Berkley Center

Berkley Center Director Thomas Banchoff recounts a recent pilgrimage to Hiroshima and Nagasaki marking the eightieth anniversary of the atomic bombings. He recalls encounters with survivors, interfaith ceremonies, and Church leaders, emphasizing the moral call for nuclear disarmament. 

In an article published on Love Your Neighbor Community, Senior Fellow Katherine Marshall and Research Fellow Sudipta Roy reflect on lessons from a gathering in Krakow focused on cross-cultural religious literacy and its implications for development practice. 

Senior Fellow Paul Elie has received wide attention for his new book, The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s (2025). Reviews in the Financial Times and National Catholic Reporter have highlighted the book's timely exploration of art, religion, and culture in the 1980s. In addition, Elie has spoken about his work with the American Writers Museum, Christianity Today, and New Orleans Public Radio, among others. 

From August 10-14, 2025, the G20 Interfaith Forum is hosting an annual conference centered around the theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" and rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes shared humanity and mutual responsibility. The gatherings bring together faith leaders, scholars, and policymakers from around the world to explore how interfaith collaboration can advance social justice, peace, and sustainable development. Berkley Center participants in the week-long event include Senior Fellows Katherine Marshall and José Casanova, Senior Research Fellow Rabbi David Saperstein, and Research Fellow Susan Hayward.