The Big Tent

One year on from the death of Pope Francis, fellow Jesuit Frank Brennan joins Geraldine Doogue to reflect on a papacy that opened doors without dismantling tradition. From issues of conscience to authority, women’s leadership, global Catholicism beyond Europe, and amid escalating war, what might Francis’s disruptive vision continue to ask of the Church today? Further reading: Francis J. Moloney, ‘The “Jews” in the Fourth Gospel’, The Gospel of John, Sacra Pagina Series (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1998), and Brendan Byrne, Life Abounding: A Reading of John’s Gospel, St Pauls, 2014, where Byrne writes on p.302: 'Personally, I believe the term “the Jews” should be expunged from all translations in public use and “the authorities” substituted in its place. Sermons and expositions are needed to educate people on the technical meaning of the phrase “the Jews” and the way in which the phrase functions in the Fourth Gospel.’ Pope Leo's Palm Sunday homily Frank Brennan's Palm Sunday homily The final synod report on women: what it says, what it means and what’s next, by America Magazine's Colleen Dulle Frank Brennan, Pope Francis: The Disruptive Pilgrim’s Guide (ATF Press, 2025) For those in Sydney, Geraldine will launch Frank's book at the Ron Dyer Centre, St Mary's North Sydney, at 6pm Monday 27 April. Thanks for listening! Share your thoughts via Facebook on more conversations in The Big Tent.

In the week of International Women's Day, co-host Grace Brennan sits down with her Mum, historian and writer Margaret A. Clark, to explore the trailblazing women who helped build Australia’s healthcare system. In Good Company tells the 140-year story of how the Little Company of Mary cared for the sick and dying with radical hospitality. Grace and Margaret reflect on the quiet courage of women who kept showing up wherever care was needed most – at the bedside, in training new nurses, as leaders in maternity health and pioneers of palliative care, whose legacy continues through the work of Calvary Health Care today – and what these women's spiritual commitment means for new generations following in their trails. In Good Company by Margaret A. Clark was launched in Sydney by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, and is available to purchase. Thanks for tuning in to The Big Tent! Share this episode to help others find us, and share your thoughts via Facebook on more conversations in The Big Tent.

Vatican reporter and author Colleen Dulle joins Geraldine Doogue in this new year episode of The Big Tent to reflect on what it means to remain – and grow – as a Catholic in the face of disenchantment and polarisation in the institution. How might Pope Leo's Lenten call to disarm our language, 'refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbour,' be heard by Catholics everywhere but especially in Leo's American Catholic heartland, schooled in a more permissive speech culture? And how will Leo be known by his words and actions about women and leadership in the Church? Mentioned in this episode: Pope Leo's Lenten message, Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion Massimo Faggioli's Commonweal article, Leo’s Transatlantic Task Hendro Munsterman's Substack article, Lay People Exercising Authority Over Clergy Colleen's book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter and her reporting for America Magazine Follow us on Facebook and let us know where you'd like us to head next in 2026.

Geraldine Doogue, Julie Thorpe, Grace Brennan and Joe Wehbe offer their 2025 Christmas stocking recommendations for summer reading, watching and listening. Join us in 2026 for more conversations in The Big Tent! The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck Reasons for Hope: Helder Camara, Global Catholicism and the Australian Church by Julie Thorpe Donkey Roads and Camel Treks: A Pilgrim's Guide for Advent by Gemma Simmonds Ethan Zuckerman, Artificial intelligence isn't magic. It's just weird, in Prospect magazine Michael Kalisch, We need friends not followers, in The New Statesman The Summertime of Our Dreams by Michael Pascoe Metaphors: Understanding Philosophy through Images by Pedro Alcalde and Merlín Alcalde, illustrated by Guim Tío The Director by Daniel Kehlmann Leopoldstadt by Tom Stoppard Freud's Last Session film Geraldine Doogue, We can make a difference by deciding to act together, in The Australian Time of the Child by Niall Williams Ben Abraham's music website The Dream Life of Mr. Kim drama series Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Thanks for listening, stay tuned for the new year, and find us on Facebook in the meantime!

