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Pope Francis, pictured here in 2014, was the first Latin American pope elected in the Catholic Church’s history. (Getty Images)

Pope Francis’ legacy may be a ‘bridge between tradition and modernity’

April 21, 2025

Religious studies professor Andrew Chesnut outlines the history-making pontiff’s impact – and where the Catholic Church may turn next.

Peter W. Marty, a retired pastor and editor/publisher of The Christian Century magazine, delivered the VCU Department of History’s 30th annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture in the History of Christianity. (Andrea Wight, Department of History)

The voice of Lincoln offers compelling counterpoint to today’s zero-sum thinking, pastor and publisher says at Blake Lecture

April 10, 2025

Speaking three decades after his father kicked off the annual series, Peter Marty uses the past, the present and Christianity to reflect on the winners-and-losers mindset.

aerial view of hibbs hall on the v.c.u. monroe park campus

VCU announces appointments of Harry Lyons Chair in Judaic Studies and Powell-Edwards Chair for Religion and the Arts

Aug. 12, 2024

Samuel J. Kessler and Meryl “Mimi” Winick will join the faculty this fall.

zena hitz

God and the Search for Happiness Blake Lecture Recap

April 11, 2024

On March 19, Zena Hitz, Ph.D., was the guest speaker at the annual William E. and Miriam S. Blake Lecture on the History of Christianity. Hitz discussed how monks and nuns are called and driven by a desire of fulfillment and happiness to a life of religious service.

bill blake at the podium talking about the portrait

The Historian: A gift by William E. Blake Jr.

March 20, 2024

On March 19 we celebrated a gift made by VCU history professor emeritus, William E. Blake Jr.

Jack Spiro was the longtime Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair in Judaic Studies at VCU. (Photo contributed by VCU Libraries).

Rabbi Jack Spiro, former Harry Lyons Chair of Judaic Studies at VCU, dies at age 90

Dec. 18, 2023

His teachings and lectures enthralled students and the Greater Richmond community for decades.