Catholic Church and the World

Catholic Church and the World

Aerial View of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

The Catholic Church has developed teachings on justice and peace that address global challenges of economic and social development, democracy and human rights, conflict resolution, and interreligious dialogue. These resources examine the Church’s engagement in world affairs, particularly in the areas of nuclear disarmament, environmental stewardship, and diplomacy.

Our Experts

José Casanova

Senior Fellow
Professor Emeritus

Drew Christiansen

Senior Fellow
Walsh School of Foreign Service

David Hollenbach

Senior Fellow
Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Theology and Religious Studies

Gerard J. McGlone

Senior Research Fellow

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Project Spotlight

Silent Peace Vigil with Sign for the Anniversary of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Atomic Bombs

The Church and Nuclear Issues

From the very beginning, nuclear weapons have been controversial. In response to this grave global threat the Berkley Center is exploring the policy, ethical, and moral challenges involved in moving toward a world without nuclear weapons.

Blog Posts

Joe Biden speaks at Georgetown University

March 11, 2021

Joe Biden and Catholicism in U.S. Politics

What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities when it comes to Catholic engagement in American domestic and foreign policy at the start of the Biden administration? How might the new administration affect diplomacy between the United States and the Holy See?

November 4, 2020

Religion and Integral Ecology: Five Years of Laudato Si

How do different religious traditions understand the intersection of ecology and forms of (in)justice? What do various religious traditions envision as our moral obligations to the environment? What are some of the challenges and possibilities of faith engagement on climate change?

U.S. flag flies in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City

October 22, 2020

Catholic Faith in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

What role has Catholic faith played in the Democratic and Republican strategies during the 2020 presidential election? Are the candidates taking new approaches to Catholic outreach? If so, how? What is the significance of nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court?

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Events

Apr
14

2021

Writing as Spiritual Practice

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT Online

Apr
8

2021

Faith and Flourishing: Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse

Mar
23

2021

Advancing Integral Disarmament in Times of Pandemic

Mar
18

2021

Reflections on Faith and Secularity in Our Global Secular Age

Mar
15

2021

The Pope's Visit to Iraq: An Historic Juncture

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Interviews

Discover the firsthand experiences of faith leaders, activists, and peacebuilding practitioners working on issues ranging from development and education to conflict resolution and foreign policy.

For over a decade, Berkley Center scholars and students have been conducting interviews with individuals working at the intersection of religion and world affairs. These discussions offer unique insights into the inner workings of a wide spectrum of professions touched by religion with interviewees ranging from the highest levels of leadership of international organizations to on-the-ground practitioners. Explore individual interviews here or follow links to our interview collections below:

Recent Interviews

Front gate and sign for Xavie rLearning Community in Thailand

A Discussion with John McConville, Teacher at Xavier Learning Community, Ching Rai, Thailand

July 2, 2019

Xavier Learning Community students standing in a circle

A Discussion with Chaloemsree Tahong, Sophomore Student at Xavier Learning Community, Ching Rai, Thailand

July 1, 2019

Xavier Learning Community students walking in a local village

A Discussion with Angsumalee Samerporn, Teacher at Xavier Learning Community, Ching Rai, Thailand

June 26, 2019

Students walking outdoors at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland

A Discussion with a Laurentian Society Member, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

June 24, 2019

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Current and Past Projects

Indian Children at School with Girl Writing

Education and Social Justice Project

A collaboration with the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service, the Education and Social Justice Project provides summer research fellowships to travel abroad for in-depth examinations of innovative initiatives, particularly within Jesuit secondary and post-secondary institutions.

The Jesuits and Globalization

Over three years the Berkley Center’s Tom Banchoff and Jose Casanova led an interdisciplinary project on the Jesuits and globalization. The project convened an international group of scholars to explore the historical contributions of the Jesuits to…

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Publications

Article February 11, 2021

A Relational Understanding of Human Development

Senior Fellow Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., explores a relational understanding of human development, drawing on Catholic social teaching and his own experience as a consultant to Jesuit Refugee Service.