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Catholic Church and the World

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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. Through research, teaching, and outreach activities the Berkley Center addresses the changing role of the Church and the world, with a focus on the building a Culture of Encounter, one of the priorities of Pope Francis.

Our Experts

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Thomas Banchoff

Director
Department of Government and Walsh School of Foreign Service, Vice President for Global Engagement

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José Casanova

Senior Fellow
Professor Emeritus

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David Hollenbach

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

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 explored the policy, ethical, and moral challenges involved in moving toward a world without nuclear weapons.

Current and Past Projects

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Education and Social Justice Project

The Education and Social Justice (ESJ) Fellowship provides students with the opportunity to conduct in-depth examinations of innovative educational initiatives, with a focus on the work of Jesuit secondary and post-secondary institutions.
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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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Videos

February 12, 2025

Pope Francis and the Reform of the Roman Curia: Challenges and Opportunities

Duration: 1 hours 3 minutes

December 16, 2024

Synodality and the Culture of Encounter: The Experience of the Synod on Synodality

Duration: 1 hours 44 minutes

December 16, 2024

Synodality and the Culture of Encounter: The Synod’s Historical and Theological Significance

Duration: 1 hours 10 minutes

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Events

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Publications

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Blog Posts

Jesus on the cross and scenes from the Passion carved into limestone at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

September 30, 2024

Human Rights and Social Ethics: Catholic and Secular Approaches

Berkley Center Senior Fellow Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., has applied Christian social ethics to a variety of global challenges over the last 40 years. That dedication has led Hollenbach to work on one of the most pressing issues facing the international community today: human rights.
A Faith Alive: Built By Those Living The Faith

July 29, 2024

A Faith Alive: Built By Those Living The Faith

Patty Robben (SFS’25) reflects on the influence of Catholicism across Ecuador, as well as her personal connection to her faith that she explored during her semester abroad.

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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:

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