Podcasts about Pope Francis

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Pope Francis said, "To follow God's law, let us begin with gratitude.” What will you begin with today? Take a moment for gratitude.

Hello to you listening in Quezon City, the Philippines!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.In 2017 (years before the current madness) Pope Francis said, “Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, then he destroyed his people.” That's what con men do. Yes, there are days when We the People feel ashamed - even hopeless - for having been duped.At the same time I'm reminded of a line in William Faulkner's 1936 novel Absalom, Absalom!. “Well, Kernel, they kilt us but they ain't whupped us yit!” The quote captures the spirit of the post-Civil War South, suggesting a resilience despite a devastating military loss. For those who paid attention, with that quote Tim Kaine introduced Hillary Clinton ahead of her concession speech. It still applies. Work still remains. Question: If it's true - and I believe it is - we are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves because we alone can change it, how are We the People showing up, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant? How are you finding your voice in these times and what are you saying when you speak up? We the People are casting off our feelings of helplessness, committing to action, reaching for miracle. Where do you find yourself reaching for miracles? Reach! They ain't whupped us yit! You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.  If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

Pope Leo XIV has recently formally declared St. John Henry Newman—who was canonized only in 2019 by Pope Francis—a doctor of the Catholic Church, a recognition given only to 37 other saints in Catholicism's over 2000 year history. This places Newman among great figures like St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Theresa de Avila, St. Catherine of Sienna, and the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. What is the significance of giving St. John Henry Newman—an Englishman and Anglican convert to Catholicism who was born over 200 years ago—this title? What is it about Newman's approach to communicating the faith that earned him this great honor—and why now?  Equally important, how can contemporary evangelists draw inspiration from his work to proclaim the Gospel in a drastically different world, religiously and morally, from Newman's 19th century Victorian England? A listener asks for advice on how to give better homilies at Mass. 00:00 | Introduction 01:26 | Bishop Barron's recent domestic travels 03:20 | Defining "Doctor of the Church" 04:55 | Distinguishing doctors from saints 05:50 | John Henry Newman's brief biography 12:18 | Understanding the development of doctrine 17:41 | Safeguards against corruption 22:33 | The wholeness of the truth 25:34 | Newman: "To live is to change" 29:28 | The "illative sense" of the mind's assent to propositions 34:10 | Difficulties vs. doubt 35:54 | How Newman speaks to England now 37:55 | Listener question: How can priests improve preparation for homilies? 39:58 | Join the Word on Fire Institute   Links: Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/ NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.    

The Portuguese singer and songwriter Carminho is one of the leading singers in the style known as fado – the deeply soulful, melancholy music that is somewhat akin to Spanish flamenco or American blues. She has collaborated with the iconic Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso, performed for the late Pope Francis, recorded with Steve Albini, and made a special appearance in the film Poor Things, by Yorgos Lanthimos, where she sings from a balcony accompanying herself on the teardrop-shaped Portuguese guitar. Carminho has a new album called Eu Vou Morrer de Amor ou Resistir – I'll die of love, or I'll resist.  Accompanied by classical guitar, Portuguese guitar, and acoustic bass guitar, she performs in-studio.Set list: 1. Canção à ausente 2. Saber 3. Lá vai Lisboa

