Show Notes
Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado this week, only the latest in a monthslong series of statements and meetings that have shown the Vatican repeatedly pushing for peace. This week, David Gibson of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture joins host Colleen Dulle to discuss Pope Leo’s approach to foreign policy.
Links from the show:
New York Times Opinion: Pope Leo Confronts Trump on His Own Terms
Pope Leo meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
Washington Post: Inside the frantic global race to find an escape route for Maduro
George Orwell is more relevant than ever. Just ask the pope.
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0:00 Intro
3:57 Vatican/Venezuela timeline in fall 2025
6:53 Parolin and Burch’s urgent Christmas Eve meeting
11:28 Pope Leo’s comments after U.S. operation
13:11 Leo XIV’s ‘State of the World’ address
20:00 Maria Corina Machado meets Pope Leo
21:50 Why Vatican diplomacy matters
24:36 Is Pope Leo a counterweight to Donald Trump?
27:44 Pope Leo’s message to the American church
29:41 Pope Francis’ vs. Pope Leo’s foreign policy
33:33 Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI’s foreign policies
37:30 What makes Pope Leo’s approach unique?
41:20 The Vatican’s endgame in Venezuela Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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