Magnifica: Pope Leo & The Church in the 21st Century

On September 30th, the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, Harper's Magazine, and Boston College's Center for Psychological Humanities & Ethics will host a conversation between Jack Hanson (Columbia University) and Matthew Clemente (Boston College) on the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica: Pope Leo and the Church in the 21st Century. Taking Hanson's recent Harper's cover story as a jumping off point for the conversion, the two will explore the evolving role of the Catholic Church in public life, the legacy of Pope Francis, the emergence of Pope Leo, and broader questions of faith, power, human dignity, democracy, and the moral imagination. The evening will join together journalism and artistic expression -- including a selection of music performed by musicians from composer John Zorn’s ensemble -- and aims to show how journalism can spark a wider cultural conversation and reflection. The Sheen Center remains committed to presenting thought provoking conversation while remaining a-political.