The Hank Center for The Catholic Intellectual Heritage
The Hank Center is delighted to welcome Pope Leo XIV as the first pope from the United States. Augustinian priest, Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago, is a creative bridge-builder, tested leader, well-travelled global citizen—and a great dinner companion as well! We pray for the new shepherd of the Church and that, through his leadership, the Church may flourish in holiness and be of profound service to the world.
The Hank Center for The Catholic Intellectual Heritage
Spring 2026 Event Calendar
Look back at all the events for the Spring 2026 semester!
News and Events
New Video Available!
Habemus Papam: Three Journalists Weigh In on Pope Leo’s First Year
Cardinal Bernardin Dialogues
To mark the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo’s election, The Hank Center will host a conversation focused on the first year of the Pope Leo’s reign: What has he accomplished? Where do we go from here? What remains to be done? Journalists Colleen Dulle (America), Michael Sean Winters (National Catholic Reporter), and Gretchen Crowe (Our Sunday Visitor) will offer their take on Pope Leo’s first year. Dominic Preziosi (Commonweal) will moderate.
The Hank Center in the News
Media from the International Encounter for Peace and Reconciliation
The "International Encounter for Peace and Reconciliation" held at Loyola University Chicago as part of the Building Bridges Initiative, invited students, faculty, and practitioners to gather for a day of peacebuilding in the synodal spirit. See some of the developing international media coverage of the event.
Nexus Journal
Dei Verbum at 60: Rediscovering the Word of God Ever Anew
Explore the Catholic Imagination in the most recent volume Nexus, the Hank Center's journal, as well as all previous editions.
New Videos Available!
A Faith That Builds Worlds: The Catholic Imagination in Speculative Storytelling
Videos of the sessions from the conference, "A Faith That Builds Worlds: The Catholic Imagination in Speculative Storytelling" are now available on the Hank Center YouTube channel. Enjoy a range of fascinating presentations on the spirituality and imagination of world building and speculative fiction from a truly stellar lineup of experts.
Recent Videos
"How to Be Catholic: A User's Guide to Converting," St. John Henry Newman Lecture feat. David Gibson
In the 2026 Newman Lecture, David Gibson – a veteran journalist and currently director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University – talks about what took him from his upbringing as a “Billy Graham Evangelical” to his conversion to Roman Catholicism, and how his unusual experience relates to our church’s challenges today.
Mark Massa, S.J., “Catholic Fundamentalisms”
The Hank Center was pleased to welcome Fr. Mark Massa, SJ of Boston College’s Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, for its 2025-2026 Jesuit Lecture. He will speak about his new book, Catholic Fundamentalism in America. Heidi Schlumpf, Senior Correspondent for Commonweal Magazine, provided a response.
"Incarnation and Evolution: The Catholic Vision of Teilhard de Chardin" | Annual Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. Lecture feat. Sr. Ilia Delio
The Hank Center welcomed Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF as our 2025 Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. visiting Fellow in Catholic Studies. Professor Delio, who specializes in the area of science, technology, and religion, offered this year's Teilhard lecture: "Incarnation and Evolution: The Catholic Vision of Teilhard de Chardin."
Our Community
2025 Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. Fellows Highlight
We are proud to introduce the 2025 cohort of the Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. Fellowships in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and to highlight their diverse range of research topics. View the 2025 Garanzini Fellows and their work.
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Faculty Seminar
The Hank Center has been tasked by the university to offer an innovative seminar for faculty and administrators on the mission of the university and its commitment to social justice.
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Recommended Reading
Each month CCIH will recommend new and notable books that integrate, interrogate, and celebrate the Catholic intellectual and artistic tradition.
Read More_(cropped).jpg "Pope Benedict XVI")
Remembering Pope Francis
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. The Hank Center has compiled some of the remembrances of Pope Francis, his papacy, and his special connection to Loyola University Chicago.
Learn MoreRelated Links
Nexus Journal
Explore the Catholic Imagination in the most recent volume Nexus, the Hank Center's journal, as well as all previous editions. Read Nexus here.