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How the Papacy of the First Jesuit Pope Will Be Remembered in the Distant Future
By Rev. Thomas Massaro
… Many further achievements of Pope Francis, both within the church and beyond its internal life, could be listed: his tireless advocacy for worker justice, his heartfelt efforts to counteract economic inequality, and his emphasis on strengthening family life, among many others. He will surely be remembered even centuries from now as a highly effective church leader with numerous accomplishments to his credit. What binds together all these distinct contributions is the traditional papal title of Pontifex Maximus—the great bridge-builder—for that is precisely the role that Francis has played from the first moments of his papacy in 2013. He has brought people together in so many ways, skillfully and patiently leading them to engage in genuine dialogue, to respect the earth, to promote the well-being of our most marginalized neighbors, and ultimately to grow closer to God.
Almost 20 years ago, Pope Benedict XVI published his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (“God Is Love”) (DC 2005). In this encyclical, Benedict XVI referred to a Christian faith as one that “sees the love of God revealed in the pierced heart of Jesus on the Cross” and “gives rise to love” (DC, para. 39). In his latest encyclical, Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”) (DN) published on 24 October 2024, Pope Francis continues his predecessor’s focus on divine and human love, as revealed most clearly in the heart of Jesus.
Human hearts are not preestablished; rather, they must be formed and cultivated through attentiveness to others. This process solicits an appreciation for the virtue of patience. Francis notes how a return to the heart thus offers an essential corrective to societies in which people’s lives are increasingly “hectic,” “bombarded by technology,” and thereby “lacking in the patience” needed to cultivate a virtuous interior life (DN, para. 9).
Sharia Court Adjudication: Gendered Perspective
By Kyriaki Topidi
… Overall, the conflicting interpretation of religious norms that enjoy state-law recognition should be viewed more holistically as a process depending on numerous factors. The issue from a normative perspective tends to be perceived, not always accurately, as located within Islam itself, but in reality political interests, local culture, socioeconomic backgrounds, and gender considerations, as well as religious dogma, shape the interpretation and use of such norms.
From the perspective of the state, the Greek model in its post-2018 frame still struggles to resolve the issues of consent (i.e., to what extent those using the religious judicial system genuinely wish to do so), of agency (i.e., on what basis members of a religious minority decide to forum shop between jurisdictions), and of the broader compatibility of human rights with Islamic family law. Answers to these questions should advise and guide future reform of sharia courts in Greece.
Religious Minorities in Post-Assad Syria
By Knox Thames & Andrea Pin
Knox Thames, international human rights lawyer and a senior fellow at Pepperdine University, and Andrea Pin, professor of law at University of Padua, discuss religious minority dynamics in post-Assad Syria.
Timeline:
00:05 – Religious freedom under Assad (Thames)
01:43 – Future of Syrian religious and ethnic diversity (Thames)
04:17 – Are Syrian Alawites in danger? (Thames)
05:34 – The role of the U.S. and international community (Thames)
09:07 – Authoritarian regimes and religious freedom in Middle East (Pin)
13:34 – Post-dictatorship state building and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria (Pin)
18:52 – Alawites and other minorities in post-Assad Syria (Pin)
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