The Pope Leo Seminar
A New Joint Project!
Over the past month or so, as we (Sarah Carter and Paul) have been reading and discussing Pope Leo XIV: The Biography by Elise Allen (see Sarah’s interview with Elise about the book here) and Magnifica Humanitas, we’ve had an idea brewing that we want to share with you.
We’ve both personally grown as we’ve engaged with Pope Leo’s teaching and the vision that he’s setting for the Church, and we want to share that with others. Sarah has a theological education and a background working/teaching in higher education. Paul has a catechetical background and experience leading online workshops and discussion groups. What if we brought all of that together into an online seminar that examines the life and teaching of Pope Leo XIV?
Our Idea
We want to lead a small group online seminar starting in September. The group will meet every week for an hour and half and will read and discuss Pope Leo’s biography, Evangelii Gaudium (Pope Francis’s programmatic document that Pope Leo has pointed to several times as the starting place to understand his priorities), Magnifica Humanitas, Dilexi Te, In Unitate Fidei, and other selected addresses/homilies. We also hope to bring in a guest expert or two to join our discussions. This seminar would be for 12-15 people and would cost $1,200 a person.
This seminar would be for: catechists, teachers, priests, parents, Catholics, non-Catholics, anyone who wants to take a deep dive to better understand the mind and teaching of our new pope. It will be an opportunity to learn and grow in relationship with others in a small group, in a non-judgmental space that proclaims and invites, but never imposes.
However, we need to know if there’s enough interest in something like this before we can move forward. If this is something you would be genuinely interested in, please fill out this short survey. You’ll be asked for your name, why you would be interested in this seminar, and then select from a couple of days/times for the meetings (a daytime option or an evening option).
Details
Start date: Week of September 8
Duration: 12 weeks
Frequency: Weekly, 90-minute meetings
Format: Seminar-style discussion
Cost: $1,200
Total estimated time commitment per week: 3 hours
Main texts (to be supplemented with other readings): Pope Leo XIV by Elise Ann Allen, Evangelii Gaudium (Pope Francis), Dilexi Te, In Unitate Fidei, and Magnifica Humanitas
Let us know if you’re interested! And hopefully we can make this seminar a reality.
- Sarah and Paul
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I love the premise of your idea; however, the price you've suggested is quite exhorbitant for the typical individual. I'm not a Catholic but I love Pope Leo! In the world as it's becoming, I feel his teachigs may be the one thing that could turn us around, particularly here in these very dark days in America. Best to you all in your endeavor. SPREAD PEACE!!!
Delighted to be asked and inordinately committed to Pope Leo. And understand that it is a highly determined group at $1,500 each.