In this special episode of The Big Tent, Geraldine Doogue speaks with Sydney journalist Michael Visontay in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack at a Hanukkah festival about its impact on Jewish Australians and the broader Australian community. Drawing on research and his personal experience as the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors from Hungary, Michael’s article on how antisemitism education can backfire, published in the days before the attack, offers a now even more urgent question: how can education truly combat antisemitism in a changing Australia? Recommendations: Michael's article: Mishandled antisemitism education is not just ineffective, it’s dangerous The Jewish Independent editorial: A message from TJI at this time of profound grief Massimo Faggioli in Commonweal, No More Nostalgia: It’s time to talk about Vatican II in new ways Relisten to The Big Tent episode, Bridges not walls: Nostra Aetate at 60 Michael Visontay's book on his family history, Noble Fragments: the maverick who broke up the world’s greatest book Plus Michael's book recommendations: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, and The Granddaughter by Bernhard Schlink All feedback and recommendations very welcome via The Big Tent Facebook page.

As Pope Leo wrapped up his first international visit, Geraldine Doogue spoke to Pope Francis’ biographer Austen Ivereigh about the continuities and priorities of the two papacies. While Leo’s twin messages of peace and unity to Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim believers in Türkiye and Lebanon put interfaith and ecumenical relations at the heart of the new pontificate, Leo is also continuing his predecessor’s agenda through an eco-village that will open to the public on the grounds of Castel Gandolfo. And in his first address to the cardinals who elected him, Leo signalled his commitment to the implementation of Vatican II through synodality, which Austen sees as Leo’s roadmap for the Church in our times. Plus Austen’s reading tips to help us distil the times we’re living in. Further reading: Austen's Tablet articles, Laudato si' puts down roots, and Pope Leo's roadmap for the Church (185th anniversary Tablet lecture) Austen's book recommendations, The Tears of Things, by Richard Rohr, and Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World, by Isaac Slater We'd love your recommendations too! Follow The Big Tent on Facebook.

What does it mean to be Catholic in 2025? Does faith need a label? Geraldine Doogue and Julie Thorpe welcome Grace Brennan and Joe Wehbe to explore their search in The Big Tent. For Grace, growing up in a Catholic home before moving to the bush and founding a business while raising four children, her connection to a faith community feels like being a guest in her own home. While for Joe, a community builder with Maronite roots and Jesuit schooling, faith is tied to purpose: 'it feels very authored.' Join Geraldine, Julie, Grace, and Joe in a candid conversation for anyone questioning, searching, or simply curious. Catch up with Grace and Joe earlier on Plenary Matters. The Big Tent picks: Joe - Japanese anime series ONE PIECE Grace - Shtum: A Novel by Jem Lester Julie - The Café With No Name by Robert Seethaler Geraldine - To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility by Jonathan Sacks Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook for more conversation in The Big Tent.

This month marks 60 years since Nostra Aetate, the landmark Vatican II document that transformed Catholic relations with Judaism and other world religions. Geraldine Doogue speaks with Mary Reaburn, a Sister of Our Lady of Sion whose order was instrumental in the rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, to reflect on the document’s origins and its enduring relevance amid current global divisions. 'Real dialogue is the salvation of our world,' Mary tells Geraldine. Mentioned in this episode: David Neuhaus, The Writing of the Declaration "Nostra Aetate" in La Civilità Cattolica Messianism and the Middle East: leave the end times in God’s hands, editorial in The Tablet Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem Follow The Big Tent on Facebook, and share your thoughts with us!

How can churches help to solve the housing crisis? According to Rob Stokes, former NSW Liberal minister and now chair of Faith Housing Australia, tens of thousands of social and affordable homes could be built on church-owned land. He joins Graham West, former NSW Labor minister and now CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia, in The Big Tent with Geraldine Doogue to share how faith communities are repurposing their property to build essential housing. It's a model of Australia's multicultural, multi-faith communities in action, in partnership with government and industry, providing homes to some of the nation's most vulnerable members. Find out more about Faith Housing Australia: https://fha.org.au/ Follow The Big Tent on Facebook, and keep sending your feedback!