Every fall, the McGrath Institute for Church Life hosts the wildly popular “Saturdays with the Saints” lecture series. For one hour on the morning of Notre Dame home football games, a scholar typically from Notre Dame delivers a public lecture on a saint. The room is always full and, in fact, there are auxiliary rooms to hold the overflow crowd. People who gather on campus for football games apparently also really want to learn about the saints. We've been hosting this series for 15 years now, and this year we focused on “Saints of the Sacred Heart.”I want to offer you, our dear listeners, a little taste of this series through our humble podcast. In episodes to come, I'll talk with some of the lecturers from the 2025 series about the saint of the Sacred Heart that they themselves spoke on. But it is hard to do that with the presenter from the first lecture in this year's series because that lecturer is me. So, here's what I'm doing today. I am going to deliver my lecture here, on our podcast. I'll link in the show notes the few slides I included, but otherwise you will hear what the audience at Saturdays with the Saints heard. My saint was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, specifically as the saint who ushered in the rebirth of the devotion to the Sacred Heart in the modern world. I hope you enjoy.Follow-up Resources:The slides that accompanied this lecture are available here.Learn more about the “Saturdays with the Saints” series: https://mcgrath.nd.edu/events/saturdays-with-the-saints/“Dilexit Nos – Part 1, a conversation with Joshua McManaway and Melissa Moschella” (about Pope Francis's encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus), podcast episode via Church Life Today“Dilexit Nos – Part 2, a conversation with Brett Robinson and Abigail Favale” (about Pope Francis's encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus), podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Christina Bagaglio Slentz is Associate Director for Creation Care for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Learn about how her diocese prioritizes climate action here.In this episode, we often refer to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' and the ways that faith communities are living out its stated goals. We also discuss the theme “seeds of peace and hope,” the official theme for the 2025 ecumenical Season of Creation.Many thanks to Christina for sharing her wisdom in this conversation!Christina SlentzTRANSCRIPTChristina Slentz I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure—but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly and another may not really have that capacity.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm talking with Dr. Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Associate Director for Creation Care at the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Christina has a background in sociology, with a PhD in international studies and global affairs. She's also a Navy veteran. Today, she serves a diocese of 97 parishes, helping to guide and empower people in their creation care work. The Diocese of San Diego is a microcosm of diverse biomes and diverse people, and it's a fascinating example of refugia, because as a diocese, they are doing all the things. Christina and I talk about Laudato si', solar energy, economics, eco spirituality, environmental justice advocacy, the centrality of the Eucharist, and the mutuality between caring for neighbor and caring for the Earth. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Christina, thank you so much for being with me today. I really appreciate talking to you.Christina Slentz Thank you, Debra, for having me. I'm really excited to be here.Debra Rienstra So I am eager to hear more about the Diocese of San Diego, because it seems that you have been very intentional and thoughtful and ambitious about your creation care agenda, and we're going to get into the details of that in just a minute, but I want to start with you. So tell us your hero origin story. How did you get into faith-based environmental work and into your current position?Christina Slentz Well, to be honest, I never saw it coming in many ways. I was working in the global affairs area, looking at sources of conflict and cooperation and how political economy intersects with those dynamics, and that was my academic area of focus. And at the same time, I've always been a catechist in the Catholic church since the 90s, and my church life was pretty comfortable, I would say, and active. But I didn't really see those two things coming together until Laudato si', the encyclical written by Pope Francis on the care of our common home, was released in 2015, and this really started to bring more overlap between these two areas in my life. And I would say, increasingly, then there was a lot of interplay between those focus areas for me. And eventually this position became available in the Diocese of San Diego, and a friend mentioned it to me, and I thought that is actually the perfect vocation for me. And I really feel like I understood it to be a vocation, not just a job.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I think I can relate to everything you just said. I think we came to this work from different areas of specialty, but yeah, like you, I feel like we've had these mid-career shifts where suddenly our area of specialty—in my case, literature and creative writing—has become energized by—in your case, Laudato si', in my case, other documents as well as Laudato si',—and we've sort of taken this fascinating and yeah, I would agree, vocational, turn. So let's talk a little bit more about Laudato si'. I imagine our listeners know at least a little bit about it. It's been so enormously influential. It's such an amazing landmark document. Could you talk a little bit about how you've seen Laudato si' diffuse through the Catholic Church, especially the American Catholic Church?Christina Slentz Yes, I think, to be honest, it has had a complicated journey with the Catholic community here in the United States. Very much like the issue of climate change in the global community, the United States has struggled with these dynamics—I think the way that they involve our economics and some of our very strong ideology about economic freedom and what that means to people. And so I think it's fair to say that while Laudato si' was very warmly received around the world, it has struggled in the United States as a whole, and that includes the American Catholic community. That said, there have been—like your description of refugia suggests——there have been these pockets, though, where I think that particular dynamics existed, and there was fertile ground for seeds to be planted. And the Diocese of San Diego is one of them. The Diocese of—the Archdiocese of Atlanta was another. There are a couple around the country, and I do think some footholds were created. In addition, one of the things that is particularly interesting about the encyclical Laudato si'—and an encyclical is just a document that a pope writes and then circulates, right, this is where the word encyclical comes from—circulates around until everyone's had a chance to read it. We can imagine in medieval times, you know, how this must have been a challenge. And I think that, you know, this challenge exists, but Father Emmett Farrell is the founder of this ministry in my diocese, and Father Emmett just celebrated his 60th anniversary of his ordination, and Father Emmett will say he has never seen an encyclical translate to action the way that Laudato si' has. And in particular, there is a Vatican online platform called the Laudato si' Action Platform, where Catholics—either parishes, schools, orders of sisters or religious—can get on this platform and learn about the dynamics that we face. They can see how our values are distilled into seven goals, and then they can reflect on their behavior, using this tool to sort of measure where they are, and then write a plan of action and upload it and share it with each other. And Father Emmett really celebrates how amazing it is that, you know, that we're going to lean into technology and use it for the good.Debra Rienstra Oh, awesome. There's so many things I want to follow up on in that answer. And I want to begin by just thanking you for being honest about pushback to Laudato si' in the US. And I want to go back to that in just a second, if it's okay. And then I want to thank you for the way you've thought about, you know, some of these dioceses like the mighty San Diego and the mighty Atlanta as sort of refugia spaces. And we'll come back to that again too, I really hope, and I want to hear some more details about your particular diocese. Why do you think there has been pushback in the American Catholic Church? You mentioned economic reasons, and you know, Pope Francis and Pope Leo now have both been very pointed in their critique of climate denial, of greed, of exploitation, injustice, war, economic systems that many Americans have sort of held as almost sacrosanct. So what are you noticing in Catholic conversations about that critique? Why are people resisting the critique and why are people saying, “No, that's right”—what are the motivations behind each of those responses?Christina Slentz So, you know, we could probably talk about this all day.Debra Rienstra Probably, yeah.Christina Slentz Because economic peace, I think, is really difficult to think about. You know, if we take the United Kingdom, for example, it's a country very much like the United States. So many of our you know, American culture and tradition and customs come out of that early launching that we experienced from, you know, Great Britain. And yet, as the topic of climate change came forward, Margaret Thatcher, who was, you know, a real compatriot of President Ronald Reagan at the time, she really took the scientific approach in thinking about climate change, and this set them on a path that's really different from the path that we experienced. And certainly, oil is a big factor in our economy. And I think it can be a real challenge for people to weigh the goods, you know, because we have to be honest, there are goods in both sides of these dynamics. When we understand the gravity, though, of climate change, if we're allowed to really get into those dynamics without the noise that has been kind of confronting that potential, then I think we can see that the good outweighs, you know, those alternative goods associated with continuing in the fossil fuel realm. But this is why we talk about a just transition, right? I think that many people who are hearing this noise, right, they don't understand that Pope Francis and others, you know, is really arguing for a just transition, and that would seek to care for the people that are going to be affected by whatever change in economic policy might make.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and more and more, those economic changes are actually positive in favor of transition in ways that they weren't even 5-10 years ago.Christina Slentz Yeah, I think it's amazing. We actually had some good momentum going until recently.Debra Rienstra Yeah, you know, I would love to get us all talking about a just and joyful transition, because it's more and more possible. And maybe we'll come back to that a little bit later too, when we talk about ecological spirituality. But let's go back to these places within the American Catholic Church, even, that are saying, “Oh yes, Laudato si', yes, let's go.” And San Diego diocese is one of those places. You had an action plan already in 2019. I think it's impressive that a diocese could get a plan together in four years. So good job. Knowing how long everything takes in church settings. So just give us a list of your accomplishments. What have you been up to since 2019? What are the kinds of things you've dipped your toes into?Christina Slentz Sure, and to be fair, I want to give some good credit to some others. You know, the Archdiocese of Atlanta had created their creation care action plan. This gave us some really good kind of framework to think about when we created ours. And there was a team that preceded me. They were all volunteers, very multidisciplinary in their backgrounds, everything from theologians to medical doctors who had worked with indigenous communities, you know, theologians, missionaries, energy engineers, and they really pulled this together early on. And this plan I now recognize as what climate action planners might refer to as an aspirational plan. It's all the things you could do in our area, and it serves as a really good resource for our parishes and schools as they think about what they might do in their Laudato si' action platform plans, and those are yearly plans that are really targeted on what we're going to do. So, you know, one of the things that they did early on was really push to solarize. And you know, we do have the great fortune of, one: climate here in San Diego, right? You know, we're sort of famous for that. And then you know, two: the other thing is that, you know, it was very normative to be shifting to solar, and continues to be an economic choice that is not really as politicized here as much as it might be elsewhere. And then the third thing was this is, you know, the magic number three is to have a bishop that is supportive. And so Cardinal McElroy—now Cardinal McElroy, then Bishop McElroy—really promoted this solarization. And at this point we have about 54% of our parishes solarized. And when I think now, you know, the Paris Climate Agreement says we want to have about half of our carbon emissions reduced by 2030 then you know, we're sitting at about half. Our building where I'm located is called our pastoral center. Some Catholic communities call it their chancery. And our solar array here provides over 80% of our electricity to the building. Our local utility is about half renewable energy, a little bit more. So with that in mind, you know, our electricity here to our building is a little over 90% coming from renewable energy, and this lets us have seven electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot so I can go to work and charge my car at the same time.Debra Rienstra Lovely.Christina Slentz So that was one big thing. I would say our other really big kind of landmark action that also was largely driven by Cardinal McElroy, was to divest of fossil fuels. And, you know, this is a real challenging thing to accomplish. We set a goal of no more than 5% of, you know, the earnings of both direct and indirect investment to be coming from fossil fuel. And after a year, we evaluated how we were doing, and we were actually hitting—not we, you know, the financial folks doing this—were hitting less than 3%. So, you know, we said, “Okay, I think we can say that this was successful, and we're still here.” So that was really exciting, and we didn't do it to be virtue signaling. Just, you know, for some of your listeners may not know, but the USCCB, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has a document that directs socially responsible investment for all areas. And so this is just one more area of socially responsible investment that the Diocese of San Diego has embraced.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So we've got money, we've got energy. How many parishes would you say are on board with this, doing yearly goals, selecting from the menu of fun ideas—what percentage of your parishes would you say are involved?Christina Slentz So I gotta, Debra, that's a little bit of a good question. I think, you know, we did just describe two very top-down approaches. And one of the things that our group, you know, when I came on board in 2022, we decided is, you know, we really wanted to push that grassroots. And so we see parishes demonstrating a range of behaviors, and I was initially surprised, but they actually behave a lot like countries around the world. And so, you know, you think, oh, that's going to be different. But, you know, you can also have three children, and they all behave differently, and you know, sometimes that's surprising as well, when they have the same parents. And so one of the things that I have really tried to do was offer more events that are here at the diocesan level. We have 97 parishes, and then we have—so sometimes we'll see individuals that are really on board, and they come from a parish where, at the parish level, not a lot is happening. Sometimes we have individuals that are participating, and they are doing a ton at their parish and succeeding. And then we have parishes where the pastor is leading the charge. And then on top of that, I would say there are parishes where they have solar and they have drought-resistant landscaping, and they have LEED silver certified buildings that, you know, are very environmentally friendly. And yet, you know, at the parishioner level, you know, not as much activity happening. So it is an array of activities. I would say probably half have had some kind of interaction with us, or have had parishioners or students participate in our programs. But you know, we reflect the American Catholic community, which reflects the broader American society as well. So there are places where we struggle, and then there are places where we see a lot of action and shining.Debra Rienstra Yeah, sure. And I really appreciate that. And I think listeners can relate to that range of involvement too. Maybe they are in any one of those categories or some other category themselves. And you know, as you say, it's the modeling of— even if it's a minority, it's the modeling and the enthusiasm and the even implicit sort of educating of others that can make this work spread too. So I want to list the seven goals of the Laudato si' action platform, because I think they're really, really great and helpful to people who are not in the Catholic Church, but in other aspects of the church, you might find these goals useful too. So here are the goals: response to the cry of the Earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, community resilience and empowerment. So I want to start with the first three. We've talked a little bit about economics and how dicey that can be, but I wonder if you could describe how you see the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor as basically the same cry, as Pope Francis said in Laudato si'. How do you see that, especially in your region?Christina Slentz Yeah, so thank you. I think these two are kind of the crown jewels, right? And they sum up what we see happening very well. I think that the other goals are valuable because they sort of pull out the dynamics that we really understand as informing those two big—response to the cry of the Earth and cry of the poor. So as someone who was looking at this through the lens of being a social scientist, I found these two goals to really sum it up well, because it is not just the exposure to the environment that causes our concern for these dynamics. It's the exposure as well as the sensitivity of that population. And then this helps us understand also, maybe some vulnerability that that population might have. So for example, we had significant flooding about a year and a half ago in January, the month of January, and the same rain fell on a parish in the southern part of the Diocese, close to our Mexican border, in an area that is, you know, less wealthy, probably demonstrates some socio economic features that we would associate with marginalized communities. And then it also fell on a parish in Coronado, California. And some people might recognize the Hotel Del Coronado as an iconic location. It's a beautiful community. There's a lot of wealth. There's a lot of human capital as well. You know, very highly educated group, and so the buildings at two of two parishes in each of these locations were completely flooded. But, you know, the parish in Coronado was up on its feet within a week. And of course, they had repairs that had to be done, but they were able to get a hold of those folks, get them in, pay the bills, get it all done. And the parish on the south side had catastrophic flooding to its school, and the school was a total loss.Debra Rienstra Oh, wow.Christina Slentz So I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure, but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly, and another may not really have that capacity. And so you can't really pull them apart, because just measuring precipitation doesn't always give you the whole story.Debra Rienstra That's a very, very helpful answer to that. And I sometimes hear in religious circles, you know, “Well, we have to worry about other people, why should we worry about owls or whatever?” And the answer