# Pope Leo, Max Weber & the dark side of charisma

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/holy-smoke-637985/pope-leo-max-weber-the-dark-side-of-charisma
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/holy-smoke-637985/pope-leo-max-weber-the-dark-side-of-charisma.md
Podcast: [Holy Smoke](https://stenobird.com/podcast/holy-smoke-637985)
Published: 2026-06-26T10:55:50+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/holy-smoke/episodes/pope-leo-max-weber-and-the-dark-side-of-charisma
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6835905c2780b226c72e9d0d/e/6a3e56a8a3fa9782375c9c8e/media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=PvEAD4vPAx14m8w5H_ZdCVbGEhP12qTK6l1X_9Kj93E
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Duration seconds: 1789

## Resource

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: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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