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May 5, 2020

The Papacy Confronts Coronavirus

Showing the The Papacy Confronts Coronavirus Video

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected religious and spiritual life in innumerable ways, challenging ancient traditions and practices. Shortly before Easter, Austen Ivereigh, biographer of Pope Francis who writes for the Tablet, Commonweal, and America magazine, had an illuminating interview with the Pope about Catholicism, the Church, and the papacy in the time of the coronavirus. The same week, author and Berkley Center senior fellow Paul Elie, in a daily comment for the New Yorker, discussed Pope Francis's powerful use of ritual and imagery in this moment to bring out his pontificate's core themes of service, self-sacrifice, and humility.

In this conversation, Ivereigh and Elie were joined by Kim Daniels, associate director of Georgetown's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, and the three discussed Pope Francis's insights and approach to leadership during this Easter season.

This event was co-sponsored by Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.

Participants

​Austen Ivereigh

​Austen Ivereigh

​Austen Ivereigh is a biographer of Pope Francis who writes for the Tablet, Commonweal, and America magazine. He had an illuminating interview with Pope Francis about Catholicism, the Church, and the papacy in the time of the coronavirus.

Kim Daniels

Kim Daniels

Kim Daniels is the associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication. She has also been a lead advisor to the U.S. bishops on the intersection of Church teachings and public life.

Paul Elie

Paul Elie

Paul Elie is an author and senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. He wrote a daily comment for the New Yorker in which he discussed Pope Francis's powerful use of ritual and imagery during the pandemic.