is: well, because what happens in nature affects people. So this is about loving your neighbor. Even if you're not convinced by the idea that we love the Earth for its own sake because it's beloved of God, we still have to love our neighbor. And this is a neighbor issue as well. So thank you. That was very helpful as an explanation.Christina Slentz One of my favorite kind of messages is, you know, having been a student of globalization, you know, I think that we live in a globalized world. You can't put that toothpaste back in the tube, right? Maybe there are some things we can do and that can be helpful, but the bottom line is, our actions have ripple effects, and so no matter what we do, we are going to have these impacts on people far beyond those we know and love on a day to day basis. And when we care for the Earth, we mitigate those effects on people all around the world, and so our caring for creation really is just love of neighbor at global scale.Debra Rienstra Ah, lovely. Yeah, so it works both ways. If you love neighbor, you love the Earth. If you love the Earth, you love your neighbor.Christina Slentz That's right.Debra RienstraHi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra Let's think about some of those more personal goals. I don't know, maybe they're not just personal, because everything is systemic too. But I want to talk about that sustainable lifestyle goal, adoption of sustainable lifestyle. So what does that mean, and how are people doing that in San Diego?Christina Slentz So I have a really amazing parish, St. Thomas More, and they have created a community garden that not only functions as a place for their parish to gather and work together, it also is open to the public, so it has an evangelical capacity as well. And they also collect recyclable cans and bottles and then take those to a facility where they can be paid for that recycling work, and then they take the money, and then they put it into this garden that allows them to gather and have a mission and have evangelical outreach. So I think of this as such a wonderful circular kind of example that is, you know, feeding them in many ways. You know, they have this sense of community. They have this sense of common, shared mission. They have a good relationship with the neighborhood around them, people that may be of different faiths or of no faith at all. And then they're also in good relationship with Mother Earth, and doing what they can to, you know, practice this sort of sustainability, or also a little bit like circular economics, I guess I would say as well. And I think one of the things that the Catholic Church is emphasizing is synodality, and our synodality really calls us to be community, to have a shared mission and really inviting participatory action. So in my building here, where we sort of have the headquarters, you know, we also have gone to compostables for all of our events, and we try to minimize any kind of single use plastics. But, you know, there's that dreaded moment at the end where everybody has to go to the three, you know, receptacles. Everyone panics, especially if I'm near them, and I feel terribly, you know, like, should I step away? Should I give them a moment to give them help? Is that overreach? And so, you know, but we all fumble through together, and that's where I've kind of said, like, “Look, it's not easy for me either. Like, God forbid I put the wrong thing in the wrong can, right?” So I think that there's this way where we all are coming together to sort of take on this work. And, you know, we're not going to be perfect, but, you know, I think that it does foster community when we take this on, and then also recognizing how, you know, now we are living with greater simplicity, and we are impacting the Earth, you know, to a lesser extent.Debra Rienstra Yeah, nothing bonds people like pulling weeds together, or standing over the recycle bins going, “Hmm.” It's okay. We don't have to indulge in recycling guilt, you know, just do your best. So I want to move on to ecological spirituality. I love that phrase. It's not one you hear everywhere. And I wanted to remind listeners that San Diego Diocese is the most biodiverse diocese in the US. Maybe we wouldn't have expected that, but you've kind of got everything there. So I want to talk about ecological spirituality in the context of that actual place. I love the sentiment you quoted from Laudato si' in an article you wrote recently. It was an idea from Pope Francis that in the beauties and wonders of the Earth, we experience God's friendship with us. And so I wanted to ask you how you're helping people in your parishes reconnect to the Earth where you are, and thus, and this is how you put it, “revive something of our true selves.”Christina Slentz Yeah, one of my favorite pieces in Laudato si': Pope Francis alludes to having a place in childhood where we felt a sense of awe and wonder. And I think that that awe and wonder allows us to get back to childhood in some ways, before there was a lot of noise before there was all the different distractions. And I think that that true self is also a little freer to connect to God. I think sometimes about little children and baby Jesus, you know, and that sort of immediate connection that's not really complicated, you know, it's just comfortable. Or feeling the love of God like being a child sitting on the lap of your mom or your dad. And so encouraging people, or providing opportunities for this return to that place of awe and wonder, I think is really important. I think that at the heart of our inability to care for creation is this estrangement from our Creator. So we won't care for something if we don't love it. And in this way, ecological spirituality may be step one in all of this, right? So I think we are really lucky, being here. As I mentioned, our climate is beautiful. It is a beautiful place. We have everything from the ocean to mountains to desert, and many people who live here do really connect with the geography and the beauty of where we are, and so inviting them to take a moment to just pause and think about those places. Think about their senses as they move through the memory of that space, I think is really important before we start any of the other conversations. And so I try to do that, and then we share about it. And I have yet to find somebody that says, “Oh, I just didn't have a place.” Everybody has a place. And many people will say, “I really struggled, because I love this place, and I love that place,” you know. And so it is really great to hear. And I think people really come out of an exercise like that with this new sense of common ground as well. And I think that is so important, right? Because if you ask people like, “Raise your hand, who hates trees?” No one's gonna do it, right? Don't even think anyone does. Or “Raise your hand if you like to litter.” No one's going to say, like, “Oh yeah, I really love throwing things out my window.” And so there is a lot more common ground. And I think that eco spirituality invites us to find out how much we have in common, and actually how much we all yearn for that place of connectedness.Debra Rienstra Oh, yeah. I've noticed, you know, people have so many different feelings that motivate what they might do in a faith and climate space, and there's anger, there's fear, a lot of anxiety. But the trick, I think, is to get to the center, which is love. And the quickest way to do that, maybe, is to find that early love, or a love that's developed over many, even generations, in a particular place, if you're lucky, and you're rooted in some way. I feel like we also, as people of faith, haven't made enough of a case that being closer to the creation is, in fact, a pathway to God. And I see that in a lot of the writings that you have too. It's a way of understanding God better. It's a way of allowing God to speak to us that we sometimes underestimate, I think. There's other ways, of course, but it's one that we tend to underestimate. It is a way to deeper spirituality. So getting people to be in touch with that, it sounds like you've you've worked on that a little bit.Christina Slentz We're very lucky. The Franciscan tradition is pretty rich and present here. The Franciscan School of Theology is located here at the University of San Diego.Debra Rienstra There we go.Christina Slentz I have several secular Franciscans on my team, and a few Franciscan friars. And you know, that's very much at the heart of St. Francis and St. Claire's tradition. St. Bonaventure, who is a Franciscan, actually calls nature, or the environment, the created world, like another book. It's another gospel that tells us something about God's plan.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So I wanted to quote from Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which was September one. And I found his message so encouraging, and especially this particular paragraph, it's along the line of seeds here. He writes, “In Christ, we too are seeds, and indeed seeds of peace and hope. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the Spirit of God can make an arid and parched desert into a garden, a place of rest and serenity. In his words, a spirit from on high will be poured out on us, and the wilderness will become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places.” So we have this beautiful vision and the sense of vocation of who we are and who our communities are as seeds of peace and hope. So it seems like you experience that in the San Diego Diocese. Are there some particular examples that have been really meaningful and important to you, where you see that “seeds of hope” metaphor being played out?Christina Slentz Yeah, I would point to two areas that I would offer up as good examples. One is a parish that is located in what's called Barrio Logan. It is an ecologically marginalized community. The highways literally forced the school to be moved when they put the highway in right down the middle of the community. And that's the I-5. So it runs all the way from Canada to Mexico. Big highway. In addition, the Coronado Bridge connects to the highway right there. The Navy base is there, and the Port of San Diego all intersects there. So their air quality is really degraded, and it's a socio-economically poor area. It is also a predominantly Hispanic community there. But the Jesuit pastor there, Father Scott Santa Rosa, is a very good community organizer. He led the parish when they were confronted by another warehouse that was going to be added at the port. And the proposal by the company violated the Port Authority's standards, but they were seeking a waiver, and Father Scott brought in the Environmental Health Coalition. He brought in a theologian from University of San Diego. He invited the youth to present on Laudato si' to the adults and really empowered the community, which is that seventh goal of Laudato si', it's very connected to environmental justice. And then they learned, they grew, they came to an understanding that this was not acceptable, and that they wanted to be a voice for their community. They—we traveled. I was very fortunate to kind of engage with them in this process.And we traveled to the Port Authority building the night before the Port Authority was going to make their decision on this, whether or not to grant this waiver. And we said a rosary, which consists of five sets of 10 Hail Marys, roughly. And between each set, somebody spoke and gave their witness. And one of the women stood up and said, “I never thought I would speak publicly in my whole life. I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm speaking, but I found my voice because of this issue.” And I thought, even if we lose, that's such an amazing win that people felt connected to their environment. They understood that they have a voice. They understood their own dignity and the dignity of their community, and felt that it was worth standing up for. And the next day we went, there was demonstration and public witnessing and praying, and then they went in and spoke at the actual hearing. And the first thing that the chairman of the board said, in response to everyone's comments was, “Well, I'm a Catholic, and we have three priests that were here today.” And you know, how many times does a public official make a statement of faith? You know, I thought, “Okay, win number two!” And you know, I'll just go ahead and cut to the chase. And they turned down the company that wanted to put the warehouse in and said, “You know, we just don't think that you've convinced the local community that the benefits of this would be worth it.” And it was amazing.And so that place, they continue to also tend to the care of migrants. They have begun the work of accompanying migrants that are going for their court appointed hearings for their asylum process. And you know, those are not outcomes that are generally favorable, but they are just going and being present with them and, you know, we are on the border. We understand how some of these environmental impacts do entangle with human mobility. And so, you know, there's a lot that this community, that is really one of our poorest communities in San Diego, has brought to the wider San Diego Diocese as more parishes and local Catholics are now mimicking what they have done and joining in this mission, and so they've been an incredible source—this tiny little parish in a poor part of the Diocese with terrible environmental impacts, has actually been a place where things have blossomed and grown, and they actually do have an amazing garden as well.Debra Rienstra Wow, that's an incredible story, and exactly a story of empowerment and resilience, as you suggested, and a story of how low-resource people are not necessarily low-resource people. They have other kinds of resources that may not be visible to the outside, but that can be very powerful, and especially when one of those is faith. It was such a great example of people motivated not only by their, you know, sort of survival, but their faith to do this work. Yeah, wonderful.Christina Slentz I think they understand the impact, right? So if you can shut your windows and turn on your air conditioning, maybe you don't get it.Debra Rienstra Yeah, right. So what would you say are your biggest obstacles and your biggest joys in your work right now?Christina Slentz I think the biggest obstacle is coming up against Catholics and/or Christians, or really any person of faith. But I think this may be especially true to Catholics and Christians who think that our social actions have to be an “either/or” choice, and they resist a “yes/and” mentality, and so they put different issues in competition with each other, right? And, you know, sometimes they think about Cain and Abel, right? This sort of jealousy or comparison can be a real problem. Instead of saying, “Okay, maybe we don't fit in a neat box, but as Catholics, you know, we have to do all the things.” And that kind of privileging one issue or another issue makes us vulnerable to those who would seek division and competition. And I think that when we look at God, you know, God loves all of it, right? God is love, and so there isn't that discrimination in the example of our Creator, and I would, of course, we aren't perfect, you know, but we should aspire to that same kind of comprehensive love.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and we do it together. We don't all have to do every last one of the things. We do it together. What about joys? What are your greatest joys right now in your work?Christina Slentz I think that coming together is really a joy. When I first started this work, I felt like a unicorn. I could either be the only person of faith in an environmental group, or I could be the only environmentalist in a faith group. And so it just was a feeling of being awkward all the time. And I do think that just in the three years that I've been in this position, I am seeing momentum build. I think ecumenicalism is super helpful in this regard. And I think that increasingly people are finding each other, and they are starting to get a little bit of a wake up call. I think it is unfortunate that people in the United States have had to experience some significant catastrophes and human loss and impact before they start to awaken to the issue of climate change or environmental degradation. I think plastics are really a pretty significant issue as well, but I think that more and more, people seem to be coming around to it, and whenever we celebrate together, that gives me joy.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I agree. I'm seeing it happening too, and it keeps me going. It keeps me going to connect with people like you, and every door I open, there's more people of faith doing amazing work, and we are building that mycelial network. And it's pretty great. So what is your favorite gift of the Catholic Church, a gift of wisdom on creation care that you wish everyone would receive?Christina Slentz I am not sure I would say that this is my favorite. But maybe I think that it is very important, is that, you know, in the Catholic community, communion, Eucharist, is really, you know, the summit for Catholics, that each week, at a minimum, we are going to celebrate this liturgy. We break open the Word, and then we celebrate the Eucharist. And one of the things I, you know, find very compelling is the fact that Jesus celebrates at the Last Supper with bread and wine. Jesus didn't get grapes and, you know, a piece of meat, to celebrate that these were both chosen items that were not just created by God, but they involved, as we say, in our celebration, the work of human hands. And so this really represents this call to co-creation, I think. And if that is something that you know, is really at the heart of Catholicism, this, you know, summit of our faith to celebrate the Eucharist—in that, we are called to co-create. And so this tells us something about how we are meant to exist in relationship with the Creator. You know, God reveals God's self to us in the beauty of this creation or in the gift of the Eucharist, and then, in turn, we are called to respond to that love. Otherwise the revelation isn't complete, so our response is to care for creation or to receive the Eucharist, and then go and serve as God has called us to serve. So maybe, maybe this is something that we can offer up.Debra Rienstra So beautifully said, and the intimacy of eating, you know, taking the material, the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands, into ourselves, responding by the Spirit, that intimacy, that physicality, there's a reason that that is the central ritual.Christina Slentz And you know, if I could give you one last image connected to that—because then we become the tabernacle, right? And we think about Noah and the ark, right? And how, you know, creation is destroyed, but the ark holds this refugia right and until it's time for this moment of reconciliation and forgiveness and then renewed flourishing. And you may or may not have heard this story, but when the LA fires raged in Pacific Palisades in January of 2025 the fires swept across the parish and school called Corpus Christi Parish, and it is the home parish of brother James Lockman, one of my dear, dear volunteers. And there was a firefighter who went back to look at the ruins that evening, and he was Catholic, and he came across the tabernacle from the church, and it was the only thing that survived. And when they opened it up, it was pristine on the inside and undamaged. And that Sunday, they took it to St. Monica's Parish, which is one of the very animated creation care parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and they celebrated Mass there because Corpus Christi did not have a parish right to celebrate in that weekend. And I think about that tabernacle as being, you know—it's to reflect that Ark of the Covenant, right, Ark of Noah, the Ark of the Covenant. And then we have the tabernacle now, and that space of refuge that was preserved, you know. And then, of course, when we take the Eucharist into ourselves, we become that tabernacle. We're walking tabernacles, right? So we are also, then, places of refuge and where we know that God is with us and we can go and serve.Debra Rienstra Christina, it has been such a joy to talk to you. Thank you for your wisdom, for your inspiration, for the way that you deploy your expertise in such compassionate and far reaching ways. It's just been a pleasure. Thank you.Christina Slentz Oh, thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed talking today with you, Debra.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us. For show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

