When it comes to living out your faith in today’s world, best-selling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks believes we should all be looking to Pope Leo XIV for inspiration.
In a recent sit-down with EWTN News in Depth, Brooks opened up about why the new pope’s approach isn’t just refreshing—it’s exactly what the Church needs right now.
Why Pope Leo’s Approach Feels Different
Brooks describes Pope Leo’s leadership style as one that “threads the needle” between truth and compassion.
In a world that often feels polarized, Brooks admires how the pope manages to speak honestly while still keeping love at the center of every message.
“He speaks the truth in a spirit of love,” Brooks said, adding that it’s something all Catholics should strive to emulate in their daily lives.
The Church Could Be Heading Toward a Revival
This balance of truth and love, Brooks believes, isn’t just good leadership—it’s a source of real hope.
He said Leo’s way of guiding the Church gives him optimism that Catholicism may be on the verge of a major revival.
“I see a lot of reasons to be hopeful,” Brooks explained.
“We’re at a point where the Church can inspire people again, not just with doctrine, but with joyful, purposeful living.”
What It Means to Be a Modern Missionary
Brooks also spoke about the missionary calling that every Catholic shares—whether you’re a priest, a professor, or just someone living out your faith in everyday life.
“We should be asking ourselves each day: am I being a good missionary or not?” he said.
“Would someone look at my life and say, ‘I want to live like that’?”
It’s a simple but powerful challenge: to live your faith in a way that draws others in, not pushes them away.
From Teenage Convert to “Secular Missionary”
Arthur Brooks didn’t grow up Catholic. He converted at just 16 years old.
Now, decades later, he calls himself a “secular missionary.”
What does that mean? For Brooks, it’s about sharing his faith not through preaching—but through teaching, writing, and public speaking.
“I just try to be open and natural about my Catholic faith,” said Brooks, who once served as president of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.
Friendship and Excellence as Tools for Evangelization
When it comes to bringing faith into the public square, Brooks believes two things are more powerful than any sermon: friendship and excellence.
He says being excellent at what you do—whether you’re a writer, teacher, businessperson, or barista—can be its own kind of witness.
Combine that with genuine, authentic relationships, and you’ve got a winning formula for evangelizing in the modern world.
Living the Faith Without Preaching
At the heart of Brooks’ message is the idea that living your faith well is often more effective than talking about it.
“People don’t want to be lectured,” he explained.
“They want to see something real, something joyful, something worth imitating.”
And if Pope Leo XIV’s example and Brooks’ mission are anything to go by, that “something real” is already beginning to shine through.