Since the publication of Pope Leo’s first Encyclical last week media have flowed with mostly positive response.

But what is he really saying?

Magnifica Humanitas is often referred to as the AI Encyclical. But it’s much more than that and the title is the giveaway: Magnificent Humanity.

As I was reading the letter I knew it deserved dialogue and I thought that a good way to initiate this might be a podcast conversation.

Very quickly three people came to mind: Peter Carrell, Rocio Figueroa and Jonah Lynch and now that I’ve listened again to our conversation I see that my choice of participants was inspired.

They begin this 55 minute podcast conversation by introducing themselves.

I invite you to take time to listen to our conversation…

…and to read the letter at this link.

In a summertime-spring-cleaning of computer files and old recordings I came upon this interview which I thought you might be happy to hear as a thirty-minute podcast.

Five years ago the new Vocations Director for the Christchurch Diocese, Fr. Tien Cao, asked if he could interview me, the outgoing Director.

I was happy to oblige then, and it seems timely this weekend as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, to share this conversation which suggests that poverty, chastity and obedience are at the heart of an abundant life for every baptised person.

Literature has to do, in one way or another, with our deepest desires in this life, for on a profound level literature engages our concrete existence, with its innate tensions, desires and meaningful experiences.

Read the full text of Pope Francis’ letter this week on Literature in Formation at this link.

Read the scriptures for this feast at this link.

Kath mentioned Gerard Manley Hopkins great poem God’s Grandeur. Listen at this link.

John quotes Pope Benedict’s reflection for the Feast of the Ascension. You can find it at this link.

Join Hafsa Ahmed, Paul Blaschke & Mary Eastham in conversation with John O’Connor, reflecting on the common ground of our three faith traditions, Islam, Judaism & Christianity.

Dr. Hafsa Ahmed was born in Hyderabad, India and came to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2007. She is the co-founder and trustee of Lady Khadija Charitable Trust which operates with the motto of “Empowering communities through compassion”.

Dr. Paul Blaschke is an active member and past Board Chair of Temple Sinai in Wellington.  He’s trying to retire from his career as an independent environmental consultant, but keeps active in voluntary environmental restoration work, and especially in Jewish and Interfaith environmental activism.

Dr. Mary Eastham QSM, (awarded 2023 for services to Interfaith communities) from St. Brigid’s Catholic parish Palmerston North, a member of the Religious Diversity Centre Climate Action Work Group, and appointed a Fellow of the Association of Practical Theology in Oceania (APTO) in 2021.

Your comments below are appreciated and will provide the agenda for future conversations and podcasts.

Read the scriptures for Tuesday Week Eighteen in Ordinary Time at this link.

• *The Apostles Creed
• *The introductory Our Father and Three Hail Marys with Glory Be
• Introduction to the Annunciation Decade
• A family leading us through the Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be and O My Jesus.
• **Hail Holy Queen
• **Concluding Prayer

* indicates usually prayed only at the beginning of a full Rosary but added here to help us learn the prayers. ** indicates usually prayed only at the end of a full Rosary but added here to help us learn the prayers.