In this conversation, Ruth Gledhill and Liz Dodd discuss the recent developments in LGBTQI inclusion within the Church, particularly focusing on the findings from a conference in Amsterdam. They explore the impact of Pope Francis on the acceptance of LGBTQI individuals in the Catholic Church and delve into the implications of Pope Leo's new document, Dilexi te. They also touch on the intersection of technology and morality, the role of women in the church, and personal reflections on how technology influences faith and community.TakeawaysThe Catholic Church in England and Wales is surprisingly inclusive for LGBTQI individuals.Grassroots movements play a crucial role in fostering inclusivity within the church.Pope Francis's language has significantly impacted the treatment of LGBTQI Catholics.Pope Leo's document, Delexi te, is seen as a powerful and radical statement.The intertwining of finance and hate speech is a growing concern.The pride flag is viewed as a symbol of identity and devotion, not just politics.Technology can enhance community support and social justice efforts.The moral implications of technology, such as AI, are complex and multifaceted.Women are increasingly taking on leadership roles within the church.Personal connections to technology can shape our understanding of morality and ethics.Sound Bites"England and Wales is among the most inclusive.""I think technology can be used for human flourishing.""If your robot vacuum cleaner unionises, great!"

Listen to news from and about the Church in Asia in a capsule of around 10 minutes.Indonesian authorities criticized for including former military dictator Suharto in a list of nominees for recognition as national heroes. Listen to the story and more in a wrap-up of the weekly news from Asia.Filed by UCA News reporters, compiled by Fabian Antony, text edited by Anosh Malekar, presented by Joe Mathews, Cover photo by AFP, background score by Andre Louis and produced by Binu Alex for ucanews.com For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

In this episode, John Grim and Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-directors of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology delve into their decades-long work on integrating religious and ecological studies to address environmental crises. They discuss the impact of Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si', which fuses social justice with environmental concerns, and explore the significance of ecological conversion. The episode also highlights their website 'Living Earth Community,' aimed at fostering a dialogue on biodiversity, the rights of nature, and sustainable living, emphasizing respect, reverence, and responsibility.

Dr. Paul Giesting and Bill Schmitt welcome listeners back for new episodes of our “legacy” podcast, “That's So Second Millennium.” See below for biographies. Check out our archived episodes: That's So Second Millennium Here's a chronological list of popes. For context in this episode, start with Pope Leo XIII (#256) and look through the 20th century for Popes Pius X, XI, and XII. (Please forgive a couple of small historical and mathematical mistakes--at one point Paul says something amounting to 5+7 make 11 or 4+7 make 12.) What's in a name? Paul has developed a sports-inspired bracket for papal names and their likelihood, with 64 possibilities. We'll digitize it and post it in connection with the next episode. Papal tiara logo borrowed from The Mad Monarchist. Pope Leo XIV conforms with Paul's bracket prediction of the “top seed”: With the passing of Pope Francis, Leo was the most likely name to be chosen. Scholars have called the 1660-1836 period as “the long 18th century” in English literature. They point to a “long 19th century” between 1750 and 1914. Here's one take on why Cardinal Robert Prevost chose Leo as his papal name. Leo is now the fourth-most common papal name in history along with Clement. The only more popular names are John, Benedict, and Gregory. Would you like to read the book—Their Name is Pius—that Paul read in his youth? Amazon says it doesn't come cheap. You can also read Eamon Duffy's The Stripping of the Altars. Pope Leo XIV has called for a new Rerum Novarum, according to the Aleteia news site. Here's the bio of St. Francis Xavier, missionary and one of the original seven Jesuits. Yes, there was a Pope Lando, reigning in the years 913-914. Pope Julius I, a canonized saint, reigned in 337-352. Updated bio of Bill Schmitt: Bill Schmitt is a journalist, educator, and marketing communications specialist who has been an adjunct professor of English and media at several schools, most recently Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, IN. He served on the communications staff of the University of Notre Dame from 2003 to 2017, managing many projects and joining in a wide range of multimedia, interdisciplinary collaborations. Since then, his freelance work has included feature-writing, editing, podcasting, and blogging, with much of his work centered on the Catholic faith. Bill holds a BA from Fordham University and an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Find his work at billschmitt.substack.com, OnWord.net, and billschmitt-onword on Linked-In.

What if the story of your life isn't “nothing much happened”… but a mission God is speaking through you? Joe and Father Boniface unpack how tiny, daily choices—patience with family, taking out the trash with care—shape a saint's storyline, and why zooming in on micro-moments actually clarifies the bigger horizon. We explore St. Thérèse's wisdom about doing the next small thing with great love alongside Pope Francis' call to see your life as a unique message entrusted to you. Through it all, we stay grounded in the three lenses: honesty with self, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.Key IdeasTake a “micro audit” of the last season: note small relational wins (held your patience, chose forgiveness) and misses (withdrew attention, snapped online) to see real growth.Your life is a mission and a message: lift your eyes to the horizon periodically to name milestones, then return to the next faithful step.St. Thérèse's path: do the next ordinary task with great love—God meets us in the present moment.Hold macro and micro together: alternate big-picture review with daily presence so grace can re-pattern habits over time.Practical examen: Where did my attention go today (phone, work, family, prayer)? What one small act of love can I choose tomorrow?Links & ReferencesPope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate (On the Call to Holiness in Today's World) — official Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.htmlCTAIf this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.comTagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, mission, holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate, story of your life, vocation, daily examen, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, little way, little things great love, patience, attention, presence, relationships, family life, spiritual growth, sanctification, humility, gratitude, confession, prayer, discernment, habit change, virtue, everyday holiness, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, reflection, practical spirituality, Catholic podcast

When Pope Francis was first elected, you might remember, one of the very first interviews he ever conducted, was from an Italian journalist. The journalist asked, "Who is Cardinal Bergoglio? Who is Pope Francis?" The pope bowed his head and said, "I am a sinner." It was really humbling to hear the pope remind himself that he is a sinner. As he had been exalted to the highest office in the church, he brings himself back down to the ground. I cannot help but think that gives us a model of how we are called to be in our lives. (Read more…)Here is the Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time. I hope you can enjoy it and please feel free to share with others.

Pope Francis called for priests to minister to the poor, but while important to serve the materially poor, he meant priests for spiritual poverty. How can we encourage priests and be open to them ministering to the poor places in our own hearts? Come, follow us: Parish Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  Spotify Music

A @Christadelphians Video:In this thought-provoking and insightful Milestones Bible Prophecy Update, we examine the future role of the Catholic Church in the unfolding of end-times events. Building on Part 1, this expositional presentation delves into Scripture to reveal how current Middle East dynamics and Vatican policies align with ancient prophecies concerning a final confederacy against Israel. We explore the significant shift in Vatican stance towards Israel and the Palestinians, the rise of 'Palestinian Liberation Theology', and the powerful symbolism in recent Papal visits. This analysis, presented by Brother Don Pearce, provides an outstanding look at how Bible prophecy is being outworked in our generation, pointing to the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ.**Chapters / Timestamps:**00:00 - Introduction00:50 - Preparing the Flock: A First-Century Warning02:03 - The Scattering of the Jews and the Rebirth of Israel03:00 - [Revealing] The Vatican as a Prophesied Enemy of Israel04:04 - The Papacy and the "Man of Sin"05:01 - Pope Francis and the Shift in Vatican Policy06:21 - Liberation Theology: Redefining Jesus and the Bible08:25 - Symbolism and Imagery: The Erasure of Jewish Heritage12:33 - The EU, The Church, and a United Power14:47 - Historical Papal Opposition to a Jewish Homeland15:35 - Daniel 2: The Prophetic Image and its Final Stage17:15 - Revelation 17: The Scarlet Woman and Babylon the Great20:13 - "Mother Church": The Titles and Claims of Rome21:51 - Pope Leo: A New Agenda and Vatican Finances24:54 - Revelation 18: The Merchants of the Earth25:22 - Conclusion**

Italian Olive Harvest and Historical Vatican-UK Royal Visit. Lorenzo Fiori reports that the olive harvest in Tuscany is expected to be low in quantity due to mosquito damage caused by humidity and rain. However, recent strong winds helped remove damaged olives, potentially ensuring a "very tasty" oil. Fiori also discusses the historical visit of King Charles III to the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to pray with Pope Francis. This event, which Fiori found spectacular, is seen as crucial for restoring dialogue between the Anglican and Catholic Churches after centuries of division.

