Pope John Paul II

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

Prof Christopher Tollefsen made time in his very busy schedule to joined us to discuss the John Paul II's background, his general attitude towards and relationship with science, and his contributions to the field of bioethics. We also discussed the inauguration of the Pontifical Academy for Life, John Paul II's emphasis on human dignity, and even tapped into how his time as part of an underground theatre company during World War II in Nazi-occupied Poland may have influenced his philosophy and theology.

Guest Biography

Christopher Tollefsen is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina and the Executive Director of the Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse.  He has published over 125 articles in journals and edited collections, and a similar number of popular essays in venues such as Public Discourse, First Things, and National Review.

He is the author of several books, including Lying and Christian Ethics and the recently published Killing and Christian Ethics (both with Cambridge University Press); and the co-author of The Way of Medicine: Ethics and the Healing Profession (with Dr. Farr Curlin) and Embryo: A Defense of Human Life (with Robert P. George).  He is the editor of several collections, including John Paul II’s Contribution to Catholic Bioethics and Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: The New Catholic Debate.

In 2019-20, he served as a commissioner on the State Department’s Commission on Unalienable Rights. He has twice been a visiting fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University, and in 2024-25 was a visiting fellow at the DeNicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame.

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Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. 

Pope Leo XIV

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

The very week of the promulgation of Leo XIV's Magnifica Humanitas, Fr Jean Gové made time in his very busy schedule to joined us to discuss the Holy Father's background, his relationship with science, and the 'why' behind the choice of the name 'Leo' for his Pontificate. Before exploring the encyclical, Fr Jean elaborated on the note published in January of 2025 Antiqua et Nova (published by the dicasteries of the Doctrine of the Faith and Culture and Education still during Pope Francis’ Pontificate) and what Pope Leo said about AI prior to the release of this Magnifica Humanitas. Furthermore, Fr Jean shared the ways he hopes Pope Leo’s encyclical could influence the public perception of AI and was enthusiastic about the recent inauguration of the Interdicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence. At the end, Fr Gové shared a message of hope for those worried about AI.

Guest Biography

Rev Dr Jean Gové is a Research Affiliate at the AI & Humanity Lab at the University of Hong Kong. His current research is primarily focused on questions relating to cognition and consciousness in AI. He is also engaged in exploring certain ethical aspects of AI tools, such as AI manipulation, and wider transhumanist issues. He obtained his PhD in analytic philosophy at the University of St Andrews.

Locally, Fr Gové is the Diocesan Coordinator for AI-related activity for the Archdiocese of Malta. He is leading initiatives to integrate AI literacy within primary and secondary Church schools, alongside the setting up of comprehensive formation programmes for educators and pastoral workers.

Fr Gové occasionally guest-lectures at the AI Department at the University of Malta. He also currently occupies a number of advisory roles and is the Coordinator of the European AI Research Group within the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education as well as the Holy See’s representative at the Council of Europe on matters pertaining to AI.

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Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. 

Pope Francis

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

Emeritus Professor John Sweeney joined us to talk about Pope Francis' background, his relationship with science, and the 'why' behind the choice of the name 'Francis' for his Pontificate. This was followed by a deep dive into the lead up to the promulgation of Laudato Si'; what motivated Pope Francis to write this encyclical and who were the people he consulted in preparing it. Then, he discussed the most significant ways Laudato Si’ integrates scientific evidence with Catholic social teaching, and where it goes beyond what scientists alone might say. Importantly, Professor Sweeney shared why it is appropriate for a pope to speak about science. Our conversation ended with integral ecology and the message of hope that Pope Francis, Laudato Si, and the Church have for the world today.

Guest Biography

Emeritus Professor John Sweeney has been a member of the Geography Department at Maynooth University since 1978. He received his B.Sc. from the University of Glasgow in 1974 and also his PhD in the Meteorology and Climatology of Air Pollution from there in 1980. Over the intervening years John has taught courses in climatology, biogeography, geomorphology and environmental resource management at Maynooth and a number of universities in North America and Africa. He has published over 100 scientific papers and authored/ edited/co-authored 4 texts on various aspects of climatology and climate change in Ireland. He has served as President of the Irish Meteorological Society, the Geographical Society of Ireland and An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland. He has been Editor, Treasurer, Secretary of several national associations as well as being the Irish representative on a number of European academic bodies. He has been involved in a number of international research projects and has led a number of national funded research projects examining various aspects of climate change in Ireland. Professor Sweeney contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He is also a regular contributor to print and broadcast media on matters related to climate change science and policy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.radiomariaengland.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pope Paul VI

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

Our guest, Dr Rory Fox, began by delving into St Paul VI's background and his relationship with science (e.g. his response to the Apollo 11 Moon landing and the pronouncements he made to the Pontifical Academy of sciences).  For many, St Paul VI is synonymous with three things: Vatican II, the encyclical Humanae Vitae, and the topic of contraception, which were discussed at length in this episode. Finally, a caller posed a question to Dr Fox regarding the impact on the unknown and detrimental side effects of the contraceptive pill on women's health.

