Profs and Pints Online presents: “The Mind of Pope Francis,” a guide to understanding the current pontiff, with Brian Flanagan, associate professor of theology at Marymount University and author of Stumbling in Holiness: Sin and Sanctity in the Church.

Pope Francis is changing how the Roman Catholic Church operates and how it interacts with the wider world, particularly on issues like migration and climate change. His reforms–often met with active opposition–will have an impact for generations after his papacy. Regardless of whether you are Catholic—or religious at all—it’s worth gaining an understanding of who he is and how he is attempting to change the Roman Catholic Church and the world beyond.

Join Professor Flanagan—a nationally recognized scholar of ecclesiology, the theological study of the church—for a talk that will offer you guidelines for better understanding who Pope Francis is and what he has done or seems likely to do. He’ll interpret Pope Francis’ past—and anticipated—statements and actions in a broad, nuanced context.

As part of the talk, you’ll learn where Pope Francis fits on a liberal-conservative spectrum (pro tip: he doesn’t). You’ll also gain an understanding of the authorities and experiences that most influence his thought, how he compares to other popes and religious leaders, and his biases and blind spots lie.

The Catholic Publishing Association awarded Brian Flanagan ‘s most recent book, Stumbling in Holiness, a first place in theology last year. He teaches courses in theology, ecclesiology, and church history, and has an impressive collection of papal bobbleheads.

Profs & Pints Online: The Mind of Pope Francis