SHOW 10-24-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT CANADA  IN THE EYES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Pennsylvania Aims to Be AI Capital with US-Made Non-Lithium Batteries. Salena Zito reports on Governor Shapiro's plan to establish Pennsylvania as the AI and data center capital, capitalizing on its energy resources and university system. She focuses on EOS, a Turtle Creek company making non-lithium batteries that are 97% US-made, countering reliance on Chinese lithium. AI data centers require high energy reliability, favoring coal and natural gas infrastructure. Governor Shapiro supports this buildout, including a $22 million grant for EOS. 915-930 Italian Olive Harvest and Historical Vatican-UK Royal Visit. Lorenzo Fiori reports that the olive harvest in Tuscany is expected to be low in quantity due to mosquito damage caused by humidity and rain. However, recent strong winds helped remove damaged olives, potentially ensuring a "very tasty" oil. Fiori also discusses the historical visit of King Charles III to the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to pray with Pope Francis. This event, which Fiori found spectacular, is seen as crucial for restoring dialogue between the Anglican and Catholic Churches after centuries of division. 930-945 Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run. 945-1000 Small Business Economy Steady; AI Remains a 'Toy'. Gene Marks reports on the small business economy, noting steady activity among machine parts manufacturers, often preparing for an "onshoring boom." Construction and housing are holding steady but anticipate a future boom as interest rates decline. Tariffs have a muted impact, often absorbed or passed on as separate invoice line items for transparency. Marks demonstrates that AI, despite its advances, is not ready for prime-time business use, failing to accurately generate a requested image of a Yorkshire Terrier hitting a home run. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Pacific Palisades Housing Dispute and West Coast Infrastructure Challenges. Jeff Bliss covers West Coast issues, including traffic disruption from new high-speed rail construction between Southern California and Las Vegas. Pacific Palisades residents are protesting state and local plans to use burned-out lots for high-density, multistory affordable housing, fearing the change in community character and increased traffic. Additionally, copper theft from EV charging stations is undermining Los Angeles's zero emissions goals. Homeless encampments are also sparking major brush fire concerns in areas like Malibu and the Sepulveda Basin. 1015-1030 Pennsylvania Pursues Data Center Hub Status, Converting Golf Courses. Jim McTague reports on Pennsylvania's effort to become a data center hub, citing over $90 billion committed investment statewide. York County secured $5 billion, with plans including converting Brierwood Golf Course into a data center. This effort faces public resistance fueled by fears of higher electricity and water prices. McTague notes that consumer spending in Lancaster County is "steady." The conversion of golf courses reflects the decline of golf, seen as a "dinosaur" activity that takes too much time. 1030-1045 Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed. 1045-1100 Professor Epstein Slams Trump's Economic Policies as 'State Socialism'. Professor Richard Epstein analyzes four Trump administration economic decisions concerning Intel, Nvidia, US Steel, and MP Mining, labeling them forms of state-owned enterprise or "state socialism." Epstein argues that acquiring golden shares or negotiating side deals—like Nvidia paying 15% of China revenue—destroys market value, undercuts competitors, and violates the neutral application of laws. He also critiques the Gaza deal, stating Hamas must be wiped out before any subsequent phases of the agreement can proceed. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1115-1130 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1130-1145 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. 1145-1200 cMcNamara at War: Loyalty, Secrets, and the Vietnam Conflict. Professor William Taubman discusses Robert McNamara's complicated role during the LBJ years. McNamara enabled the Vietnam War escalation, notably misrepresenting the Gulf of Tonkin incidents to Congress. Despite later secretly opposing the war ("I want so badly to bring the boys home"), he remained silent due to loyalty to Johnson and the presidency. Taubman also details McNamara's role spying on the Kennedys for LBJ and his "loving" relationship with Jackie Kennedy. His post-Pentagon role at the World Bank served as a form of repentance. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Trump Administration's Economic Interventionism Questioned as 'State Capitalism'. Veronique de Rugy critiques the Trump administration's economic policies regarding companies like Intel, US Steel, and MP Mining, calling them "state capitalism" or forms of nationalization. She argues that the government acquiring a minority share in Intel creates bad incentives and unfair competitive advantages. Regarding MP Mining, de Rugy notes that guaranteeing a price floor fails to address the underlying issue of government regulation hindering rare earth production in the US.E 1215-1230 The Postponement of the Budapest Meeting and Negotiating with Putin. Cliff May discusses the postponement of the Trump-Putin Budapest meeting, attributing it to Marco Rubio insisting on a cessation of hostilities, which Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected, demanding "all Ukraine." May warns President Trump against being outnegotiated, referencing Stalin's success over Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta. Putin admires Stalin, who expanded the Russian Empire and engineered the Holodomor famine. May stresses that Russians negotiate only to win, not to compromise. 1230-1245 NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design. 1245-100 AM NASA's Artemis Woes, Chinese Debris, and Global Space Industry Shifts. Bob Zimmerman discusses NASA's Artemis program, noting Administrator Sean Duffy is using a social media feud with Elon Musk as a "shiny object" to distract from the Orion capsule's untrustworthy heat shield risks. Other space issues include China's dangerous rocket debris crashes, some using highly toxic fuels, and European satellite companies consolidating into Project Bromo due to competition. Zimmerman also highlights the discovery of a large asteroid orbiting near Venus and Lockheed Martin's investment in Venus Aerospace's radical rocket engine design.

When Elise Allen, senior correspondent for Crux, sat down with Pope Leo XIV for his first full-length interview since his election, she heard echoes of Pope Francis' inclusive vision—“todos, todos, todos”—but also a key difference. As she told Colleen Dulle and Gerard O'Connell, hosts of “Inside the Vatican,” that when it comes to affirming church teaching, Leo is “much more willing to say that upfront and to just be super clear about that, drawing the line from the beginning.” In the interview, Elise explained how Leo's pastoral experiences have formed him into a leader whose ministry embodies synodality in action. He empowered lay leaders, particularly women, as a parish priest in Peru. As prior general of the Augustinians, he confronted corruption within his religious order. Returning as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he handled clergy sex abuse cases and investigated the controversial lay society Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. This collaborative approach has deep roots in the Latin American church, she said, where “the Augustinians were doing it for decades” and “the rest of the church is catching up.” She noted that “synodality is really at the core of what he wants to do,” and while Francis set the vision, Leo is “a very practical person.” She expects, in his pontificate, “more commissions, more teams—that sort of blended leadership, blended collaboration as things go forward.” Her book, León XIV, ciudadano del mundo, misionero del siglo XXI, is out now in Spanish from Penguin Peru, with an English edition expected in early 2026. Links from the show: In new biography, Pope Leo weighs in on Trump, LGBTQ Catholics and the Latin Mass How Pope Leo plans to govern the church: From Rome to China to Gaza Pope Leo meets with board of global organization of clergy sexual abuse victims to talk zero-tolerance Pope Leo declares seven new saints, including first from Venezuela and Papua New Guinea Support Inside the Vatican by subscribing to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWelcome to Voice Afrique, a space where faith meets the deep wounds and hopes of Africa. I'm your host, Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, inviting you into a moment of reflection, healing, and encounter.In this episode, we turn our gaze to Sierra Leone — a nation once scarred by war, disease, and poverty, yet resilient through the power of faith. Through the eyes of faith, we discover that Sierra Leone's post-war recovery is not just political or economic, but a spiritual pilgrimage of restoration.Joining me is Agnes Ainea, an acclaimed African journalist and author of “Sent to Heal a Wounded Nation: The Story of Father Peter Konteh” (Paulines Africa). Together, we explore the prophetic witness of Fr. Peter Konteh — a Catholic priest whose ministry through Caritas Freetown embodies the Church's healing mission: rebuilding communities, restoring dignity, and renewing hope.From the ruins of civil war and the scars of Ebola to the promise of peace and education, this story captures what Pope Francis calls “the polyhedron of hope” — a people whose faith and solidarity transform suffering into grace.

“Are relics biblical?” In this episode, we explore the significance of saint bones and the authenticity of relics, addressing questions like how the Church determines which objects become relics and whether any have performed miracles in modern times. We also discuss the placement of Eucharistic miracles in reliquaries and the distribution of relics across churches. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:15 – Is collecting saint bones biblical? 12:00 – How does the Church determine what objects become relics? 20:20 – Are there any instances of relics performing miracles in modern times? 44:03 – Why do they put Eucharistic miracles in a reliquary? Also I heard that Pope Francis put a stop to “cutting up” saints. Is that true? 49:15 – Where are all the relics? Are they all in the Vatican? Or do individual churches have relics? 52:20 – My wife was given a relic from her grandmother. We aren't sure about its authenticity. How should we treat this relic?

