A Bacik Conversation

Pope Leo calls Christians and Muslims, who share a belief in the one God creator and judge, to work together to spread God's gift of compassion to a world bombarded by suffering so that more people can live a more abundant and hopeful life.

In his encyclical Magnificent Humanity, Pope Leo demonstrates that Catholic Social Doctrine can help guide shared efforts to get rapidly expanding digital technology to serve the common good.

Pope Leo, who naturally relates very well with women, will continue to appoint women to high positions in the Church, but will honor the long tradition of not ordaining women as priests or deacons.

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Pope Leo's political theology affirms the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment against Christian nationalism and the free exercise clause against doctrinaire secularism.

From the beginning of his ministry as Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo has been a courageous and consistent advocate for peace: calling for a halt to all wars around the world; the elimination of nuclear weapons; and presenting Christ as the Lord, who has given us the gift of peace and calls us to do our part to promote peace in our own circle of influence.

As a young Augustinian friar, Pope Leo XIV was sent to Peru where he encountered liberation theology, pioneered by Gustavo Gutierrez, that he appropriated as a priest, teacher, and bishop, and now practices as the Supreme Pontiff.

The first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV has given expression to the Augustinian charism in various ways: often quoting Saint Augustine in public statements; living in community with other friars in the remodeled apostolic palace; and encouraging all of us to join with others in loving God, serving our neighbor, and promoting social justice and peace in the world.

Pope Leo XIV, the first Roman Pontiff from the United States is carrying on the reform strategy of Pope Francis commonly called "Synodality", an approach that involves listening to the voices of the marginalized, having conversations in the Spirit, and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit.

By choosing the name, Leo, the first American pope indicated his intention to speak up for justice and peace as did Pope Leo 13 in his groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum.

During his 12-year ministry as Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis was a consistent advocate for peace, calling on Christians to follow the example of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and advocating for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.

Pope Francis, who mistrusted top-down attempts at Church renewal and trusted the faith instincts of ordinary believers, worked to renew the mission of the Church through “synodality”, an approach that emphasized shared prayer and small group discussions.

In his encyclical on care for our common home, Pope Francis supported the ratification of the Paris Agreement and called on all members of the human family to do our part to reduce global warming.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American Bishop of Rome, drew on liberation theology to help the poor take hold of their lives.

Pope Francis appointed many women to high positions in the Vatican, but he stopped short of ordaining women deacons.

Pope Francis argues that our economic system tends to reduce persons to commodities and offers advice on how to maintain a Christian attitude by meditating on the teachings of Jesus who told the story of the rich man who suffered in the next life and Lazarus, who enjoyed happiness.

Pope Francis teaches us that Christian marriage is an icon of Christ's love for the church and encourages married couples to make use of parish programs to enrich their marriage.

Pope Francis teaches that all Christians by virtue of our baptism are called to proclaim the word and that the three year cycle of Sunday Mass readings, guided by relevant homilies, can help us live our faith in every day life.

This podcast episode, on Pope Francis and sex abuse, deals with very sensitive and disturbing material, portrays the pope as having sincere compassion for the victims and urging all Catholics to do our part to purge the church of this horrendous scandal.

This episode on Pope Francis and the Liturgy highlights the pope's commitment to implementing the liturgical reforms of Vatican II and encourages all of us to be full, active, conscious participants at Mass.

Fr Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Dorothy Day: Dorothy Day (1897-1980) journalist, social activist, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement who encourages us to engage in concrete actions to serve the poor and promote peace.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Catholic priest, Trappist monk, author of best-selling autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, who reminds us that personal prayer should inspire us to work for justice and peace.

Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Richard Gaillardetz (1958-2023), Outstanding American ecclesiologist who wrote profound reflections on his 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer now published as While I Breathe I Hope, a great addition to the spirituality of death and dying.

Father Bacik and Brad Reiger discuss Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ (1941- ), Premier American Catholic feminist theologian who proposed reimaging God in feminine language (Lady Wisdom and Mother) as a way of overcoming the sexism and patriarchy supported by traditional male images of God (Father and Son).

Karl Rahner (1904-1984) German Jesuit theologian, considered one of the five most influential theologians in the history of the church who encourages us to find the gracious God in our ordinary experiences of life including our work and leisure, and our joys and sorrows.

Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984) Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian, professor at Gregorian University in Rome and Harvard who developed a theological method that guides a process of conversion in various dimensions of our lives: intellectual, moral, affective and religious.