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--:-- Noel King: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: Today, we're talking about the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV. He's the first American pope, and he's already making headlines with his pro-immigrant views.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's right. And we're going to explore how his ancient Catholic order collides with the beliefs of a growing group of converts like Vice President JD Vance.
--:-- Noel King: To help us understand this, we're joined by Terrence Sweeney, a professor at Villanova University, which is the alma mater of Pope Leo XIV.
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- Noel King: So, Professor Sweeney, how surprised were you when you heard the news that Pope Leo XIV had been chosen?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: I was both surprised and not surprised. I've been talking about him with friends and students for the past couple weeks.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: You've been following his career closely, it seems.
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Yes, I have. And I was hopeful for him, but he's an American, and traditionally, that's not something that's happened before.
--:-- Noel King: That's right. The Catholic Church has a long history of choosing European popes. What do you think makes Pope Leo XIV different?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Well, he's a member of the Augustinian order, which is a group of friars that was founded in 1244. They're known for their emphasis on living in community and serving the poor.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's fascinating. Can you tell us more about the Augustinian order and how it might shape Pope Leo XIV's papacy?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: The Augustinians are a group of friars who were founded on three principles: living in community, serving the poor, and following the teachings of St. Augustine. They're known for their emphasis on the importance of the heart in spiritual life.
--:-- Noel King: That's beautiful. And how do you think Pope Leo XIV's experience as a missionary in Peru might shape his papacy?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: I think it's a real sign of wanting to be with those on the margins of global power and economics. He's a profoundly pro-refugee and pro-life pope, and I think he sees that his office as a bishop and now as bishop of Rome is a prophetic one.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's really interesting. And what about his views on immigration? We've heard that he's been critical of the US government's immigration policies.
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Yes, that's right. He's taken a strong stance on immigration, and I think that's going to be a key issue for him as pope.
--:-- Noel King: Okay, let's talk about the tension between cradle Catholics and converts like Vice President JD Vance. Can you tell us more about that?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Yes, of course. There's a growing divide between cradle Catholics and converts, and it's largely driven by differences in theology and practice.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Can you explain what you mean by that?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Well, cradle Catholics tend to have a more practical and community-based understanding of their faith, whereas converts often have a more intellectual and theological understanding.
--:-- Noel King: That's really interesting. And how do you think Pope Leo XIV might navigate this divide?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: I think he'll continue to pursue Pope Francis's strategy of pastoral compassion paired with doctrinal conservatism.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a great point. And finally, what do you think Pope Leo XIV's papacy will mean for the Catholic Church in the US?
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: I think it will be a time of great change and challenge for the Church, but also a time of great opportunity for growth and renewal.
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--:-- Noel King: Thanks, Professor Sweeney, for joining us today.
--:-- Terrence Sweeney: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And now, let's talk to Catherine Kaleidas, a research associate at the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge.
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Noel King: So, Catherine, can you tell us more about the tension between cradle Catholics and converts like Vice President JD Vance?
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: Yes, of course. There's a growing divide between cradle Catholics and converts, and it's largely driven by differences in theology and practice.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Can you explain what you mean by that?
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: Well, cradle Catholics tend to have a more practical and community-based understanding of their faith, whereas converts often have a more intellectual and theological understanding.
--:-- Noel King: That's really interesting. And how do you think Pope Leo XIV might navigate this divide?
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: I think he'll continue to pursue Pope Francis's strategy of pastoral compassion paired with doctrinal conservatism.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a great point. And finally, what do you think Pope Leo XIV's papacy will mean for the Catholic Church in the US?
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: I think it will be a time of great change and challenge for the Church, but also a time of great opportunity for growth and renewal.
--:-- Noel King: Thanks, Catherine, for joining us today.
--:-- Catherine Kaleidas: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And that's all for today's show. Thanks for listening to Today Explained.
--:-- Noel King: If you want to hear more about the Catholic Church and its role in American politics, be sure to check out our previous episodes on the subject.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And if you have any questions or comments, please email us at [email address].
--:-- Noel King: Thanks again for listening, and we'll see you tomorrow.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Bye for now.
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