Two weeks ago, Ralph discussed Bishop Robert Barron's reflections on Pope Francis' papacy and what his legacy means for the Church moving forward. This week, Ralph offers ways to approach living in such times of uncertainty and disunity. Ralph particularly notes the profound reflections on participating more deeply in Christ's passion, as found in Fr. Donald Haggerty's book, "The Hour of Testing: Spiritual Depth and Insight in a Time of Ecclesial Uncertainty." Fr. Haggerty is a parochial vicar of St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Archdiocese of New York and the author of several books.To sign up for Renewal Ministries free monthly monthly newsletter visit: https://www.RenewalMinistries.net/newsletter.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, October 22, is the feast of St. John Paul II (1920-2005).Born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, and elected pope in 1978, Karol Jozef Wojtyla demonstrated exceptional apostolic zeal throughout his earthly life, particularly for families, young people, and the sick, and exhibited an intensified pastoral commitment with heroic generosity.He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches, and the Luminous Mysteries.Pope John Paul II made 146 pastoral visits in Italy and 104 international apostolic journeys. He produced 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, and 45 Apostolic Letters.He also wrote five books: Crossing the Threshold of Hope (October 1994); Gift and Mystery: On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination (November 1996); Roman Triptych, meditations in poetry (March 2003); Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way (May 2004), and Memory and Identity (February 2005).Pope John Paul II celebrated 147 beatifications, during which he proclaimed 1,338 blesseds, and 51 canonizations, for a total of 482 saints.On May 13, 1981, an attempt was made on Pope John Paul II's life in Saint Peter's Square. Saved by the maternal hand of the Mother of God, following a lengthy stay in the hospital, he forgave the attempted assassin.John Paul II was beatified on May 1, 2011, by Pope Benedict XVI, his immediate successor and, for many years, his valued collaborator as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was canonized by Pope Francis on April 17, 2014.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠October 22, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

5. King Charles III Meets Pope Francis, Healing 500 Years of Conflict Gregory Copley with John Batchelor The discussion highlights the historic meeting between King Charles III, head of the Anglican Church, and Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Rome. This visit marks the first state visit by a British monarch to the head of the Roman Catholic Church since Henry VIII, effectively covering half a millennium of separation and dispute between the two large Christian sects. The exchange notes that apologies are due, though from whom is not specified, and celebrates the visit as a moment of healing between the religions. The king has proven very adept at achieving such healing, making the history of 17th-century religious conflict seem more ironic than ever.

A profound exploration of mediumship, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of all beings, with practical tools and personal stories to help readers connect with the spirit world and their own divine nature.In Making the Afterlife Connection, gifted medium Suzanne Giesemann takes readers on a journey of spiritual awakening, to a life beyond physical existence.As a former Navy Commander, Suzanne's credibility and down-to-earth style make deep spiritual concepts accessible and engaging. She offers a grounded approach that blends her military background with her spiritual insights, and in doing so, she demystifies mediumship and provides a systematic method for others to explore their own gifts.Making the Afterlife Connection is rich with compelling, true stories and practical exercises that help readers experience their own spiritual connections.By sharing her personal journey and the irrefutable evidence she has gathered, Giesemann helps readers understand that they are part of a larger, interconnected web of existence and that divine love is a powerful, healing force available to everyone.BioSuzanne Giesemann is a spiritual teacher recognized on Watkins' list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Others on the list include Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama. She was recently honored with the prestigious 2024 Humanity's Team Spiritual Leadership Award, which has only been given 11 times since 2006. Past recipients of this award include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.She is a former Navy Commander with a master's degree in National Security Affairs and served as a commanding officer and aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She now guides people to enjoy a consciously connected and divinely guided life.Suzanne has authored 15 books, six best-selling Hemi-Sync recordings, and YouTube videos that have reached millions of viewers. She produces the Daily Way inspirational messages and the Awakened Way app and hosts the top-ranking Messages of Hope podcast. She leads classes, workshops, and retreats and serves as faculty with The Shift Network and Humanity's Team. She is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who help support a global shift in consciousness.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGNZS6VZhttps://suzannegiesemann.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why does traditional financial advice so often fail? Former Marine and monk Doug Lynam reveals how your personality type secretly sabotages your finances. Discover his unique framework, blending the Enneagram with financial strategy, to break free from self-sabotage and build a life of both wealth and meaning.

In the mid 17th century, a brave Augustinian priest went back to his homeland in Japan to bring the hope and truth of Christ to his people. Blessed Thomas "Kintsuba" Jihyoe is remembered today for his remarkable heroism, persevering to the very end and ultimately giving his life for the truth. In 2019, Pope Francis visited Japan and said, "Let us find powerful inspiration in the story of the early missionaries and Japanese martyrs. May we never forget their heroic sacrifice! May it not remain as a glorious relic of the past, to be kept and honored in a museum, but rather, a living memory, an inspiration for the works of the apostolate and a spur to renewed evangelization in this land" With that in mind, come listen to the incredible story of Blessed Thomas Jihyoe today andlet his story inspire you on your own journey to sainthood!Parental Guidance: True to the story of Blessed Thomas, this episode contains intense themes of persecuted and martyred christians. Please screen at your discretion for little listeners Saints Alive is brought to you by the #1 Catholic Prayer App, Hallow! Sign up today with a 30-day free trial! Please rate, review and share with friends and family! Find resources on the saints, discussion questions and more about our team by visiting our website: https://www.saintsalivepodcast.com/

A profound exploration of mediumship, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of all beings, with practical tools and personal stories to help readers connect with the spirit world and their own divine nature.In Making the Afterlife Connection, gifted medium Suzanne Giesemann takes readers on a journey of spiritual awakening, to a life beyond physical existence.As a former Navy Commander, Suzanne's credibility and down-to-earth style make deep spiritual concepts accessible and engaging. She offers a grounded approach that blends her military background with her spiritual insights, and in doing so, she demystifies mediumship and provides a systematic method for others to explore their own gifts.Making the Afterlife Connection is rich with compelling, true stories and practical exercises that help readers experience their own spiritual connections.By sharing her personal journey and the irrefutable evidence she has gathered, Giesemann helps readers understand that they are part of a larger, interconnected web of existence and that divine love is a powerful, healing force available to everyone.BioSuzanne Giesemann is a spiritual teacher recognized on Watkins' list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Others on the list include Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama. She was recently honored with the prestigious 2024 Humanity's Team Spiritual Leadership Award, which has only been given 11 times since 2006. Past recipients of this award include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.She is a former Navy Commander with a master's degree in National Security Affairs and served as a commanding officer and aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She now guides people to enjoy a consciously connected and divinely guided life.Suzanne has authored 15 books, six best-selling Hemi-Sync recordings, and YouTube videos that have reached millions of viewers. She produces the Daily Way inspirational messages and the Awakened Way app and hosts the top-ranking Messages of Hope podcast. She leads classes, workshops, and retreats and serves as faculty with The Shift Network and Humanity's Team. She is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who help support a global shift in consciousness.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGNZS6VZhttps://suzannegiesemann.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 178-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,480 on turnover of 8.6-billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 350-points on Friday, but still managed to close the trading day above the 27,000 point mark, as investors reacted to a decline a Wall Street overnight driven by concerns over the loan portfolios of some of America's biggest banks. NSB boosting anti-drone systems and monitoring extremists to protect leaders The National Security Bureau say it's taking steps to better protect the president, vice president, Cabinet members, and other top officials by boosting counter-drone capabilities and closely monitoring political extremists. According to the bureau, security threats are on the rise amid what is says is "a complex, hazardous (危險的) landscape and sophisticated U-A-V technology." The N-S-B says it has purchased new anti-drone guns and drone jammers, with the aim of enhancing its countermeasure capabilities, while at the same time is enhancing information sharing among police and local intelligence agencies. The N-S-B's latest report on improving security for political leaders is slated to be reviewed by lawmakers on the Legislative Internal Administration Committee later today. 30 riders rescued after 40 minutes on stalled Ferris wheel in Taipei And, The Ferris wheel at the Miramar Entertainment Park in Taipei came to a halt on Sunday afternoon trapping more than 30 people. The Taipei City Fire Department says sent firefighters to scene at around 2:30PM following an apparent mechanical failure on the Ferris wheel in the Zhongshan District. According to the department, 30 people trapped in 10 gondolas on the Ferris wheel … and they were there for about 40-minutes. There were no reported injuries or illnesses. The cause of the malfunction (故障) is still under investigation. Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge to respect ceasefire Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge (保證) to respect a ceasefire after more than a week of deadly fighting AP correspondent Julie Walker reports US Trump Mulls Buying Argentinian Beef President Donald Trump says the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers. He made the statement to reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight Sunday from Florida to Washington. Trump promised earlier this week to address the issue as part of his efforts to keep inflation in check. U.S. beef prices have been stubbornly high for a variety of reasons, including drought (乾旱) and reduced imports from Mexico due to a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds there. Trump has also been movingt to bolster Argentina's currency ahead of midterm elections for his close ally, President Javier Milei. Venezuelan Doctor Canonized as Saint Pope Leo XIV has canonized Venezuela's “doctor of the poor” before tens of thousands of people. Jose Gregorio Hernandez, known for his dedication to the poor, became the South American nation's first saint on Sunday. Thousands of Venezuelans poured into St. Peter's Square for the Mass. As a doctor in Caracas into the early 1900s, Hernandez refused to take money from the poor for his services and often gave them money for medication. He was killed in a road accident while crossing a street shortly after picking up medicine for a poor elderly woman. In all, seven people will be canonized (冊封為聖人) in a ceremony that Pope Francis put in motion in some of his final acts as pope. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Today's Gospel has a parable about the necessity to pray always without becoming weary. Hear what Pope Francis had to say about this parable on today's reflection from Fr. Kubicki.

