Lecture @ St. Mary’s: “The Church Facing Pluralism: Catholicism and Secular Cultural, Economic and Political Institutions in the Last 50 Years”

Massimo Faggioli, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Catholicism and Citizenship at the University of St. Thomas, will visit campus March 30 to discuss the evolving relationship between the Church and secular societal organizations.

“The Church Facing Pluralism: Catholicism and Secular Cultural, Economic and Political Institutions in the Last 50 Years” – open to the public and media – will be held at 7 p.m. in Conference Room A of the University Center. Refreshments and conversation follow the lecture.

“Dr. Faggioli’s keen insight into the evolution of post-Vatican II Catholicism is widely recognized,” said the Rev. Tim Eden, S.M., Ed.D., St. Mary’s Vice President for Mission. “St. Mary’s University is very pleased and honored to welcome him as our guest lecturer.”

This fall, Faggioli will join the faculty at Villanova University as full professor of theology and religious studies. He earned his doctorate in Religious History from the University of Turin, Italy, in 2002. He carried out scientific research at the Foundation for Religious Sciences Giovanni XXIII of Bologna, Italy, from 1996 to 2008 before going to the University of St. Thomas in 2009.

Faggioli has authored several books and often writes for publications on topics such as the Church, religion, politics and Vatican II. An in-demand public lecturer, he has spoken to audiences in North America, Europe and Asia. Faggioli’s most recent publications include “Pope Francis: Tradition in Transition” (Paulist, 2015) and “A Council for the Global Church: Receiving Vatican II in History” (Fortress, 2015).