In the wake of Pope Francis' death, Australian and Pacific theologians reflect on defining elements of his legacy. Francis' 2015 encyclical Laudato Si was the first in papal history to focus on the environment. How might Francis' teaching about the cry of the earth, and the cry of the poor matter in our region?

At the Council of Nicaea 1700 years ago bishops from across the Christian world gathered to settle a theological showdown that rocked the fledgling religion: Who was Jesus — a perfect human? Or God himself? Or something else? What they decided would become the very foundation of the Christian faith itself, and would shape art, religion and culture even today.

Sufism, also known as Islamic mysticism, can be found in all kinds of unexpected places — like Broken Hill, a rural town in far west New South Wales. Sufi music has a special place in the history of Central Australia, and is still played in the desert region, attracting attention and acclaim from Sufis throughout the world.

Culture, history and faith collide in the remote Aboriginal community of Ltyentye Apurte. A former mission town 80kms east of Alice Springs, it remains one of the most Catholic communities in the country.

What can ancient Chinese poetry teach us about the nature of reality? Li Bai and Du Fu are considered two of China's greatest poets. They lived 1,300 years ago, yet their poems are still very popular to this day.

How much mercy do you see expressed in the world around you right now? Millions of Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan — known as the month of mercy — and follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who is described as someone who embodied mercy.

How can we navigate the ecological crisis of our time? And why does it require a shift in how we think about ourselves? 

John Seed has been a rainforest activist for over 40 years. And over the decades he's fostered a diverse spiritual community around care for the environment and reconnection with the natural world. 

When Jacki Ninio first graduated rabbinical school she didn't want to be known as the "lady rabbi". But after nearly 26 years at Emanuel Synagogue, she says being a woman in a job mostly performed by men has allowed her to care for her congregation in unique ways.

There's a lot of suffering in the world. From economic hardships to deep anxieties about politics, and the anxieties in our own lives. Much of Pope Francis' work grapples with how we suffer and relieve suffering, together. What kinds of insight can suffering offer, both individually and collectively?

Our favourite, most enduring novels are full of things we ask ourselves about life and meaning. This week, we turn to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and how the Russian literary tradition can help clarify questions about truth, love for one another, and ethics.