As the Church marks the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's landmark encyclical "Rerum Novarum", we dive into how the papal document has shaped modern-day Catholic social teaching and is influencing Pope Leo XIV's pontificate today. We hear from Dr. Michael Pakaluk, political economy professor at The Catholic University of America, and Deacon Omar Gutiérrez of the Archdiocese of Omaha, on why Rerum Novarum is still relevant today and how it can be applied to the modern-day workplace. President Donald Trump returns from his historic trip to Beijing, telling reporters that Chinese President Xi Jinping is considering the case of detained Christian pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, but that the case of media mogul and devout Catholic Jimmy Lai is "tough". We're joined by Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, and the former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback to discuss the cases and the reality of religious persecution in communist China. Pope Leo XIV has appointed Benedictine monk Bishop Godfrey Mullen to lead the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. Jonah McKeown of the National Catholic Register speaks with the new bishop about how Benedictine spirituality and monastic life have prepared him for episcopal leadership. Roselle Reyes goes inside prison walls to see how Catholic musician Eric Genuis is bringing hope, healing, and human dignity to incarcerated men and women through his ministry, “Concerts for Hope.”

0:10 Anticipation of Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical
1:38 Looking Back to Rerum Novarum
2:20 Industrial Revolution and Workers’ Suffering
3:02 Core Teachings of Rerum Novarum
4:17 Rerum Novarum’s Radical Impact and Legacy
7:03 Clarifying Misconceptions and the Living Wage
9:13 The Church’s Role in Labor and Society
10:54 Applying Rerum Novarum Today and Family First
13:27 From Industrial Revolution to AI and Surveillance Capitalism
15:47 45 Years Since the Attempted Assassination of John Paul II
17:50 Trump’s China Summit and Prisoners of Conscience
20:36 Grace Jin Drexel and China’s War on Faith
23:45 Pastor Ezra Jin’s Ministry and Imprisonment
26:13 Global Stakes: Bishops in China and U.S. Religious Freedom Policy
31:31 Week in Review: China, Iran, Inflation, and IVF Policy
36:19 Vatican Warning to the SSPX
38:10 A Benedictine Bishop for Belleville
48:25 Concerts for Hope: Music Behind Bars
54:25 Closing Reflections on Hope and Human Dignity

Hosted by Catherine Hadro, EWTN News In Depth welcomes guests in a discussion of current events in the Church, politics, and culture, all through the lens of the Catholic faith.
This show is about finding out who we are as people and as Catholics, and how we can confidently live our faith in the world. It is produced by EWTN News: https://www.ewtnnews.com

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