Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church worldwide since 2013, has passed away at the age of 88. A tireless champion of the central social justice teachings of Jesus, Pope Francis followed his personal mantra, “don’t forget the poor,” Pope Francis – previously Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina - brought profound change to the Church in tumultuous and challenging times. He was the first non-European pope since the 8th Century AD.

On this special episode of The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Father James Martin, a Roman Catholic priest, author, and advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the Church. Father Jim shares his experiences meeting Pope Francis, discussing LGBTQ issues and receiving the pope’s unwavering support for that ministry, and highlights the late Pope's commitment to the poor and marginalized. Reflecting on Pope Francis's legacy, Father Jim, a fellow Jesuit, emphasizes his empathetic leadership and pivotal encyclicals on the environment and brotherhood. The discussion also touches on current challenges facing the Church and hopes for its future direction.

Father James Martin is editor-at-large of America Magazine, the Jesuit Review of Faith and Culture. He’s also an influential moral voice for the inclusion of LGBTQI+ Catholics in the full life of the Church, and a hero to many. A papally-appointed consultant to the Vatican, Father Martin is the author of numerous books, including Jesus: a Pilgrimage; Learning to Pray; and Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.

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