Guest Biography

Dr Rory Fox studied Theology at Heythrop, London, followed by a P.G.C.E at St Mary’s, Twickenham and a D.Phil in Philosophical Theology in Oxford. After a fellowship at Keble College, he taught in schools and was a headteacher. He has also worked in prison education and emergency schools for refugees. He currently writes about the interpretation of Vatican II.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Facebook/Instagram: @radiomariaengland

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⁠⁠https://radiomariaengland.uk/extvs_programme/science-and-faith/⁠⁠

Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.radiomariaengland.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pope Pius XII

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

Whenever the pontificate of Venerable Pius XII is mentioned (1939-1958) many think of a Pope that shepherded the Church through some of Europe’s most troubling times. However, in this episode, we shed light on a lesser-known side of the Rome-born Pontiff.

Dr Pia Matthews delved into his background and what sparked his lifelong interest in science and technology. Then, we discussed the encyclical Humani Generis and the Lemaitre affair, which preceded a fascinating conversation regarding his contributions to the field of bioethics, including his addresses to lay people in fields such as midwifery, psychiatry, or anaesthesiology.

Dr Matthews explained how Pius XII helped shape Church teaching on issues such as organ transplantation, pain management, end of life care, and euthanasia. If you’d like to find out why William J. Egan, the eighth president of the US-founded Federation of Catholic Physicians’ Guilds, believed Pius XII deserved the title ‘the Pope of Medicine’, press play!

Guest Biography

Dr Pia Matthews studied Law at Trinity College Cambridge, followed by Theology at St John’s Catholic Seminary Wonersh. She then studied for an MA in bioethics and a PhD at St Mary’s University Twickenham. Her doctorate has been validated as a pontifical degree by the Dicastery of Culture and Education. Pia is an academic director and on the formation team at Allen Hall Seminary, Chelsea where she also lectures in Moral Theology, Philosophical Anthropology, Personal Ethics, Bioethics and Marriage and Family Life. She is a senior lecturer at St Mary’s University Twickenham and a faculty member of the Mater Ecclesiae College, the pontifical institute set up by Rome to serve the UK. In 2015 Pope Francis appointed Pia an expert to the synod on the Family and Pia has represented the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales at the Dicastery for Laity and Family Life. Pia has also presented on spirituality, disability and catechesis to the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. Currently Pia is working with the US National Catholic Partnership on Disability to develop a resource for Catholic theology and disability. Pia has written extensively on healthcare ethics, spirituality, and Catholic theology notably in relation to ethics and persons with profound disabilities. She has also facilitated discussions on theology, education and formation, and the human person, for lay people, teachers and clergy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Facebook/Instagram: @radiomariaengland

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Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. ⁠⁠⁠www.radiomariaengland.uk⁠⁠⁠

Pope Urban VIII

In this season of Science and Faith we look at how the successors of Peter, not only as rock of the Church but also as men and individuals, have engaged and dialogued with the fields of science and technology as part of their duty in the complex task of shepherding and illuminating human pursuits in the light of the Catholic Faith.   

Often when people think of the relationship between the Church and science, the Galileo Affair comes to mind. But what many people don’t  know is that the 17th century pope at the time of the Galileo affair, Pope Urban VIII, was once friends with Galileo. Historian Thony Christie walked us through some of the Pontificate of Urban VIII. Undoubtedly, we covered the Galileo affair at length, Thony Christie rebutted some commonly held misconceptions around this and also walked us through other aspects of Pope Urban VIII's pontificate. If you want to find out how one goes from heliocentrism to St Joseph of Cupertino and levitation within an hour, press the play button!

Get in touch: [email protected]

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https://radiomariaengland.uk/extvs_programme/science-and-faith/

Radio Maria broadcasts 24/7 on digital radio (DAB+) in selected regions, the Radio Maria Play app (Europe/England), the website live-player and via a smart speaker. (Digital regions: London, Cambridge, Bristol, South Birmingham, Dudly & Stourbridge, Walsall, Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Stockport, Norwich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.)

If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. ⁠⁠www.radiomariaengland.uk⁠⁠

This bonus episode is the cherry on the cake of our very successful universities phase. Marta sits down to chat with Francesca (student from the Durham chaplaincy panel) and Anthony (student form the Leeds chaplaincy panel) about their experience of the event; how they became involved, what they got out of it, and how they hope to continue getting involved in initiatives like ours.

The students from all the university panels will be invited to take part in a 3-day training delivered in partnership with God and the Big Bang (https://gatbb.co.uk). Students will develop skills in the field of science and faith communication to deliver thought-provoking workshops to primary and secondary school students.

On other news, the Science and Faith team will be taking a break from broadcasts for a bit. We hope to be back soon. Thank you to all the listeners and volunteers who have supported this project.

Deus Dat Incrementum.

https://radiomariaengland.uk/chaplaincy-chats-bonus-content-science-and-faith-season-4-ep7/

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We thank ECLAS for their generosity to make our tour to universities possible.

On this episode, we travel up to Scotland and after some delectable haggis and IronBru, we discussed the most appealing aspects of science and faith, the "God of the gaps" argument, and faith-talk in schools and academia.