The belief that the movement of heavenly bodies shapes or predicts events has been around for thousands of years and can be found in many ancient cultures. Even today, some people look to their horoscopes when seeking insight on life decisions. Others read their horoscopes just for fun, without really believing in astrology, or using it to make serious choices. Still others would never dream of reading their horoscopes, viewing this as a form of divination or witchcraft which could open the door to demonic forces. The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists astrology among other divination practices (including conjuring the dead, palm reading, and recourse to mediums) that Catholics should avoid. Pope Francis reminded the faithful to cling to Jesus, not horoscopes or fortunetellers, for security in life. But do these warnings refer to all uses of astrology? What about people who read their horoscopes for fun, or look to the positions of the celestial bodies when planning agricultural practices like planting crops or pruning fruit trees?  On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to historian Luis Campos Ribeiro about the origins of astrology, how Christianity has regarded it over the centuries, and what the Catholic Church teaches today about looking to the stars for guidance. Ribeiro is a historian of art and of science, with a focus on astrology, astronomy and their connections to art in the Medieval and Early Modern eras. He has a doctorate degree in History and Philosophy of Sciences from the University of Lisbon, and has written multiple articles, and two books, including Jesuit Astrology: Prognostication and Science in Early Modern Culture (Brill). Learn more about this topic and read some of Campos Ribeiro's work in these links. “Should Catholics consult their horoscopes?” by Kathleen Manning “Cling to the Lord, not horoscopes, fortunetellers, pope says,” by Junno Arocho “Nautical astrology: a forgotten early modern tradition,” by Luis Campos Ribeiro Jesuit Astrology: Prognostication and Science in Early Modern Culture, by Luis Campos Ribeiro “What are the ancient origins of your zodiac sign?” by Catherine Caruso “The Meaning of Coincidence,” by Edward Tverdek Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries USA, a congregation of Catholic priests and brothers who live and work with the most vulnerable among us. To learn more, visit claretians.org.

Father Eamonn and Matthias continue exploring Pope Francis' encyclical Dilexit Nos, focusing on the theme of reparation and the healing power of mercy. They discuss how acknowledging our sins, seeking forgiveness, and making concrete reparations can strengthen our relationship with God and others. This section further highlights the spiritual wisdom Saints Margaret Mary and Thérèse […] L'articolo E18 | Dilexit Nos 188-198 – Fr Eamonn McCarthy & Matthias Conroy proviene da Radio Maria.

AI is now a standing item at most strategic tables—shapinghow leaders think about markets, talent, and the future of work. But while investment and experimentation are rising fast, most organizations are still in the early chapters of integration. Beneath the strategy, there's a quieter conversation about fear, trust, and what remains uniquely human. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Mulford, Chief AI Officer at BTS, to debate whether AI can ever truly replace emotional intelligence. Together, we explore how we currently think about AI, the edges of what it can do, and what remains uniquely human (for now). Guest Bio: Peter Mulford is the Chief AI Officer and the Global head of the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Practice (AI&I) for BTS Inc. In this role he helps clients get real impact by working with teams and organizations to transform their business using innovation, future back thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and digital technology. He has over 30 years of experience working with clients around the world in different industries, including Sony Interactive Entertainment, Warner Media, Microsoft, AT&T, Saudi Telecom, Lenovo, Samsung, Telkom South Africa, Merck, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Macys, and others. A sought-out keynote speaker, he has facilitated keynotes at technology and innovation conferences, company offsites, and sales conferences, as well as a private 2-day event with the late Pope Francis and 20 media executives and artists at the Vatican City. Peter joined BTS in 1998 and has worked in its offices in San Francisco, Johannesburg, Tokyo, London and New York. From 2005-2010, he was the Managing Director of BTS's East Coast region, leading the largest global office for BTS through a period of market turbulence and growth during which it more than tripled in size. Prior to BTS he worked for a start-up firm in Tokyo, Japan. He has extensive experience in Retail, Consumer Goods, Electronics and Telecom, among many other industries. Peter holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, and a Master's in international Affairs with a focus on Asia Pacific Studies from Columbia University. He speaks Japanese.

Explore the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina with Angela Sealana and Fr. Rafael Becerra González. Learn how to engage with scripture in a deeply personal way that invites God's voice into your daily life. Hear insights, historical context, and even a live demonstration of Lectio Divina. In this episode, you will discover: How can I have a conversation with God? How can I pray with Scripture? How is Lectio Divina different from Bible Study? Continue Your Journey: Guest information and helpful resources. Jewel for the Journey: "Through prayer, the Word of God comes to abide in us and we abide in it." – Pope Francis, General Audience 2021 Jan 27 Do you like what you hear? Become a Missionary of Hope by sponsoring a week of Journeys of Hope. Click here to get started. Learn more at https://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/media-and-resources/all-media-series/journeys-of-hope.html Help us spread hope! https://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/support

Katie sits down with José Manuel de Urquidi of the Juan Diego Network and Inés San Martín of the Pontifical Mission Societies to discuss their personal experiences with Pope Francis and Pope Leo. Together, they explore how to understand Pope Francis's legacy and the unfolding mission of Pope Leo. Reflecting on cultural nuances and the influence of social media, José Manuel and Inés reveal how each pope's distinct personality and leadership style can be appreciated in light of those who came before.

This week, the Regrettable Christian Caucus begins Chapter II of Laudato Si, by the late Pope Francis. You can follow along by grabbing the PDF from Verso or from the Vatican website. This Papal Encyclical calls for urgent action to address the global environmental crisis, critiques consumerism, blind developmentalism, inequality, and profit seeking. The document calls for global political solidarity to transition to a sustainable economy and for the protection of the world's most vulnerable populations. Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the showVisit the Regrettable Century Merch Shop

| S03 E07 | In anticipation of his keynote address at the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) Convention in Regina on Thursday, October 23, Sebastian Gomes, Executive Editor of Audio and Video at America Magazine and former producer at Salt + Light Media, joins Deacon Eric Gurash on the Thinking Faith Catholic Podcast.   Drawing on more than a decade of experience reporting on the Catholic Church, Sebastian reflects on Pope Francis' vision for a synodal Church, the roots of synodality in Vatican II, and what this means for parishes and Catholic health care ministries here in Saskatchewan.   Find out more about Mr. Gomes' two public speaking engagements in Saskatchewan at the following links:   https://chassk.ca/   https://archregina.sk.ca/event/a-place-for-everyone-how-pope-francis-ignited-the-churchs-mission-to-serve-people-over-ideas/   https://archregina.sk.ca/event/implementing-the-synod-on-synodality-reflections-and-challenges-with-sebastian-gomes/

Eucharistic devotion can be spread through social media. Many people can come to a deeper relationship with Christ through the posts they encounter. Such an evangelization medium must be approached responsibly with genuine posts. This blogcast explores “Eucharistic Encounters Through Social Media" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Patrick Laorden and read by Monica Thom Konschnik.October 12th is the Feast of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Since he was beatified, I have learned more about him through various articles and videos. He is truly remarkable and an inspiration to young Catholics around the world! I was intrigued by his devotion to the Eucharist and his keen interest in computers and Eucharistic miracles. I recall one of his quotes: “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”This reminds me of the adage, “you are what you consume.” I think about that when consuming social media today and the challenge of finding good and inspiring news. When we encounter that news, what do we do with it? Do we scroll away once we read the headline? Do we bookmark it, say we will get to it later and never end up reading it? Considering Blessed Carlo, I think we are called to do something more!Just as Blessed Carlo shared the power of Eucharistic miracles, we can foster Eucharistic encounters through social media. Eucharistic encounters are transformative, calling us back to Christ. Through this encounter, our faith is deepened and renewed, and we are brought into a relationship with Christ. Below are three helpful ways to foster Eucharistic encounters through media:1. Share something honestPosts are often tailored to show only the good sides of life, giving the illusion of a perfect life, when in reality life is not necessarily how it looks on social media. As a Catholic parent, the posts that I take to heart are those that are honest. I recall a friend who is a mother of two posting about her experience of raising two kids. She showed a picture of her cluttered home, commenting how it was late, the kids had yet to be put to bed, they were not following her directions, and she still had a laundry list of things to do. Despite that, she gave thanks to God for being able to raise a family with her husband and having two kids who genuinely care about their faith. These posts meet people where they are at, showing the mundaneness of human life where not everything has to be perfect or go to plan.2. Root it in Christ and your faithSacraments like the Eucharist have a visible and invisible reality. The visible reality is the outward expression, that is, the form they take and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality is God's grace. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter through social media means rooting what we share in Christ and our faith. What we choose to share may be good or inspiring news, but what does the news point to? Going back to my friend, despite the chaotic moment she shared about her family life, she took the opportunity to give thanks to God for her family and children. Gratitude is a powerful expression that builds human connection. What we share on social media are moments of life. In giving thanks to God for that moment, what we are sharing points to the invisible reality that these moments are gifts from God.3. Consider a Call to ActionThe Roman Missal has various options for dismissal as part of the Mass: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” and “Go in peace.” In all options, the faithful are sent out to share the Gospel. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter throughsocial media can have a similar effect, calling people to action. Posts like my friend's that share a moment in their life that they are thankful to God for is a great opportunity to invite others to do the same. In this case, my friend invited others to think about one thing they were thankful for and share it with a family or friend. A call to action is a way for others to sow the seeds of the Gospel, a message which bears fruit over time as people continue to share it faithfully. Earlier this year in his message for the 58th World Day of Communication, Pope Francis focused on artificial intelligence, both its uses and challenges. He mentioned this regarding growing in humanity:“We are called to reflect carefully on the theoretical development and the practical use of these new instruments of communication and knowledge. Their great possibilities for good are accompanied by the risk of turning everything into abstract calculations that reduce individuals to data, thinking to a mechanical process, experience to isolated cases, goodness to profit, and, above all, a denial of the uniqueness of each individual and his or her story.”Despite advances in technology, human connection is something that should not be compromised nor forgotten. Social media is a tool which can be used for good such as evangelizing. Fostering Eucharistic encounters through social media is an opportunity to deepen realities to ultimately foster relationships with Christ. Like Blessed Carlo, let us share the Gospel through creative ways as we interact with others through social media. Author:Patrick Laorden serves as a Grants Associate for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in Hartford, CT. Resources:Listen to On Mission: Eucharistic Revival: Year of MissionOn Mission: Social Media Practices for Catholic Ministries and ApostolatesBrowse Eucharistic Revival ResourcesRead the Ad Infinitum blog Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

It's a new dawn in Gaza as the ceasefire holds, we hear from the Catholic aid agency ready to send aid to Palestinians returning to where their homes once stood. Israeli families countdown to the release of the hostages they've longed for: we hear from those already released on why their Jewish faith deepened in captivity.Does Andy Burnham 'do God?' The Mayor of Greater Manchester says it is time for faith communities to help form a bedrock for a new vision of local government - and he credits Pope Francis with the idea of fostering a new culture of encounter.PRESENTER: JULIE ETCHINGHAM PRODUCERS: CATHERINE MURRAY & KATY BOOTH STUDIO MANAGERS: MIKE SMITH & ADAM DOLAN EDITOR: CHLOE WALKER

