Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC

Pope Leo XIV made a striking choice for his first Holy Thursday as pope — washing the feet of priests rather than the refugees and immigrants Pope Francis famously chose.

Rich in symbolism either way. Francis's gesture was a powerful, prophetic reminder that the Church serves the poor and marginalized. Leo's choice speaks to something equally real: the quiet suffering of priests navigating loneliness and discouragement in a world hostile pursuing anti-gospel values.

Pope Leo Returns to Tradition, Washing Priests’ Feet Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of prisoners and refugees. On Thursday, his successor performed the rite of humility and service for priests.

We are excited to host Engaging Across Difference: Race and Religion on Saturday, April 11, at Christ Cathedral featuring presentations and panel discussions with prominent theologians Dr. Vincent Lloyd from Villanova University and Dr. Jonathan Tran, from Duke Divinity School, as they discuss how our society can move beyond racial identity as the primary way to think about race in America. They will share how Christian theological sources offer a path to address and move beyond racism.
Please RSVP through our website at https://dornsife.usc.edu/iacs/dignity-from-below-race-and-religion-today/. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to host Dignity from Below: Race and Religion on Thursday, April 9, at USC Caruso Catholic Center featuring a presentation and panel discussion with prominent theologian Dr. Vincent Lloyd from Villanova University, as he discusses how our society can move beyond racial identity as the primary way to think about race in America. He will share how Christian theological sources offer a path to address and move beyond racism.
Please RSVP through our website at https://dornsife.usc.edu/iacs/dignity-from-below-race-and-religion-today/. We look forward to seeing you there!

Gabriel LeBeau, MD, neurosurgeon and member of the IACS Generations in Dialogue Transhumanism cohort discusses bioethics of the brain with Charlie Camosy.

Bioethics of the brain: A conversation with a Catholic neurosurgeon - Catholic Review Charlie Camosy recently spoke on this topic with Gabriel LeBeau, a second-year neurosurgery resident at the University of Kansas Medical Center, who has had the bioethics of the brain on his mind for a while now with an interest in brain-machine interfaces, neurotechnology and cerebrovascular neuros...

In the fall of 2024, IACS hosted a Forum on Nuclear Strategy: Disarmament and Deterrence. https://dornsife.usc.edu/iacs/nuclearproject/
Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary of Nato and arms control expert, joined the forum. With the expiration of the New START treaty, former Secretary Gottemoeller offered her analysis on NPR last week.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/05/nx-s1-5699491/the-new-start-treaty-has-expired-what-it-means-for-the-worlds-superpowers

Disarmament and Deterrence A project from the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC exploring the rising threat of nuclear war and solutions to long-standing peace.

IACS President Richard Wood attended an important convening on nuclear war and nuclear complacency, sponsored by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation -- urgent stuff, largely out of largely out of public eye. Read the report, and let us know what you think!

Nuclear Complacency and You - Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC In recent years, nuclear capabilities have grown, while restraints are weakening, and principles are eroding. Restrictions on the development and deployment of nuclear weapons used to be among the highest national and global priorities. Today, the opposite appears true.

Celebrating St. John Henry Newman--doctor of the church and co-patron saint of Catholic Education.

Pope Leo XIV names St. John Henry Newman co-patron of Catholic education Pope Leo declared St. John Henry Newman, along with St. Thomas Aquinas, as a patron saint of the Catholic Church’s educational mission.

IACS celebrates this historic first! Ut unum sint, indeed.

Pope Leo and King Charles make history with first-ever joint prayer service in Sistine Chapel For the first time in history, a British monarch and a pope prayed together in the Sistine Chapel in an event of great ecumenical significance.

The IACS Generations in Dialogue Transhumanist cohort spent last weekend together in Northern Indiana thinking about personhood and consciousness, embryo adoptions and dish brains—and how these complex issues impact ordinary humans. We are grateful for their intelligence and their commitment to faith in the face of these complicated issues in bioethics.

A thoughtful piece on Catholic (and the wider Christian) voice on the immigration debate. Take a look.

A Catholic Response to the Immigration and Deportation Debate COMMENTARY: This approach to immigration is morally grounded, theologically sound and capable of fostering genuine dialogue.

IACS is proud to announce that Fr. James L. Heft, SM has received the 2025 Marianist Award from the University of Dayton!

30 years ago on September 29, 1998, Fr. Heft began the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies. IACS continues to honor Fr. Heft with our flagship program, the Fr. James L. Heft Generations in Dialogue (GID) mentoring initiative. GID brings together early-career scholars with some of the finest and most experienced minds in their fields. In turn, these mentors have the opportunity to pass on their accumulated wisdom and experience to a generation of scholars at the beginning of their careers.

Following Fr. Heft's example, these scholars together explore some of the most pressing issues facing our society.

Please consider a gift to honor Fr. Heft and support the Fr. James L. Heft, SM Generations in Dialogue program at IACS.

Give to IACS - Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC As a nonprofit organization, the IACS relies on the generosity of its supporters to fund research, programs, conferences and projects.