Our panel included Prof Maria Ubiali and Michael O'Duffin , and two students from the chaplaincy: Paige and Andre.

Biographies

Prof Maria Ubiali read Physics at the Università degli Studi of Milan, in Italy, gaining a First Class Honours degree. In 2006 she moved to Edinburgh to study for a PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics. She obtained a joint doctoral degree from the University of Edinburgh and the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. She then moved to Aachen, Germany, for her first postdoc in 2010. She was awarded a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship in October 2016 and in 2017 became Lecturer in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Newnham College. In 2020 she became Principal Investigator of an ERC grant studying the “Physics beyond the Standard Proton.” Maria is the Sheila Edmonds Lecturer in Mathematics at Newnham. Maria set up and runs Newnham’s Maths Summer School.

Michael O’Duffin studied physics at the university of Edinburgh where he first encountered the Dominicans. He taught physics in the Scottish Borders for two years before moving to St Aloysius’ College, the Jesuit school in Glasgow, where he has spent the rest of his long career. During that time he has been House Master, Assistant Head Master and Head of Physics, a role in which he continues today. He also assists by teaching some Religious Education classes and over the years has been extensively involved in giving Kairos Retreats to senior pupils. He is a member of the Edinburgh Fraternity of Lay Dominicans and is actively involved in the Jesuit parish of St Aloysius in Glasgow. He is married with three sons and has three grandchildren.

Paige de Polo is finishing her PhD on Pantodonts and Andre Theng is doing his PhD in sociolinguistics on how Catholics interact online.

https://radiomariaengland.uk/chaplaincy-chats…ith-season-4-ep6/

If you would like to get in touch, email: [email protected]

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We thank ECLAS for their generosity to make our tour to universities possible.

On this episode we discussed how science and faith have interacted in the lives of our speakers, whether complementing each other or, at times, encountering situations where there might have been some apparent friction between the two.

Our panel of speakers included Julian Hughes and Monika Kondratowicz, as well as two students from the chaplaincy: Sam Wilson and Thomas Doyle.

Biographies

Julian Hughes was a NHS consultant for over 20 years in North Tyneside and Newcastle. He was honorary professor of philosophy of ageing at Newcastle University and subsequently professor in old age psychiatry at the University of Bristol. He qualified in Medicine from Bristol, but studied Philosophy as an undergraduate at Oxford and for his PhD at Warwick. Elected Fellow of both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, he advised various national and international bodies and was the deputy chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. He remains an honorary professor at Bristol and visiting professor at Newcastle and continues to write philosophically.

Monika obtained her medical degree from the University of Cambridge in 2019 before working as an NHS hospital doctor in Exeter and Birmingham. While an undergraduate she was introduced to the emerging, expanding, and exciting area of molecular genomics and genetic medicine, and was able to contribute to research papers in the field of epigenetics. She would later complete a Master’s degree in Genetics at The University of Exeter and at Cité Université, Paris, France. She has recently returned to England to complete her medical speciality training in histopathology whilst maintaining a research interest in molecular pathology and genomics. Monika is an unpolished amateur autodidact of philosophy, with her readings largely selected from the Classical Canon, Continental Philosophy, and Catholic apologetics.

Sam Wilson is in the 4th year of an MSci in Zoology and Thomas Doyle is a 3rd Year Civil Engineering student.

https://radiomariaengland.uk/chaplaincy-chats…ith-season-4-ep5/

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We thank ECLAS for their generosity to make our tour to universities possible.

On this episode we talked about what happens when we don't find answers to our questions or, indeed, answers that we don't like both in science and our journeys of faith. What can our witness as Catholics be in these situations?

Our panel of speakers included Dr Elizabeth Lam and Dr Wollis Vas and a student from the chaplaincy, Isaac.

Biographies

Dr Elizabeth Lam

Elizabeth is currently a research and development scientist working in a diagnostic medical device company in Cambridge. She obtained her PhD in the field of computational and inorganic chemistry from The University of Hong Kong. Since then, she has been working in industries spanning from analytical laboratory services to new product development. Her passion for connecting science with daily life has prompted her to complete a master's degree in Science Communication, where she has revitalized a blog, Chembites, to digest abstract chemistry journals into simpler language. Attracted by Ignatian Spirituality, she is a permanent committed member (PCM) of the Christian Life Community (CLC). She is also a columnist for a Canton-Catholic magazine in London.

Dr Wollis Vas

Wollis is a Product Manager in the life science and Biotechnology sectors. He has always marvelled at the complexities of human biology and its impact on human health, which he explored during his doctoral studies at UCL. He is keen to understand the underlying philosophical principles of the scientific method, and so explores prominent Catholic teachings on the topic. He enjoys interacting with others who are also on the journey of understanding the synchronicity between science and faith.

Isaac is a Post-Doctoral Research Officer in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering

Resources

Mentioned by Dr Wollis Vas:

https://youtu.be/noj4phMT9OE

https://youtu.be/rXexaVsvhCM

https://radiomariaengland.uk/chaplaincy-chats-bangor-science-and-faith-season-4-ep3/

If you would like to get in touch, email: [email protected]

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We thank ECLAS for their generosity to make our tour to universities possible.