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Pope Francis leads a prayer service in an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 27, 2020.

The Francis Factor: The Leadership of the World’s Pastor

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About the Initiative

The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life is a unique effort to promote dialogue on Catholic social thought and national and global issues, build bridges across political, religious, and ideological lines, and encourage a new generation of Catholic lay leaders to see their faith as an asset in pursuing the common good.

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Pope Francis leads a prayer service in an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 27, 2020.
Mar
19
2025

The Francis Factor: The Leadership of the World’s Pastor

At a time when Pope Francis faces serious health challenges, this annual dialogue on the “Francis Factor” examined the leadership and impact of Pope Francis over the last 12 years and going forward. The day after he was elected pope in 2013, he explained that he chose the name Francis in honor of…

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Cardinal Robert McElroy at the Vatican in 2022. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Vatican names liberal San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy as new D.C. leader

In this Washington Post article, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life director Kim Daniels said Cardinal Robert McElroy “takes to heart Pope Francis’s call to accompany people with mercy in the concrete particulars of their lives. In politics, he’ll offer a smart and distinctive Catholic voice, with a record of putting the poor and vulnerable first while seeking opportunities for dialogue and engagement,” and Initiative founder John Carr said “Cardinal McElroy will be principled, not political. His priorities will be moral, not ideological. He will be civil, but not silent in challenging the administration when their policies threaten the poor and vulnerable.”

Georgetown Partners with Vatican, Pope Francis on Initiatives Across the University

 Georgetown University has several initiatives connected with the Vatican and Pope Francis, including Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life director Kim Daniels who is a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and was appointed to serve as an expert advisor for the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and as the coordinator of the synod study group on the Church’s mission in the digital environment.

Seven cardinals, bishops, experts from US are part of synod's study groups

The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops released the names of members of two sets of study groups that have been conducting an in-depth look into several themes that emerged during the first assembly of the synod on synodality in 2023. Among the seven members of the groups from the United States is Kim Daniels, director of Georgetown's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and coordinator of the study group on "The Mission in the Digital Environment".