Pope Leo’s showing he won’t by cowed by Donald Trump, who recently attacked him as weak and liberal after papal criticism of the Iran war. Leo hasn’t directly named the US President but during his visit to Africa, he’s referred to war, tyranny and to “spending billions of dollars on killing and devastation”. Vice President J.D. Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, also decided to explain the theology of a “just war” to the pontiff. Some in the Trump administration even believe they’re waging a holy war. Where does such language mean and where can it lead? Professor DARIUS VON GUTTNER is a papal historian at Australian Catholic University.
It’s not just the Iran war that’s inflamed tension between the Vatican and the White House. The church has also spoken out against the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on irregular immigration. For the Archbishop of Guam, a US territory in the South Pacific, it’s a personal issue. Archbishop RYAN JIMENEZ is an immigrant from The Philippines. He’s just been appointed to a top Vatican post and is visiting Australia.
The name Walter Dexter has faded into history but during World War I he was one of the British empire’s most famous churchmen. He became most decorated military chaplain ever. Long before he found his faith in the Anglican Church, he had a rollicking life at sea, plunging into the cultures of Asia and Africa. Historian DANIEL REYNEAUX has just published Sailor, Soldier Vicar Farmer: The Improbable Life of Anzac Chaplain Water Dexter.
GUESTS:
Professor Darius Von Guttner is an historian at the Australian Catholic University link
Archbishop Ryan Jimenez is Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agaña, Guam
Dr Daniel Reyneaux is Emeritus Professor of History at Avondale University and inaugural Visiting Historian at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park.
Australia