Episode 252: How a Pope Saved Civilization: St. Leo the Great, Attila the Hun, and the Dignity of Work

Dr. Greg and Fr. Sam Kachuba hit record while walking the streets of Rome, dodging mopeds, eating gelato, and talking Pope St. Leo the Great, AI, and what it really means to be human. What does a 5th-century pope who faced Attila the Hun have to teach us about preserving culture, confronting modern threats, and embracing our humanity in the digital age?

Key Topics:

• Walking the streets of Rome and recording a podcast mid-pilgrimage—interruptions and all
• How to make a pilgrimage transform your life—not just leave you with photos and memories
• What happens when we try to "transcend" being human instead of integrating it
• The rise of AI therapy, and what it reveals about the failures of modern psychology
• Why relationship—not efficiency—is the core of healing and growth
• Why protecting culture is part of protecting the dignity of the human person
• How ancient heresies about Christ's humanity still influence modern spiritual confusion

Learn More:

• Integration Pilgrimages – A new model of pilgrimage that integrates mentorship, reflection, and ongoing formation
• The Tangent – Podcast by Fr. Sam Kachuba and Matt Sperrazza on Catholicism and culture
• Connect with Fr. Sam Kachuba – Learn more about Fr. Sam's work to accompany priests and religious
• Rerum Novarum – Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on capital and labor
• Humanae Vitae – Pope St. Paul VI's encyclical on the regulation of birth
• Address of Pope Leo XIV to Digital Missionaries (July 29, 2025) – A call to evangelize the digital continent with wisdom, humility, and human connection
• Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Corporate Governance (June 19‑20, 2025) – Exploring the Church's role in guiding the future of artificial intelligence
• Previous episodes with Fr. Sam Kachuba:
  • Ep. 175 – Rethinking Formation: Preparing Priests for the Future
  • Ep. 165 – Understanding the Past to Navigate the Present
  • Ep. 125 – Following the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, CatholicPsych…and Other Tangents
• Previous episodes on artificial intelligence:
  • Ep. 238 – The False Promise of AI and Psychedelics: A Catholic Response to Modern Healing
  • Ep. 222 – Three Places AI Can Never Go
  • Ep. 221 – Is AI Really More Effective Than Your Therapist?
• Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation
• Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment

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