Pete Wehner on Pope Leo, Trump, and Protestant America

How Are Protestants Navigating a Moral and Spiritual Vacuum in Evangelicalism?   Host Curtis Chang talks with former White House staffer and Atlantic columnist Pete Wehner about why Pope Leo XIV is resonating with Protestants and evangelicals despite historic theological divides. Together, they explore the Pope's moral leadership while contrasting his dignified, intellectually grounded public witness with Donald Trump's increasingly erratic influence on evangelical political culture. The conversation examines a perceived spiritual leadership vacuum within Protestantism and calls pastors, congregations, and followers of Jesus to cultivate beauty, goodness, and truth as a long-term path toward renewing Christian public witness.   00:34 - Introduction to Pope Leo XIV's Influence 02:29 - Is There a Protestant Appreciation for Catholicism? 03:59 - What Is This Pope's Impact on Public Theology? 06:06 - Papal Influence in Past Administrations 11:19 - The Collapse of Evangelical Public Theology 14:18 - Can Protestants Still Exert Moral Influence? 21:16 - The "Mad King" and Trump's Cognitive Decline 28:42 - What Can Pastors Do? 32:00 - The Importance of Beauty, Goodness, and Truth 37:08 - What Is The Pope's Transcendent Influence?   Sign up for the Anxiety Opportunity Course Use the code: Goodfaith Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List   Referenced in the Episode: Pete Wehner's article "The American Pope vs. the American President"  Pete Wehner's article "The Apotheosis of Donald Trump" Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Letter: Magnifica Humanitas The Madness of King George (YouTube free with ads) David Bentley Hart's The Beauty of the Infinite Wordsworth's The Prelude, Book 14  Good Faith's course: The After Party   Scriptures Referenced: 1 Timothy 3 (ESV) Titus 1 (ESV)   Protestant and Catholic Leaders Referenced: Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Reinhold Niebuhr C.S. Lewis Billy Graham Dietrich Bonhoeffer John Stott Karl Barth Oliver O'Donovan Rowan Williams Dr. Tim Keller More from Pete Wehner: Pete Wehner's articles at The Atlantic Pete Wehner's opinion pieces at The New York Times   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.