Panel to Analyze Pope Francis’ First Six Months on the Job

In February, Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world with his decision to resign from the papacy—the first pope to do so in nearly six centuries.

The novelties kept coming when a month later it was announced to the world’s two billion Catholics that Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio would succeed Benedict, giving the church its first South American and first Jesuit pope.

Next week, Fordham University’s Department of Theology will host a panel of experts to discuss how the newly-elected Pope Francis has handled the first six months of his papacy and what the Catholic community can expect moving forward.

Six Months of Pope Francis: A Panel Discussion
Monday, Sept. 9
5:30 p.m.
12th-floor Lounge / Corrigan Conference Center
Lincoln Center Campus

Fordham theologians and prominent religion journalist Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press will examine the first six months of Pope Francis’s leadership, including the tone he has set for his papacy, the initiatives he has already undertaken, and the prospects for the months and years to come.

The panel will feature:

• Christine Firer Hinze, Ph.D., professor of theology and director of the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies;
• Michael Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of theology and president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States;
• Michael Peppard, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and blog contributor for Commonweal magazine;
• moderator Terrence Tilley, Ph.D., the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology; and
• respondent Rachel Zoll, lead religion reporter for the AP.

Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions after the discussion, which is free and open to the public.

The event is hosted by the Department of Theology, in association with the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies and the Center on Religion and Culture.

For more information, email the theology department or call (718) 817-3240. Follow Fordham theology on Twitter @fordhamTheology.

— Joanna Klimaski