Following threats of legal action, and restrictions on his freedom of movement and expression, the Italian-born, US-resident scholar of church history and politics Massimo Faggioli has landed in Ireland to take up his new post at Trinity College Dublin's Loyola Institute. So how will a US-born pope respond to what Massimo describes in American Catholicism as 'an army of zombie ideas that we thought were dead'? Recommendations: Antonio Spadaro, 'Trump & the Grand Theatre of the World,' in Commonweal Massimo Faggioli's latest Commonweal piece, 'Continent at a Crossroads? Europe and the rise of right-wing Catholicism' Geraldine Doogue on the Schumann Declaration and the pope in Eureka Street Follow The Big Tent on Facebook. We'd love your thoughts!

How does the Church stay mission-centred in a machine-centred world? That question preoccupies Kim Daniels, Director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, who is also the coordinator of the Synod study group tasked by Pope Francis to report on how the Church is meeting people online. 'It's about more than just using tools,' Kim tells Geraldine, 'it's about being present and building relationships in the digital environment.' It's a message she's taking back to the new pope, Leo XIV, as he drafts his first social encyclical amid an AI revolution. Links: Austen Ivereigh's article, 'Not for likes but for love...' in The Tablet Christopher White's book, Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy, published by Loyola Press, also available in Australia through Garratt Publishing Catch up on presentations by Hélder Câmara lecturers Dr Nora Nonterah from Ghana and Cardinal Stephen Chow SJ from Hong Kong during their visits to Australia in September. Thanks for being in The Big Tent! Find us on Facebook for more conversation.

Lana Turvey-Collins joins Geraldine Doogue in The Big Tent to share her story from facilitating Australia's Plenary Council to launching formation.org.au – a new national platform to support and connect leaders in formation across Catholic ministries. 'The more time we take to sit, be still and slowly listen to one another's story and share of your own story, the more connected we are and the more opportunity we have to experience what I dream about is God,' she tells Geraldine. Learn more about formation.org.au Catch up on another new leadership program, Catholic Leadership Foundation, featured previously on Plenary Matters Thanks for being in The Big Tent! Find us at our website and follow us on Facebook.

'The Amazon is bleeding, ecologically, culturally and spiritually. And still from within this pain, hope emerges.' Mauricio López Oropeza, a prominent lay leader from Latin America, joined Geraldine Doogue for this year's 40th anniversary of the Hélder Câmara lecture series to reflect on how the Amazonian experience is reshaping global Catholicism. Bringing the voices from the peripheries to the centre isn't easy, as the Amazon synod showed, but can catholicity become the 'vaccine' against divisions in the Church and the world? Thanks to Br Mark O'Connor FMS, the Diocese of Parramatta and Newman College, where this conversation was recorded. Other links: Mauricio's address at Newman College in Catholic Outlook ‘In the rhythm of the canoe’: reflections on synodality and the Amazon by Melbourne Catholic Thanks for being in The Big Tent! Find us at our website and follow us on Facebook.

In this first episode of The Big Tent, Geraldine Doogue speaks with outgoing Brisbane archbishop Mark Coleridge, about the surprise election of Pope Leo, the legacy of Pope Francis, and how the Church can offer a countercultural narrative amid polarisation and hopelessness in today's world. 'The only thing the God of the Bible is good at doing,' he tells Geraldine, 'is what seems impossible.' Episode links: Mark Coleridge's podcast series, The Navel of the Earth: Jerusalem in Time, Theology, and Imagination David Neuhaus's article in The Tablet, 'What is "hope" right now?' Launch of Julie Thorpe's book, Reasons for Hope: 'New book tells how a lecture series brought hope to the Australian Church' And our website, https://thebigtentpodcast.com, with a link to our previous podcast, Plenary Matters. We're keen to get your feedback! Find us on Facebook and our website. A big thanks to Darryl Butler from Itchybrain Productions and Catalyst for Renewal for design.

We have a new Pope. Does a new era beckon for the Catholic Church in Australia and the world? Join Geraldine Doogue and an inter-generational cast in The Big Tent, hosting an honest, contemporary search that aims, in the prophet Isaiah's words, to 'enlarge the space of your tent'. Welcome!