This private dialogue on "Why Do Pope Francis and Catholic Social Thought Matter Now?" was a centerpiece of the Initiative’s 2022 National Leadership Convening on "Sharing the Joy of the Gospel and Seeking a Better Kind of Politics". This unique gathering of 50 invited Catholic leaders from across the nation on August 30-31 focused on advancing Pope Francis’ mission and message in the United States and strengthening the contribution of Catholic social thought in U.S. public life.
The participants in the Tuesday evening dialogue were respected leaders with differing backgrounds and perspectives on Pope Francis, Catholic social thought, and public life. Among those participating were:
- Fr. Robert Boxie, Catholic chaplain at Howard University, formerly served at St. Mary’s parish and as a clerk and lawyer in Maryland after attending Harvard Law School
- Dr. Michelle González Maldonado, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Scranton and past president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians in the United States
- Dr. Russell Moore, new editor-in-chief of Christianity Today and the former president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
- Rev. Jim Wallis, director of the Center on Faith and Justice in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown and founder of Sojourners
The reception and dinner took place in Copley Formal Lounge, and the dialogue and dessert reception took place in historic Riggs Library and the President’s Room at Georgetown University.