On Day 32 of the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis made another passionate appeal to political leaders “to understand that every day of war makes worse the situation for everyone.”

This week on “Jesuitical,” we ask author Greg Hillis why some question Thomas Merton’s Catholicity, what we should make of the monk’s brief affair with a nurse—and why his writing is still relevant today.

While the United States and Europe have quickly elevated Vladimir Putin to the role of primary wrongdoer, many leading Catholic theorists in Latin America are not willing to promote a simple vilification of the Russian side.

“Does the transmission of faith—and of the meaning of life—follow this path today, of listening to the elderly?” Pope Francis asked in his general audience.

“In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort.”

Witnessing the level and scale of violence throughout these past days, I still can’t understand its source—violence without reason, senseless cruelty.