Pope Leo XIV has released his first major teaching document, “Dilexi Te” (”I Have Loved You”). The apostolic exhortation, addressed “to all Christians on love for the poor,” was begun by Pope Francis and completed by Pope Leo. It emphasizes that the poor reveal a fundamental way of encountering Christ. Gerard O'Connell, senior Vatican correspondent, and Ricardo da Silva, S.J., associate editor, join Colleen Dulle, host and Vatican correspondent, for a roundtable discussion on the document's themes, its continuity with Pope Francis and the challenges and encouragement that it offers Christians. Credits Producers: Colleen Dulle and Ricardo da Silva, S.J. Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes Audio and video engineering: Kevin Christopher Robles Production assistance: Will Gualtiere Inside the Vatican is a production of America Media. Support Inside the Vatican by ⁠subscribing to America Magazine⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 203 (Part 2 of 2) | In this rich, delightful, and profound conversation, Integral Theory informed Father David McCallum, SJ, currently serving the Catholic Church as executive director of the Program for Discerning Leadership, leads us into a world filled with mission, purpose, and service, foundational to which is the practice of discernment. David describes discernment as the capacity to exercise good judgment, hold complexity, and wait for clarity. This is not only a practice for individuals, he explains, but also a communal one, providing a way for communities to discern and design together the future they want to create—through listening, dialoguing, participating. Discernment is a way of knowing and making sense of reality, David continues, and especially important now in this era of changes and choices to be made.David enlightens us as to the beautiful and far-sighted reforms proposed by the late Pope Francis, who was all for changing the balance of authority and participation in the Church; for people to have direct experience of Presence and the capacity to practice discernment; who also advocated for taking swift action on behalf of our planet, even calling out the part in the Bible that says man has dominion over the Earth. From David's description of “the journey worth making”—surrendering, opening, accepting divine grace and love—to using Otto Scharmer's U Process to help find the courage to change and simplify our lives for the benefit of all, to the Church's relationship with A.I., David provides us with an extraordinarily mind-broadening, motivating, and spiritually fulfilling perspective. Recorded July 10, 2025.“Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis… We don't see the unity of all.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Turning inward for guidance: making discernment practices & skills available to all (01:07)The hunger to get back to direct experience (04:04) Practicing with the Ignatius exercises including contemplation: the path of silence (06:40)Pope Francis' call out for action on behalf of the Earth (09:39)Using Otto Scharmer's U Process to gain the courage to simplify our lives and make the commitment to change (12:11)Pope Francis' challenging the idea that men should have dominion over the earth (13:30)Disasters and oppression today are by-products of a spiritual crisis; we don't see the unity of all (15:13) Liberation theology: awakening the poor to their plight, giving them tools to remediate systemic injustice (16:52)Why Jesuits were killed in El Salvador (19:28)In the current situation in the U.S., what shape will/should religiously motivated resistance take? (20:23)The church, A.I., and the danger of losing our human competencies to machines (27:32)Resources & References – Part 2Father David McCallum, SJ, The Program for Discerning LeadershipThe Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of LoyolaJesuit Roshi Bob Kennedy;

Episode 95 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with author and podcast host Matthew Sitman. They explore conversion to Catholicism, the breadth and universality of the Catholic Church, humility and openness, cancel culture, Pope Francis, mercy, ideology, relationships, being a gay Catholic, ritual and wordless gestures, and much more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe:  Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "We give ourselves excuses to dismiss people, to not see them, not see the reality of their lives. And that's just something I don't think we're permitted as Christians." -Matthew Sitman Matthew Sitman You can find more of Matthew Sitman @matthewsitman on X/Twitter. ABOUT THE GUEST Matthew Sitman is a writer in New York City and the co-host of the podcast Know Your Enemy, a guide to the right by two leftists. Prior to writing and podcasting full-time, he was associate editor of Commonweal magazine for six years. He was received into the Catholic Church as an adult—this fall he'll have been Catholic for a decade. Listen to Matt and his Know Your Enemy co-host Sam Adler Bell talk about Pope Francis here. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness

In his May 12 article in First Things—Francis in Full—Bishop Robert Barron eloquently wrote of Pope Francis' many positive accomplishments as well as some very serious problems such as a legacy of doctrinal and pastoral disunity. Bishop Barron's evaluation of Pope Francis' ministry provides a lens through which we can look at the serious challenges facing Pope Leo XIV and his great need for our prayer.

Our latest episode of The Walk Humbly Podcast, Bishop Burbidge:    Comments on Pope Leo's XIV anticipated first apostolic exhortation, Delexi te (“I have loved you”) on caring for the poor and encourages us to read the document in full   Expands upon his column in the Arlington Catholic Herald what the Catholic Church teaches on migration: “We don't tire of doing the work of welcoming the stranger in our midst…. [for] in doing so we welcome Christ”   Shares why news of the recent FDA approval of a new generic version of the chemical abortion drug, mifepristone, is deeply troubling and thus a call to prayer and action    Recaps some of the central messages of his homily from the recent Mass for Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception   Offers perspective on awards and honors for Catholic politicians; read his statement   Celebrates the 230th anniversary of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Alexandria, inviting all parishioners to gratitude and renewal; see the coverage   Explains why the message of Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli tutti — published five years ago — remains relevant today; read his statement   Encourages the faithful to renew their commitment to pray the Rosary daily this month for peace, echoing the invitation of the Holy Father; learn more  

Vatican journalist Colleen Dulle discusses her new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter, a memoir of the last seven years. In 2018, she started for the Jesuit Review, America Magazine, and that was when all of the terrible revelations of sexual abuse scandals, lies and coverups, about [former cardinal, later defrocked] Theodore McCarrick became the main story, then [former nuncio, later excommunicated] Carlo Maria Viganò's schismatic campaign, then Jean Vanier, then Marco Rupnik. Each betrayal shook our faith. “One woe doth tread upon another's heel, / So fast they'll follow,” says Gertrude in Hamlet, learning of Ophelia's death. Colleen talks about these and the fractured body of the Church, a “crisis of community” as well, among other topics. It's a personal and raw discussion. But these fiery trials might be the proving crucible that has made her faith stronger, wrestling with God, as Jacob did, and throwing plates in honest anger, as Pope Francis recommended. Colleen's new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter (2025) Colleen's writing at America magazine. Colleen Dulle on Almost Good Catholics, episode 16: Marxists and Mystics: A Vatican Journalist discusses her Biography of Madeleine Delbrêl and the New Papal Constitution Father James Martin, SJ, on Almost Good Catholics, episode 30: What if You're Gay? Starting Conversations with and about LGBT Catholics. Father Chris Alar on Almost Good Catholics, episode 61: Master Craftsman, Broken Tools: Why God Works Through Us, Hears Intercessory Prayers, and Grants Divine Mercy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Vatican journalist Colleen Dulle discusses her new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter, a memoir of the last seven years. In 2018, she started for the Jesuit Review, America Magazine, and that was when all of the terrible revelations of sexual abuse scandals, lies and coverups, about [former cardinal, later defrocked] Theodore McCarrick became the main story, then [former nuncio, later excommunicated] Carlo Maria Viganò's schismatic campaign, then Jean Vanier, then Marco Rupnik. Each betrayal shook our faith. “One woe doth tread upon another's heel, / So fast they'll follow,” says Gertrude in Hamlet, learning of Ophelia's death. Colleen talks about these and the fractured body of the Church, a “crisis of community” as well, among other topics. It's a personal and raw discussion. But these fiery trials might be the proving crucible that has made her faith stronger, wrestling with God, as Jacob did, and throwing plates in honest anger, as Pope Francis recommended. Colleen's new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter (2025) Colleen's writing at America magazine. Colleen Dulle on Almost Good Catholics, episode 16: Marxists and Mystics: A Vatican Journalist discusses her Biography of Madeleine Delbrêl and the New Papal Constitution Father James Martin, SJ, on Almost Good Catholics, episode 30: What if You're Gay? Starting Conversations with and about LGBT Catholics. Father Chris Alar on Almost Good Catholics, episode 61: Master Craftsman, Broken Tools: Why God Works Through Us, Hears Intercessory Prayers, and Grants Divine Mercy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textIn the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, the death penalty has once again become a hot topic. Many Catholics are asking: Can we, in good conscience, support it?In this week's video, I sit down with Fr. Cristino to unpack the Church's teaching on the death penalty — from Scripture and tradition, through St. John Paul II, to Pope Francis today.This is not just about politics. It's about justice, mercy, and the dignity of every human life.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV marks the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', Pope Francis' encyclical on care for creation. And, day two of the federal government shutdown shows no sign of resolution.

WarRoom Battleground EP 861: “Trad Catholic Inc.” In Shock As “Pope” Leo Confirms He's Just As Non-Catholic As “Pope” Francis

One of the most-streamed episodes so far. Now it has been officially copyrighted!!! As of September 18th!! Yeah Me!   No I am not Catholic. But, this Pope Leo XIV, is literally a "cousin". And has emphatically stated he is not MAGA. As the first American-born pope, has said that his nationality means that people cannot say he "doesn't understand the United States," as they did with Pope Francis. This statement indicates that he feels his perspective is uniquely informed and that he will be more effective in his engagement with the US government. He has expressed support for US bishops who took a stance against the Trump administration's deportation policies. By doing so, he is indirectly criticizing the administration while also encouraging other bishops to follow suit. While Pope Leo XIV has stated that he wants to avoid "partisan politics," he has also said that he is not afraid to "raise issues" that are related to the Gospel. This creates a fine line that he seems willing to walk, and his comments about human dignity, immigration, and wealth inequality can be interpreted as a critique of the administration's policies from a moral and religious standpoint. I am not a Communist nor a sympathizer of the autocratic regime in power in China. But, I admire the shade. Leaving this felon administration on hold listening to #Obama speeches is classic!! #pettylujah  Facts: China has little incentive to make a sweeping trade deal with the current US administration (referencing the Trump administration) is that the current US strategy of unilateral pressure and withdrawal from global alliances inadvertently plays right into China's long-term strategic goals. Read more about AfroDruid Magic Elixir https://linktr.ee/tnfroisreading