Pope Leo, Max Weber & the dark side of charisma

Is Pope Leo XIV quietly reversing the mistakes of his predecessor – or is he a Francis II, a ‘Bergoglio in nicer vestments’? Damian Thompson presents his argument in favour of the former position, arguing that ‘although Leo has appointed both liberal and conservative bishops and often pays tribute to his predecessor, he has not followed Francis’s example of catapulting controversial progressives into major dioceses’. ‘For a better understanding of the contrast between Francis and Leo’, Damian says, Vatican-watchers ’should look beyond theological sources – to the writings of a sex-obsessed agnostic German social theorist who died from the Spanish flu in 1920’ – Max Weber.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What this episode covers

Is Pope Leo XIV quietly reversing the mistakes of his predecessor – or is he a Francis II, a ‘Bergoglio in nicer vestments’? Damian Thompson presents his argument in favour of the former position, arguing that ‘although Leo has appointed both liberal and conservative bishops and often pays tribute to his predecessor, he has not followed Francis’s example of catapulting controversial progressives into major dioceses’. ‘For a better understanding of the contrast between Francis and Leo’, Damian says, Vatican-watchers ’should look beyond theological sources – to the writings of a sex-obsessed agnostic German social theorist who died from the Spanish flu in 1920’ – Max Weber.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NOW PLAYING

0:00 29:49

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Why Live and Evergreen Models Both Fall Short

Feb 4, 2026 ·18m

Rededication Starts Where Routine Ends: Day 8

Dec 22, 2025 ·12m

You Were Not A People, Now You Are God’s People| Day 7

Dec 21, 2025 ·9m

When Heaven Seems Quiet, His Promises Still Stand| Day 6

Dec 19, 2025 ·12m

From Hanukkah To John 3:16: Choosing Light Over Darkness| Day 5

Dec 18, 2025 ·17m

From Offerings To Access: Why Holiness Still Matters- Day 4

Dec 17, 2025 ·15m

Similar Podcasts

The Course Mentors Podcast The Course Mentors Hey there, future course creator!Ever feel like turning your know-how into an online course is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded? Well, grab your headphones because "The Course Mentors Podcast" is here to be your secret weapon!Meet Aimee and Odette (that's us!), your new best friends in the course creation world. We've been in the trenches for over a decade, and for the last five years, we've been rocking the online course space. Now we're here to spill all our secrets in bite-sized, 15-20 minute episodes that'll fit perfectly in your coffee breaks.No fluff, no filler - just real, actionable advice that'll take you from "um, what's a landing page?" to "holy moly, I just hit six figures!". We're talking everything from crafting your course to marketing it like a pro and building a business that'll have you pinching yourself.Whether you're dreaming of ditching the 9-to-5 grind, adding a sweet extra income str Sermons | Countryside Bible Church Countryside Bible Church At Countryside Bible Church, we equip believers to joyfully live holy lives, to serve one another, and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, all to the glory of God. We are committed to a high view of God, and a high view of Scripture. The Ten Commandments John Knox Institute This series of lectures on the Law of the LORD GOD, is an introduction to the beauty of holiness. Holiness is more than God’s sinlessness. His holiness is the pure beauty of His loving Being. The essence of God’s law is revealed to us in His Holy law. SMOKE Iggy Golo TRAP TYPE BEATBPM 180Key F♯mPublished Nov 19, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Holy Smoke?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this Holy Smoke episode published?

This episode was published on June 26, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Holy Smoke episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!