Saint Leo U To Host Free Webinar 'Pope Leo XIV & The Papacy' May 21

ST. LEO, FL – Saint Leo University and Pope Leo XIV share the same namesake, and now the university is offering the public an opportunity to learn more about the new leader of the Catholic Church.

The university will host the free webinar, Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy, 7-8 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, via Zoom. Dr. Stephen Okey, professor of religion and theology and director of Saint Leo’s Doctor of Theology Program, and the Rev. Dan Daniel Kayajan, pastor of Resurrection Catholic Church in Riverview, FL, will lead the discussion. Dr. Randall Woodard, professor of religion and theology, and chair of the Department of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology, will be the moderator.

The webinar will take a look at the election of the first U.S.-born pope, the papacy, the election process and conclave, and what might be expected from Leo XIV. Okey was interviewed extensively by news media following the election of Pope Leo XIV, offering expert opinion on the new pope. Kayajan, like the pope, served the poorest of the poor in Peru when he was a missionary priest. Okey notes that Pope XIV, like his predecessor Pope Francis, has expressed concern for the poor and marginalized. These similarities and differences will be among the discussion points.

Participants may login via Zoom at https://saintleo.zoom.us/j/4100256986.

For more information, email randall.woodard@saintleo.edu.