, bro.

[B]

I'm so, so I want to say one last thing because I think it's funny. I got a dog right around the same time that I started doing this work. And I'm Italian. And so, you know, I was thinking, oh, what am I going to name this dog? And so my brother in law is like, name him bocce. Her name was like. And then. And somebody just, I think it was my sister. She just throw. You could just name him Francis. And so that's the dog's name, pop. Francis is the dog's name. Just for fun.

[A]

That's great.

[C]

I got, I got one more question before you let you go. Do you know how big. I'm sure we could look this up. How, like when you say Vatican City, I'm thinking, how big could that be? Is it acreage? Like what are we talking? Or is it. Is there like little stores within the city that the dry cleaners or. Oh, there is, yes.

[B]

There's pharmacy, dry cleaner, supermarket, gas station.

[C]

Is there a park with swing sets?

[B]

Thing is a park. Oh, I don't know about the swing set. But the whole thing, whatever is in a building is a beautiful like park like setting.

[C]

So 121 acres, Pete. 121 acres.

[B]

There you go.

[A]

How big is Siena? Because I've been there. I wonder if it's similar in that, you know, the wall surrounding it.

[C]

Look that there's a whole thing. I'm looking at this picture. I never.

[B]

Yeah, I love Santa. Acreage wise is bigger.

[A]

Right? That's. Actually, I'm blown away. I thought you were going to tell us. Oh, you know, it's a little like I just didn't. Wasn't expecting a whole city. And to hear that like.

[B]

We thought.

[A]

Like, you know, oh, you're so close to meeting the Pope. There's a whole city of people that are ahead of us.

[B]

Actually. No, no, that's not true. No, no, no, that's not true. That's actually not true. So let me, let me just, you know, be like very clear. The people in the Vatican, most of them will never meet the Pope.

[A]

Really? I thought the Pope just strolled Vatican City government.

[B]

Like. Yeah, but when he strolls, he's like, it's not going to be in the middle of the day, I promise you that. And then like, oh, and so people are working like Office jobs in whatever area like HR or finance or this or that. So most of them do not spend time with the Pope. You can get in there before a lot of them, right?

[A]

Yeah, that's like, I used to work at Sirius xm, but you don't really get to meet Stern.

[B]

Yeah, similar to that. But I'd be surprised if you didn't meet that.

[C]

Well, we gotta thank you for taking out a sliver of your day to enlighten us on the Vatican and Vatican City and the work that you've been doing there. So we really do appreciate you coming on and joining us for a little bit here today. Jackie and Pete, thank you for bringing Jackie onto our wonderful show.

[A]

Yeah, same thing Sebastian said. Thank you so much, Jackie. It was such a pleasure.

[B]

You made it so easy. Appreciate it.

[C]

You got it. All right, enjoy now.

[A]

We'll be in touch. Trying to get the invite from you. We'll be in touch soon.

[B]

I know you will.

[A]

Thank you so much. That was fantastic.

[B]

Awesome. Thanks, guys.

[C]

Bye.

[A]

Bye.

[C]

All right, there you have it. Coming straight from the Vatican. Yeah. I had no idea, bro, that it was this kind of like. I don't want to say Westernized, but it sounds like. I thought there was just people in robes walking around. It sounds like there's, you know, people going to get their dry cleaning and having a Starbucks in there.

[A]

But. But also in the most stunning little, like, bro, it bothers me that I'm gonna die someday and I'm never gonna have been able to just stroll the Vatican City with a glass of wine and just go wherever I want, wherever I want. What's that over there?

[B]

What's over.

[A]

But I'm having dinner with bottles of wine in inside those walls.

[B]

What are we doing? What are you doing?

[A]

This guy grew up down the block from you.

[C]

That's what I'm saying, bro. I was thinking if they got a theater in there. Next special live from the Vatican. I mean, it's just.

[A]

Oh, my God, bro, that would be incredible. Can we get a Google on who's performed at the Vatican? Is that a thing like, bro, they.

[C]

Got a 6300 cedar in there, bro. We'll be in there within the next two years. I predict that we're going to be going to the Vatican.

[A]

Listen, I got dibs on opening for you at the Vatican. Make it happen. That was really enlightening, man. That was really cool.

[C]

There you have it. Anything else you want to say closing here at the Pete and Sebastian show?

[A]

Like I said, I was amazed. A lot more going on than I thought. There are people lacing up their sneakers, putting on their headphones, and jogging the street to the Vatican. Oh, my God. That's got to be. I'm so.

[C]

I'm really.

[A]

You think. You think, like, anyone, you know has, like, spent the night in that city?

[C]

No, not that I know of. But I'm sure if you start talking to people, maybe there's someone in our lives that has been in there. I just want to find out more about this Pope. I feel the way she was talking, that this guy might be at a nightclub in six months.

[A]

I know where you were going. I liked where you were going about doing something with him in Chicago and then asking about a theater. I think considering what you do, you'll be doing the rest of your life. And what he does, he'll be doing the rest of his life. There's a really good opportunity here to build up a friendship. A friendship that ends with you being, like, 65, 66 at that age. And every morning on Christmas, the phone rings and you look at your kids and go, it's the Pope. It's aligned, bro. It's all aligned. Anyway, great hang. Hope you guys enjoyed it out there as a special hang. That's it.

[C]

All right. But what?

[A]

Well, I can't imagine what it's like to see the Pope putting ranch dressing.

[B]

It's surreal. It is so surreal.

[A]

Squeezing the ranch. Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change your receipt. Did the sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5 only at McDonald's for a limited time. Prices and participation may vary.